Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-03
CHAMPION TRIAL.
Both the Prisoner and His
Wife on the Stand.
Champion Tells His Story Of Where
abouts at Time Of Murder.
Twisted as 10 His Possession OF Watch and
Scott Gardeners Shoes.

Alfred. Nc, NOV. 2.-There WAS an
even larger number Of Spectators than
usual in attendance when the third day
of the trial of George r. Champion,
charged with the murder Of four per
SONS in West NeWficld, was resumed in
the supreme court here this forenoon
and many were disappointed in finding
the space in the court room too meagre
t = their accommodation.
When Champion was brought into
court he seemed 10 be in his usual good
spirits and evidently the strain of the
last three days has had little effect
upon him. lie appeared almost dis
interested.
when. after several witnesses had been
examined, Mrs. Mary Champion. Wife
ot the prisoner, was called to the stand.
Mrs Champion was pale ana very
nervous but she soon gained control of
herself ana toId her story in a Straight =
forward manner.
The first witness called To the stand
was John f. Smith. a plumber III Saco.
Mr.. Smith testified that his wife was Il
sister-in-laW uf George q }odwin.
Goodwin. witness said. came to his
home in Saco May is. last, ana On the
following day deposited in banks of
SaCo and Biddeford $2l00 III checks.
He was not sue just how much money
Goodwin had with him in addition 10
tho amount deposited, but thought it
was very little. Cross-examlned by
County Attorney Matthews. witness
said State exhibit resemb.ed the
pocketbook Mr. Goodwin carried.
Mrs. Mary q. Smith. wife Of the for
mer witness. corroborated the test
mony given by her husband. ana stated
that she had seen s. in Mr.. Goodwin 5
posss sslon after he had deposited the
checks. Before returning 70 his home
On Monday. May Il. witness said. Mr..
Goodwin made a number Of small
purchases in Saco.
Lena Smart, ten years aid, o.
Granite. y. H, testified that she was
at the Goodwin home about $50. sun
day afternoon. June 10. with cir!
companion. She Went away soon after
! this hut returned in the evening and
saw strange man. dressed in dark
clothing. az the house. In the evening
she went 10 church with Scott Good
win and others. After the service at
the church. Scott Goodwin left the
party SAYING he was going home.
The next witness called was Mary
Champion. wife If the prisoner She
said that she and Champion We're mar
ried in Boston in February about three
| 4 ~
their life there up tn the Monday when
her husband came home and told her
about the Poole case. saying he vas
going u Newfeld as h. did not wish
t. be locked un as a witness in the
case He lad dinner ana then left the
house. wearing AT that time dark
coat and vest. light trousers and a pair
of black shoes. H. carried with him
his best trousers. in a bundle. she re-
ceived 4 letter from her husband after
he went away. and next saw him the
following Monday. That night they
spent At the home IF her sister IN RoX-
bury.
The noNt morning Champion left the
house at o'clock. going 10 Boston
here SIN met him several hours later.
While in Boston several purchases
wcre made, including clothing. ana
then Mrs. champion had her husband
trunk checked for Milford When they
arrived at Milford. Champion paid FIR
one weeks lodging. g. in advance. The
following day he was arrested She
said her husband tod her nothing of
the Newtrld matter until they We're at
CONTINUED on page 81