Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-07-18
DAMAGING EVIDENCE
AgaiRst Charles p. Ea. tman At Hearing in
0regan Murder Case st Cambridge.

Cambridge, Mass. July 1.-THE hear
ing of Charles r. Eastman, the Har-
ward University instructor. charged
with the murder of his brother-in-law.
Richard T. Grogan, Jr., on July 4, was
opened in the third district court be-
fore Judge Almy, today. 1t is alleged
that Grogan was shot by Eastman on
the afternoon of the Fourth of July.
while the men were engaged in revolv-
er practice at the Alvan Clark estate
in this city. Eastman claims that the
shooting was accidental while the at
torneys for the state hold that it was
intentional
Walter d. Titus. a drug clerk. testi-
fed that while he was passing the
Clark place. on the afternoon of July
4. he heard some one shout: "Oh,
don't" He went up to the wall and
saw two men struggling; one of them
was Eastman. the other was Grogan
Suddenly Grogan ceased struggling and
started towards the house, he said:
Charles. you've murdered me-
Eastman stood still for a brief time
and then he. too, started towards the
house. Witness said the men apparent
~ We're struggling for the possession of
a revolver. of which Eastman held the
butt. the muzzle being pointed towards
Grogan.
The next witness was Belle Bryan.
servant at the house where the shooting
occurred. She testified that on the afte~-
noon of July 4, hearing cries. she ran
down stairs and saw Grogan run past
the rear steps of the house and then fall
down upon the embankment, crying out:
I've been murdered" The witness saw
that Eastman had an old revolver in his
hand ut the time.
Mrs Mary Milner. professional
nurse. was the next witness. On the
afternoon of July 4, she was attracted II
the Clark estate and saw Grogan lying
on the ground Eastman was also there
Grogan said, looking at Eastman: There
is the man who shot me-, and Eastman
responded. saying: Yes. | did kill him.
but ! did not mean it 1t was an acci-
dent" Then Mrs. Millner turned to Gro
to kill him. He said it was an accident.
Grogan responded by saying: He did
mean it" The witness went on to testify
that during the conversation. Eastman
looked frightened and terrified on cross
examination, when Grogan was talking,
he seemed to he maddened and angry.
Leroy =. Pilison was next on the stand
He was in that vicinity and hearing cries
went over and saw Grosan lying on the
terrace. He heard Grogan say: No |
saw him do it purposely
Grogan after the shooting and also East
man. who was bending over the dying
man.
Grogan declared: Eastman has mur-
dered me. He shot me twice. He did it
purposely."
Eastman simply shook his head while
Grogan was talking. little later Gro
gan repeated the words: Yes, he did It.
yes. he did it
Lewis S. Thayer also saw Grogan and
the latter said to him: Eastman has
murdered me. He shot me twice Wit
ness asked Eastman how it happened
and Eastman said he would tell him all
about it, but then he walked away with
out giving any explanation.
Carl A. r. Lundis, Jr., testified that he
had found three revolvCrs and one rifle
lying about the premises after the shoot
ing affair. He further testified that East
man had purchased, before July 4, a lot
of cartridges at Grogan's request. He
said IL had been a custom of the men to
shoot at a target in the Clark estate.
The next witness, John r. Grogan
brother of the dead man. gave testimony
in rela ion to quarrel which occurred in
Grogan's livery stable, in the November
of 1899. at which time Grogan accused
Eastman and his family of living upon
him. The men were about to come to
blows when witness interfered and it
ended by Eastman'S going down the
stairs. saying as he went: IN plug you
for this If | have to wait five years" A.
this point court adjourned until tomorrow
morning.