The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-30
sTA|N-CROMWELL MURDER CASE REVIVED
BY DEATH Of CHARLES STAIN
The Son of David Stain Died Last Week AT
Skowhegan Poor Farm

One of the most famous murder cas-
es that ever occurred in this State
State vs. Stain and Cromwell. has
been revived II the minds of the
people this week, caused by the death
Of Charles F. Stain. son of David J.
stain. one of the principals in the
murder. Charles Stain died at the
kowhegan poor farm, a pauper, a
physical wreck and in the most mis-
rable state of mind Just before his
death he was asked 10 make a state
me in regard to the murder but the
thought of it appeared to make him
deranged in his mind. He would say
nothing about the case 1t was the
general opinion that the confession
that he made accusing his father with
the crime was faxed.
1t Will be remembered that in 1877
n February, the news spread forth
that j. W Barron, cashier of the
Dexter bank, was found murdered in
the bank, having been struck several
blows gagged and choked and at that
time ~ parties unknown For ten
years the case baflled some of the
post expert detectives in the country
but there was on clue given to lead
t. the arrest of anyone connected
With ii until Charles Z. Stain con-
fessed 10 John H. Mitchell then she1~
lift and taller in Somerset county, that
has father had told him that he and
Oliver Cromwell had killed Barron.
This confession came about when
young Stain was in the Somerset
Jail, which was then at Norridge-
Wock serving a sentence for theft
One night Sheriff Mitchell was called
to Stains cell and Stain told him
that he had an awful dream and he
then related the story of the murder.
lie said:
My father. David L. Stain Oliver
Cromwell and myself started for Med
field. Mass. some time in August,
lS77 We took our team, drove to
Boston. We took the Star OF the
East steamer and came to Gardiner
We arrived in the morning. took
breakfast AT a boarding house. We
then drove to WaterYille and from
there to Skowhegan. left them
there. was told to go to Bingham
end wait for them. went there and
stayed two days and one-half. They
came to Bingham about eleven O'Clock
in the forenoon. Then we started
Tor Gardiner to take the boat back
to Boston On the steamer | heard
them talking about Dexter and the
Two banks nearly all the time We
were riding along. The names OF
Barron and Curtis We're mentioned
great many times, but | heard then
speak of Barron the most. Father
had on false chin whiskcrs and also
lid Scott who had gone with us. bnl
Cromwell was not disguised at all
while saw him
we left home NedheldD David /.
stain, Oliver Cromwell, Billy Stain
md myself think about the last al
November. 1881. We came to Gardi-
ner We went To the same boarding
house and took dinner there. We
then went to Fairfield We Went
Benton and Clinton | think.
We arrived at Dexter about half-pas
nine Father said, Boys, We'll stop
here He Sent me to Bingham. | left
them in Dexter village and | started
for Bingham | arrived in Bingham
in the forenoon. bought some crack
OF and cheese Tor myself at the store
| pretended | could not write.
stayed there seven and one-half days
| got a letter directed to Frank Snow
from father telling me to come to
them. found them near Bingham
but they had on no disguise. We
drove to Gardiner | went to Boston
II the Star OF the East. They went
home with the team. was at home
light or nine days when they came
They had tried keys to the door OF
the building whore the bank was in
Vaterville Father and Scott had
col out. Cromwell stayed in the VII
gon 1t WAS between two and three
o'clock in the morning. We tried ole
bunch of keys but none of them would
fit Father came to the wagon, open
cd valise took out another bunch
of keys. Cromwell said: Cant you
10 anything? Father said: None OF
these will fit They came and got in
to the wagon and we drove on
After | left home in the winter Of
1877 / did NOT see father for nearly
three years. was serving time in