Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-18
DAILY KENNEBEC JOURNAL THURSDAY. DECEMBER 49, 1913

Dk
of the blood vessels were such that
could not have happened after death.
The Broken Ribs.
Explaining the fracture of ribs on
Mr.. Eldridge's body, the physician
stated he was not sure whether or not
the ribs were broken before or after
death. The condition in which they
were found led the doctor to believe
that the fracture occurred after death,
ty the contracting of the body.
DR.. Harris said his explanations
were only theories of his own, that
might have happened. He said the
bones might have been fractured by
a fall of few feet.
Mr. Eldridge's hands were burned,
caused by the attempting to extin-
cuish the blaze on Mrs. Eldridge, in
his opinion.
Report of Prof. Cram, Bowdoin.
The report of Prof Marshall Cram
CT Bowdoin of the chemical analysis
stated that no poison was found in
the stomachs and no food was in the
stomach.
Report of Prof. Whittier.
Prof. Whittier of Bowdoin reported
that he had examined all the organs
minutely and that death of Mr.. Ell
bridge appears to be from suffocation.
The conclusion of Prof. Whittier as
tc Mrs. Eldridge is that death was
caused by suffocation and was given
ir personal letter to the coroner.
DR.. j. d. Nutting, Jr., of Hallowell
corroborated DR.. Harris opinions and
theories.
Young EIdridee's Movements.
Augustin Littlefield, who lives near
the car station at Spears corner, stat
ed thai on the morning of Dec. Z, the
day of the death of the Eldridges. a
man was seen on the platform at 715,
because he looked at the clock and ii
was remarked that man had a long
time to wait" He described the man,
the description tallying with that of
young Eldridge. The young man got on
the car bound for Gardiner, at about
sos o'clock
Lucina Littlefield, daughter-in-law
of Mr.. Littlefield, remembered dis
tinctly the man on the platform. She
remarked as testified above She cor
ro5era.ed the testimony of Mr. Little
field
Harry Flewellyn, L., A. & w. car
conductor of Lewiston, described a
man who got on the car at Spears
Corner at o'clock, and came into the
smoking compartment, where he was
sitting. The description was evidently
that of young Eldridge.
Motorman Ernest A. Brann of the T.
A. q W. Stret Railway stated he took
the t.30 car out of Gardiner at 7.30
o'clock, reaching Spears Corner about
seven minutes of s. He stated he saw
Ferna!d Eldridge on the platform al
sbeaf'2 Corner on that morning.
Frank Griffin of Gardiner said ba
saw Eldrldge in Gardiner between $40
and $50 and that Eldridge wanted to
Know If he (Griffin) wished to sell him
a suit of clothes.
Mrs. Bailey of Randolph stated that
Eldridge came to her house between
$50 and o'clock and wished To coll
a coat. She says she lives at Mrs
Nlley's in Randolph. Between $50 and
10 she saw Eldridge again He stay
ed about 15 minutes and this time had
IS.
lvers Harrington of Gardiner said he
was acquainted with Fernald Eldridea
and at 1921 A. NJ. he saw Eldridge in
Burke's drug store. He talked with
him some time. The conversation was
relative to a reconciliation with his
wife. 1t was about 10 minutes of IL
when they parted.
AS to the Kerosene.
Edward j. Quinn, former deputy
sheriff, and investigator for Attorney
General Wilson, stated that kerosene
was found on the mat and on the floor
about the kitchen stove. No evidence
of kerosene was found on the CARPET
in the sitting room. No kerosene was
found on the clothes of Mr.. Eldridge
Mr. Quinn states that he ascertain
ed that young Eldridge called Casco
through Otisfield. This locates the
telephone call which figured in the
mystery.
The statement of Mr.. Huntington that
he saw Eldridge at o'clock in Gardiner
is a mistake and that the movements
were traced to the satisfaction of Mr.
Quinn, The witness was satisfied as
to the deaths of the Eldridges.
A newspaper on the kitchen table
was burned and the theory deduced
from this is that Mrs. Eldridge set
fire to this as she rushed blazing into
the sitting room.
The accident theory was advanced
by Mr. OuiDn