Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-08
ON STAND.
His Version Of Death Of Broth
er-in-Iaw Grogan.
Tells an Apparently Straightforward
Story, Denying Intent to Harm.
Claims Shooting Was Accidental. Denies H.
feeling Against Grogan.

in the Eastman murder trial contin-
ued undated. Tuesday. In fact appli-
cat ons for admis sions TO the court DOM
appeared to be more numerous than
on other days. for the room was jam
med with spectators as soon as the
doors were opened. Among the number
were over $50 women, most of whom
desired to hear the continuation of
Mrs. Eastman's testimony.
Mrs. Eastman. wife Of the defendant
was on the stand most of the forenoon.
She was visibly effected by the min
ute examination as TO the incidents i'm
mcdiately preceding the tragedy. and
regarding certain statements made by
previous witnesses. At times she was
given to weeping.
Mis- Eastman gave additional evil
dcncc as to the intimate relations be-
tween her husband and Grogan. She
said that during the week before the
shooting her husband had proposed
Grogan's name for membership in a
prominent scientific society and had
urged him to go to New York. She
never remembered any such incident
as that related by Mrs. Grogan, Sr.,
who testified that Eastman had said
Grogan's days were numbered.
Witness never said that Eastman
had been drinking. nor had never heard
Mrs. Grcgan. Jr., say he had been
drinking.
She denied that her husband urged
Dick to go home after the swimming
races on July 4. 1900. In fact she sug-
gested that they return to the house.
Mrs Eastman then told of hearing
the shooting in the yard. the cries that
followed and of seeing Grogan stag
Errng out of the hen yard toward his
house. and of her rushing out to re-
quest the neighbors to get a doctor.
Returning. she found her husband had
been wounded.
On Jan. of the present year. she.
with her two sisters. Mrs. Clark and
Mrs. Grogan. the latter the widow of
the man shot, went to the tomb a. Mt.
! Auburn with some flowers. They found
| that the lock on the tomb had been
tempered with. No application for per-
mission to open the tomb had been
made of the family.
Attorney General Knowiton declined
! to cross-examine Mrs. Eastman At the
! close of her direct testimony.
| The defendant. Charles r. Eastman.
then took the stand to testify in his
own behalf. At Ills Judge Gaskiil
su ore the witness in TO tell the truth
| Of what occurred between him and
GrCga9.
| He said that he did not quarrel with
Grosan in November. 1899. as John
Grogan, government witness. had
testified On the other hand, the wit
ness said that at about that time ne
and Grogan took their families to the
Hotel Touraine 10 dinner together. He
related the incident of the pictures OF
the two families being taken on Dec.
IL and declared that he never had the
! slightest disagreement with Grogan.
| He admitted that negotiations be-
gan between him and the executors OF
the will of his fathcrin-law whereby
no was to take charge of the lens bus
mess conducted by Mr.. Clark after the
death of the proprietor. He said he
gave up any idea of taking it in the
season of 1898. but he urged Gr0Sa n
to take the business and advised him
how much ne ought to pay for It, The
witness denied that he was jealous
| of Grogan on account of these pro-
ceilings. Eastman said that he saw
C:ro:an frequently during the winters
Of 1899 and 1900. They frequently boxed
| together. They shaved together and to-
gcther often shot at marks.
During the winter Eastman purchas-
ed a 32-calibrc rim fire rifle. which he
and Grogan frequently used at East
mans house On April IS. 1900. witness
said that he did order a carriage at
! the Grocan stable. but he saw Dick
when he was going to the station. He
never told John GrOgan that he had
! had trouble with Richard Grogan. or
that he was not on good terms with
him. Witness said he gave Grogan a
rifle in the spring of 1900. and in June.
1900. proposed his name for member
shin in tie Association for the Ad-
yancemcnt of Science. Witness said he
went to Boston to obtain the applica-
ton blank and filled it out himself.
witness stated that he remembered
going to the GrOgan house with milk
last June and seeing the mother OF
Richard Grogan there. He said there
never was any occasion wren ne diu
not sneak to Grogan and he never
made the remark. referring 10 Gro
can that his days were numbered. Inc
witness told ABOUT tue di 'dHSciHSHt''
which he and GTOgan made Tor cele-
hrating the Fourth and about his COM
ing to Boston to get fireworks which
thew decided to purchase. He also told
about the arrangements which he and
mis- wife had made for entertaining
neighbors on the night OF the Foufth'
saving that Grogan and his VIE were
invited to join them.
Several times when questioned con-
corning his alleged threats and mani
festations toward Grogan were brought
I'D by questions of the lawyer, dep
recating smile broke over Eastman
face. -,
Eastman next gave an account Oh h''
own actions on the fatal Fourth OF J"!
ard by the time the recess had Deen
reached the jury had heard from me ups
OF the accused man his own story Q. the
unfortunate affair lie began his sta'e,
mpnt calmly. but by the "'ne ne ha''
reached the stirring incidents 81 thc tras-
cjy his voice had uuiNrf IN - dhu "e
showed considerable emotion
He said the two men had targeI pr
f;ce in the morning and very neartY eN
hausted their supply OF rin, ire g.
tridces For these cartridges E2s.1aaH :
.rz..;,ral m Yz,va e.