Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-09

| bi or not.
Frank Huntington, who conducts a
second hand store at 444 Water street.
where Fernald Eldridge pawned his
dress suit case, stoutly maintains that
Eldridge came in there, Sunday morn
| ing, at 8 o'clock, as he distinctly re-
members hearing the clock strike that
hour. Mr.. Huntington is very hard OF
hearing and possibly miscounted the
beats of the striker.
In contradiction to this testimony
though Mr.. Huntington swore to sueh,
at the CORNERS inquest, Is the state
ment of Mrs. Angelina Wiley. who
says Eldridge was at her house, l2o
Water street, Randolph. at $50, and
had his suit case. She states he came
back about 1850, minus the suit case.
FIatly opposed to both these state
ments is that of Irving Buzzell, VINO
is positive, he saw Eldridge come in
on the 1890 or the 11.30 car, and that
he had a dress suit case at that time.
Later Eldridge came into the store
and tried to borrow SIS, which was re-
fused. Eldridge stated that he was
stranded and desired the money to
get away from Gardiner. Mr.. Russell
further stated that Eldridge appeared
at his store, about 5 P. NJ, and asked
if they sold jackknives and upon be-
ing answered in the negative, with
drew.
Charles Hamilton, the 16-year-old
son of A. l.. Hamilton, at whose house
Eldridge hired a room, was positive
in his statement as to the time when
Eldridge made his first appearance n
the house. Young Hamilton said that
he had attended st. Joseph's church,
Sunday, and had reached home little
after IL M. He had looked at the Sun
day papers for some little time when
the bell rang and on going to the head
Of the stairs, he saw a young man at
the bottom, later proving to be Ell
dridge. Charles said he had dress
suit case, and he Is positive that 1t
was nearly 12.W.
The room itself gave up the evidence
Of the contemplated suicide, and that
7 he had tried, was manifest in the red
place about his neck. He had told
| the sheriff and the county attorney
he had done SO, and told them where
to find everything in this room, and
| they found everything just as he stat
| ed.
Ivers Harrington says, that he had
come down town, about 1880 Sunday
morning, and shortly afterward met
Eldridge, in Burkes drug store. He
says he talked with him for some time,
and that he kept telling him that he
felt funny and was nervous, but laid
it to the liquor, he had drank to
quelch his troubles.
He said he talked some time with
Eldridse about a reconciliation with
his wife, and stated that Eldridge told
him, that he would give anything II
he could only have her back.
When Eldridge left him, Harrington
said 1t must have been, about IL
o'clock, though it is believed Harring-
ton is about 10 minutes out of the way
| Questioning Charles ]. Burke and his
clerk, p. NJ Shorey, they agree that
Eldridge was in there about 1910.
Placing the murder, at between II
and ~ o'clock, this almost makes ii
| impossible for Eldridge to have gone
to West Gardiner and committed the
deed and returned, at 1880 to hire a
room at Hamiltons. Still conflicting
and placing the murder, before $50
Eldridge could have done the deed
and got the 1890 car into Gardiner
| the one on which Mr.. Russell claims
to have seen him. The latter is a
| point in his favor. but the fact that
he says he left the house, at O'Clock
| Sunday morning, and reached Card
ner before s, brings forth doubts Of his
story as there was no car he could
have possibly taken, and he must have
walked otherwise. His alibi Is not al
together strong, but could be built
up and strengthened to clear him OF
all charges.