Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-06
Is Coroner's Jury Verdict in
the Farnham Case.
Frank A. McCIench and Charles [.
Payson Placed Under Arrest
For That Offence Preliminary Nearing Opened,
Friday, 1t HalIoweii.

the public pulse is up to 1903 and still
rising. Halloween can stand one we'll
developed sensation at a time and di-
gest the details as they materialize.
hut when il comes to running up
against two at the same time, each Of
sufficient magnitude to command the
Undivided attention of the people. Ii
becomes n difficult task to conduct the
inevitable discussion of both subjects
at the same time and arrive at any
thing like a satisfactory conclusion in
either case. This is a fairly conscr1 a
tive diagnosis of the state of affairs
that exists in Hallowell today.
AS Thursday was the Fourth of July,
and therefore legal holiday, the
Farnham investigation, which has been
going on at the city council rooms cince
last Tuesday. was continued till this
morning. but though something like
~ homs had elapsed since the last
witness Of Wednesday afternoon gave
in his testimony at the inquest. the
case seems to have lost none of its IN
terest; in fact the interest may be said
to have become intensified. for me
verdict brought in by the coroner jury
and the fact that the afternoon pro-
ceedings We're public. have given the
people something tangible to talk
about.
The examination of witnesses was
continued. this morning. at about
o'clock and at II. As the evidence was
all in. At Lilo the jury rendered their
verdict which was as follows:
That the said Frederick Farnham
came to his death at said Hallowell
a bout 6 o'clock A. NJ. July 2. A. d. 1901.
caused by acute alcoholism. through
excessive drinking of intoxicating
liquors. during the evening of July I.
1901. influenced and urged by one
Charles l.. Payson of said Hallowell
and that one Frank a. McClench of
said HallOwell. furnished and sold said
intoxicating liquors to said Payson
for the use of said Farnham. In tes-
timony whereof the said coroner and
Jurors of this inquest have hereunto
set their hands and seal the day and
year above written.
f.. NJ. Henderson. coroner: Fred En-
cry Beane. G. G. Wall. John S. Hamil-
ton. Lorenzo d. Merchant. Henry p
Clearwater. George II. Willis.
Following closely upon the verdict Of
the curoner's jury came the issuance
nf two warrants by order of the coun
ty attorney. charging Frank A. Nc
Clench and Chas. l.. Payson with the
crime of manslaughter. The papers
We're placed in the hands of City Mar
shall Church. who at once made the
o. i'm, no of
noon the prisoners We're given a pre-
liminary hearing before the municipal
court. Judge Stafford presiding. The
hearing was held in the city council
room and was largely attended.
A. NJ. Goddard. ESQ. Of Augusta. APP
peared as counsel for both respondents.
waived the reading of the warrants
and entered plea of not guilty in both
cases.
In opening County Attorney Leigh
said he did not think it necessary to
go over the case in detail as the pur-
poge of the hearing was not to estab-
lish the guilt Of the respondents but
to bind them over for the September
term of the grand jury.
The first witness called was James
Farnham. Tuesday morning. Mr..
Clough stated that he lived on Third
street, Hallowell That he generally
started to go to his barn to feed the
cattle at about 3 O'Clock in the MORN
ing; that on the morning in question
did not look at the clock but thought
that it was about 5 o'clock; went up
little new road which led from the sta
bic mp over the hill. to go to the barn.
Near n little pear tree i'm the field he
| saw some bushes: walked along few
steps and saw a mans face. Witness
stepped along to get better look: no
ticed that the man was breathing
hard: witness then went for assistance
and found Mr.. Jewell and Mr.. Cur
| rier: asked them to come up and see
what he had found: said to Jewell:
You see Ed. (his SOM and send him
to get the officers" witness did not
know the man: did not detect any
| Odor of alcohol.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Goddard the
| witness said he found the body under
a pear tree; there was 4 bunch of grass
under the head: after the body was
moved. found the cap: there was lit
l TIE Oh IL IdHuhei-
chief and wiped the blood off: hung
the cap UP on a post: was not sure
about the spot thought it might have
been made by the man vomiting on It..
THE bushes covering the man We're
small. about as large as pipe stems;
were cut. not broken. They covered
the man as far as the shoulders: the
, body lay partly on the right side, with
left hand under head.
Mr.. Goddard here expressed wish
to have the handkerchief produced in
court. and witness was sent to his
house to get it.
John H. Quinn testified that he was
a member of the police force. a night
Waterman: that Cloughs son notified
him Of the discovery of the boo at
about $50 in the morning. Went to
the scene with a tear saw tina the
man was dying; VII )r. H. A. M.ui-
ken took man 10 CIT, hall. .afr1vine
there Jahont Q cloct, herman lived Ii
or minutes a 7 arriving; with with
'ont.aued on page 81