The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-20
CHAMPION A
CHANGED man.
Alleged Murderer No Longer
wesps or Pleads for Mercy.
NOW Determined TO FIGHT.
Has Engaged Lawyer Hamilton, with Whom
He Had a Two Hours Interview.
THE BLOOD STAINS ON HIS SHIRT.
Champion Claims Thsy We're the Result Of Bleed
Ing al The Noss- Sssr Defends Him From
Charge Of EaTIng Caused wds's Osalh.
Has Engaged Lawyer Hamilton, With Whom
He Had a Two Hours Interview.
THE BLOOD STAINS ON HIS SHIRT.

Alfred, Me-, June 20.-George Cham
pion, the suspected West Newfield muir
derer. has secured former Mayor Chas.
s. Hamilton OF Biddeford as his coun-
sci and. the latter had a two hours in
terview with the prisoner in his cell
at Alfred jail yesterday afternoon.
County Sheriff Thompson of Newfield
also had an hours conversation with
Champion. The latter was asked II,
when man was bleeding from the
nose. the blood falling upon his shirt
bosom would not spatter downward. lie
admitted that il would be most likely
| to do so; but, when asked TO explain
| why the blood upon his own shirt bo-
| som had spattered upward. his only
| answer was. II didn't do it," at the
| same time averting his gaze and drop
| ping his head. Champion has been ex-
pecting letter from his wife ever
| since he has been in jail, and he was
greatly disappointed yesterday over its
| non-arrival.
He has become very friendly with
| George Hanscom. the Alfred officer who
| has been detailed as night watch over
| him.
This watcn Is deemed absolutely ne
cassary. IA durirg the past yea. 'wo
prisoners have jumped over the railing
| and dashed out their brains on the
| stone floor below.
DEFENDED FROM ONE CHARGE.
Mrs. John S. Philbrick of Maple-
wood, Me-, who is Champions eldest
sister. made the following statement
| T. Hle Associated Press correspondent
| yesterday, with the request that II be
| given general publicity:
Il think my brother, George Cham
pion, has enough against him without
fhA ~lxx .Is.st 49,.
he was responsible for the death of his
| second wife. / know that her death
| was the result OF falling down a flight
| or cellar stairs during the absence OF
| her husband. The ircumstances were
related TO me by the woman herself
several hours previous to her death.
She went TO the we'll TO get a pail of
| water, while there was light snow on
| the ground. The snow adhered to the
| soles OF her shoes, and in going down
the cellar stairs few minutes later,
| her feet slipped on the first. stair, and
she fell to the feor below
She was unable to get up stairs un-
assisted. DR.. j. w. Dearborn, who at
tended her, said he- kidneys were rem
dered mass OF jelly by the fall. She
lived SO hours. 1t is true that my
brother married his third wife nine
weeks after his second wife's death.
and / believe that il was this action
about suspect him of being responsible
for his second wife's death His first
wife, from whom he separated shortly
after being married TO her. is living
with family named Barstow, In
Lynn, Mass"
CHANCE FOR IDENTIFICATION.
In riding over the route from New
field to Union, N. H., which Cham
pion took after he left the Goodwin
farm, an Associated Press correspond
ent came across a farmer who had not
heard that Champion had been arrest
ed. He had not seen a paper since the
murder was committed and had heard
nothing Of the subsequent develop
ments. He said he saw Mail Carrier
Stevens, with whom Champion rode q
part of the way on that Monday morn
ing following the murder. when he
drove by his house, and there was a
man with him, although the farmer
did not know at the time that ii was
Champion. He thought he should be
able to identify the man, however. IL
he should see him again.
HE is A PUZZLE.
To Jailer Anderson. who has handled
scores of prisoners charged with muir
der, Champion is puzzle. Ii is the
manner in which he acted Friday and
Thursday night, and then the sudden
change which has come. From meek
and weeping man pleading for mercy.
he has changed to a man filed with
determination TO fight TO the bitter end
TO clear himself of the terrible charge.
From a docile prisoner he has changed
to stubborn individual when the muir
der subject is broached.
He eats and sleeps well now and
seems contented and happy. When
asked how he Is feeling he said: Il
feel fine and am happy and content
ed'
once in while he will say few
words but they are not in answer 10
the question.
Sheriff Thompson said to reporter
after his two interviews with Cham
pion: "He is a changed man.
mo confession will be obtained now.
Champion has been talked TO. Since
he saw his relatives and found he was
TO have counsel TO defend him his
mouth has been glued / do not expect
10 hear him say a word. Instead, he
has become aggressive and means TO
fight us hard
Champions attitude has caused con-
siderable excitement among the au-
thorities. They have set TO work again
with renewed nerve TO secure every
possible straw OF evidence. so as to be
prepared to fight in September when
Champion makes his protest.
NO TRACE OF THE WATCHES.
Sheriff Thompson has been busy
looking up evidence I'm the case. lie
| has been particularly interested in the
watrhes which Champion was said to
have mad at Rochester. n. H.. after
| the murder. The watches were suppos-
| ed to have been pawned IN Boston. but
no trace OF them has been discovered.