Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-30
THE MURDOCH CASE.
testimony at Portland in United States
Court.

Portland, Me, April 29.-The trial of
Portland man who was indicted for
having stolen postage stamps in his
possession was continued in the United
States District court, Friday. The court
rooms were crowded to the doors
Thursday morning with throng Of
lawyers, prominent business men and
other Interested spectators when the
trial begun
1t was Il few minutes after 10 O'Clock,
when the first witness. Miss Harriet
Lincoln. was called to the stand. She
testified that she was a bookkeepcr for
the firm of Murdoch & Freeman. When
asked if she had even seen any stamps
about the office. She said she had no
in a package perhaps half an inch
thick. She had asked him where he had
got SO many He said they had been
paid him by 4 customer for q bill or /,
debt
Witness could not tell how many
stamps there were; she had no idea rs
to their number. In keeping them at
the office there had been no attempt at
been done up in a package much as any
bundle might. On cross examination
said she had never received any eau
ton to be careful about showing the
stamps. No concealment whatever had
been attempted. On one occa sion she
did up package containing $50 worth
Of stamps. which had been sent to Mr..
Petts of Boston with whom Mr. Muir
dock had dealings.
The next witness was Fred o. Mar
riner. associated with the firm of Muir
dock &, Freeman. He said he had fire.
quently seen stamps about the office of
the firm in large numbers. In reply to
questions he practically substantiated
the testimony OF the previous witness
about concealment. saying that no at
tempt whatever had been made to COW
er them up or to hide them
Witness also said that late i'm the fall
he heard Mr.. Murdoch say in convcrsa-
ton with a man over the telephone that
he had no stamps on hama. and would
not have any until after another break
The third witness was Edward Nc
Neili. He said he had taken stamps
from O'Rourke who he thought worked
on the railroad. Witness had taken
these stamps to Mr.. Murdoch but had
not received full pay for them. He had
had to go several times. His testimony
was not shaken by the cross cxanina-
ton. He had delivered to Murdoch
some of the stamps mentioned in the
Indictment
The last witness on the stand i'm the
morning was Miss Flora G. SWEET.
hook kpcnpr for
She said she bought stamps whenever
they were needed ut the store. She had
purchased stamps of all denominations
Of David F. Murdoch to the value of
s30.4S; then asked how many stamps
were used at the Frye store she said
thousands.
When asked if she had ever pur-
chased stamps of anybody else she said
she had purchased them Of Mr.. MUIR
dock several times. of c. H. Rice & Co.
and Of the postoffice authorities.
The witness was then excused and
the court took a recess Until go.
Mr.. Murdoch was held in $4,000 bail
from day to day. Sureties were fur
nished by L. Bernard Shalt and Ber-
nard Devine.
At tn lightning OF the afternoon sas-
sion the government rested with the I'M
derstanding that whatever further testi-
mony was submitted would be in rebutta!.
The defence then proceeded to call wit
nesses to the stand. after the, opening ar
Cumant by Mr. Frank. At the conclusion
of the days proceedings MurT ' himself
was on the stand and underW -oss-
examination. 1t is probable t ase
will go to the jury some time