Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-12
Trial of Herman Bickford Be-
gins in Superior Court.
Charged With Assault With Intent to
y.., Kill With a Gravel Shovel
'r.t N -
On the Person Of Geo n. cochrane At Oakland
..StiiI on Trial.

last Christmas day. occupied the at-
| tentlon OF the kennebec superior court.
Thursday. WOrdy tits between Attor
, neys Leigh and Sheldon enlivened the
proceedings.
County Attorney Leigh appeared for
the State and George c. Sheldon, ESQ,
! of this city. and George w. Field. Esq,
of Oakland. represented the respondent
In opening, the county attorney spoke
of the fact that this was his first GRIM
mai case and that the prisoner should
not be considered guilty until the pre-
sumption OF innocence was annihilated
Mr.. Leigh was warmly congratulated
oy Fellow attorneys and court attaches
on his able and concise presentation.
Blckford was attired in a blue chew
| lot suit and made favorable i'm
preston. number of Oakland peo-
i, pie were present. Ten witnesses were
sworn by the State.
The first witness was Samuel r. Her.
som, a deputy sheriff. He testified that
| MS attention was called to fracas at
'he south end of the depot on the af-
tefhoon of Dec. -. 1899 Cochrane was
lying on the snow apparently lifeless.
Identified shovel Bickford had been
drinking, but talked in an intelligent
manner. He arrested Bickford
On cross-eXamination witness testi-
lied that Bickford walked along peace
ably and that twisters were not used.
was positive that Bickford had the
shovel in his hand when witness ar
rived on the scene. Don't know wheth-
er liquor or blow made Cochrane I'M
conscious.
Maurice l.. Strickland, an Oakland
barber, testified that between 3 and 4
O'Clock on the afternoon of last Christ
mas day he was standing near the
Maine Central track opposite the gate
house. Bickford and Cochrane talked
eXcitedly for about five minutes, then
shook hands and separated. Cochrane
went down the platform towards the
passenger station and Bickford went to
the freight depot. Bickford returned
with a shovel in his hand and struck
Cochrane over the head with it, Coch-
rane was standing in such a position
that he couldn't have seen Bickford
approaching. The blow knocked Coch-
rane down. No words We're spoken af-
ter they parted. Identified shovel
When blow was made went down
where the men were. Cochrane was
lying on the snow. his head bleeding.
Cochrane was unconscious. Leslie and
Llewellyn Knox and one or two others
were there. Cochrane was lifted up
and placed in a sleigh. Saw Deputy
Sheriff Hersom arrest Bickford
Neither Bickford nor Cochrane appear
ed to be under the influence of liquor.
Cochrane did not give Bickford any
provocation for the blow.
On REORGANIZATION witness stated
that he never made the expression:
XIII the -, now that you've got him
down." Had no conversation with
either man. Saw every movement made
by both men. Have to wear glasses
Have had no falling out with Bickford
Might have made some remark, but
surely nothing hostile about Bickford
Bickford walked at an ordinary pace
while going after the shovel.
Mr.. Strickland's testimony could not
be shaken under the rigid crOss-eX-
animation of Attorney Sheldon for the
defence.
Judge Hall warned the jurors not to
discuss the case on trial.
Foster testified. Live in Oakland. On
the afternoon of Dec. % saw Bickford
and Cochrane shake hands and separ-
ate. Later saw Bickford come out of
the freight depot carrying a shovel in
his hand. Identified the shovel. Did
not see the alleged assault but was on
the scene little while afterwards.
Cochrane was lying on the snow in an
unconscious condition. Bickford was
on the snow. Lleweliyn Knox was on
top of him. Knox was endeavoring to
control Bickford. Saw the deputy
sheriff make the arrest. Cochrane and
Bickford walked all right. Bickford
appear ed somewhat intoxicated. al
though he did not stagger.
On Characterization witness stated
that BickfOrd carried the shovel in his
left hand. Supposed that what trouble
the men had was settled when they
shook hands and parted.
Lester Knox testified that between
3 and 4 o'clock on the afternoon of
Dec. 25 he drove up to the depot.
BickfOrd and Cochrane were quarrel
ing: Didn't notice the men shaking
hands. Later saw Bickford with IA SHOW
ell raised over the shoulder. Bickford
struck Cochrane on the left side of the
head with the shovel. 1t was a swing
ing blow and knocked Cochrane down
and made him unconscious. Blood
flowed from Cochrane's ear. He made
no noise at all. He and his brother
placed Cochrane in a sleigh. When
Bickford approached Cochrane the
latter's back was turned. Don't think
that Cochrane saw Bickford coming.
Didn't see COchrane make any motion
toward BickfOrd. Didn't smell any
liquor on COchFane.
On cross-eXaminat ton witness te;ri-
fed that it was two weeks after the
assault when he saw Cochrane. At that
time he had some cotton batting in one
ear and complained of a sore head.
Couldn't tell whether the unconscious
ness was caused by the blow or liquor.
but Cochrane did not appear so gay
after the blow was struck as before.
Didn't see any blood on the shovel.
Albert II. Lord testified that he was
CONTINUED on page g.