Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-12
FORGING THE CHAIN.
Tracing Blondin's Movements
at Time of Murder.
Showing Where Trunk Was Sent
Story Of BIondin's Arrest.
Admitted He Was Wanted for Murder
Of His Wife.

Boston, Dec. n.-Witnesses in the
Blondin trial. today. told the jury what
the defendant said at the time of his
arrest in New York as to the disap-
pearance of Mrs. BlOndin. He made
the claim to them that she disappeared
at the South Terminal station in Bos-
ton. while he went to buy a ticket for
Providence for her. Police inspectors
of New York and Boston gave the most
important evidence and counsel for
Blondin time and again had objections
to the admissions of evidence by them
overruled. The government in the or
der of presenting witnesses showed
that it is gathering up the ends of
different lines Of evidence as if in prep
aratiOn for a quick close of it's side of
the case: in fact, it may close, Satur-
day. The defence is now handicapped
by the illness of Hon. John N. Nor
rson. the senior counsel. Cross-eXam-
ina ton is being done by his brother
in-iaw, James F. Owens of Lowell,
who was acCeDted as associate coun-
sci early i'm the week. Whether BlOn-
din will take the stand in his own be-
half is not yet known, for the defence
has given out no information as to it's
line of defence.
Evidence to prove that Blondin, the
alleged wife murderer on trial here.
had changed i'm appearance since 1901
was introduced by the prosecution, to-
day. Several witnesses who have fail
ed to positively identify the prisoner in
with their story of events
in connection with the murder of Mrs.
Blondin. have said that the man they
at present. Witnesses who have known
the man for years testified, today, that
he had lost considerable flesh in the
past year and half. 1t was estimated
by one witness that he was lighter in
weight by 40 or so pounds than he was
two years ago. Among those who tes-
titled along this line were former ASSOC
ciates of Blondin when he was employ
ed by Forbes. Hayward & Co.
While the next witness, F. w. Lund-
igan, assistant librarian of the Boston
Herald office. was testifying there came
an unusual incident. The foreman of
the jury called the attention of the
court to a newspaper with big head
lines which protruded from the pocket
of the witness. The paper was quick
" covered up. but Attorney General
Parker asked to examine it. The head
line was found to have no connection
with the Blondin case.
Mr.. I.undican stated in his evidence
that he had examined files of all the
Boston papers and found that the first
mention of Mrs. Blondin's name in
connection with the body found at
Chelmsford, was in the morning edi-
ticns of June ~. 1901. This is the day.
according to several witnesses, on
which Blondin suddenly left Boston.
John f. Romeo. the expressman, who
removed Rlondn's trunk and bicycle
from 43 Howard street to the South
Terminal station. said that Blondins
appearance at the time indicated that
he was in a hurry. When they reach
ed the station Blondin went to get n
ticket but did not say where he was
going. Romeo identified trunk as the
one he had taken to the station. he
also identified Rlondin as the owner of
the trunk and remarked that BlOndin
was not as neshy now as he was a year
and a half ago.
W. n. Cavanaugh produced bag
gage record sheet which showed that
on June r. 1901. a trunk and bicycle
were checked at the station and sent ia
Fall River on the train leaving at
S.1S 4. NJ.
The course of the trunk was traced
by Edward o. Person. baggagemaster
on the train which left Boston at S.4S
A. NJ, or June IL. 1901, whose record
shows that he delivered the trunk at
Fall River at 1918 A. NJ, that ay and
by w. I. Faulkner, baggagemaster at
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