Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-18
Two Witnesses at Mohr
Trial Not Sure Negro
Prisoners Are NJ e n
Seen Near Murder
TRACING MOVES
OF THE SUSPECTS
Prosecution Places Brown in
Providence at 7.25 on Evening
of Murder-Exchanged Motor
Cycle Light-Crime Commit
ted about 8.45

Providence, r. l., Jan. lin an eff
fort to identify two dark complex
Toned men" seen walking along the
Matt road a short distance from the
spot where DR.. Mohr was shot on the
night Of Aug. 81, 1915, few minutes
after the pistol shots were heard as c.
Victor Brown and Henry H. Spell
man. the two Negroes on trial with
Mrs. Elizabeth Mohr on the charge Of
murder the prosecution put two wit
nesses on the stand this afternoon, but
neither one Of them was able to iden-
tify the prisoners as the men they
saw in the vicinity on the night of
the tragedy.
Mrs. Gardner Saw Man
Mrs. Mary Gardner, who lived at
Matt Point at the time, testified she
heard five shots, an isolated shot, and
then four more in quick succession,
as she was walking along the road
that bends around Echo lake, and that
! in FIVE or 10 minutes she saw tit
| tie dark complexioned man" coming
toward her, coming so close to her
before he crossed to the other side that
he touched her sleeve. She thought
she saw the shadow. Of another man
going into the bushes. but was not
certain. William Salley of Darlington
| was fishing off the banks of Echo
Lake, he said, and heard five shots at
about the same time, only he heard
two shots in quick succession, then
two more the same way and the fifth
shot alone. Later he saw two very
dark skinned men, pushing a motor
cycle along the road. A week later he
was brought to Bristol Jail to see If
he could identify Brown and Spell
man as the men he saw that night.
He testified that they looked like the
men he had seen pushing the motor
cycle, but he woAld not swear that
! they were the men.
The prosecution placed Brown in
this city at about 7.25 o'clock on the
night of Aug. 81. the night of the
shooting, through a motor cycle sales
man, who exchanged light for
Brown. At that time a taller colored
man was with Brown, this witness
said. DR.. Mohr was shot about 8.45 P.
NJ. 1t was brought out in evidence
during the day that Brown, Spellman
and Heals were all together about
noon time on the day Of the tragedy
| together again next day. They ap-
peared not to be worried, so their
aunt admitted in cross-examination by
! Attorney William F. Lewis. spending
their time playing ball and singing.
! Following a conference this evening
| between Arthur Gushing, of counsel
| for Mrs. Mohr, and Philip S. knauer,
who was one of the late DR.. Mohr's at
torneys in the latter's office, it was
stated by Attorney Knauer speaking
| for both sides, that an agreement lad
been reached whereby an equity suit
| brought by Mrs. Mohr to recover sew
| eral pieces Of real estate she had con-
viewed to him before his death. had
been taken care Of, thus allowing the
estate Of Dr. Mohr to descend accord
! ing to law.
| Under the agreement" stated Mr..
| Knauer, Mrs. Mohr's equity suit is
! withdrawn and she will get her wild
! ow's allowance and also an amount of
| furniture. The law provides that the
| widow shall get one-third Of the per-
sonal property and a life interest il
one-third Of the real estate, tire rest to
| 20 to the heirs. In this case there are
| four heirs, Charles and Virginia Mohr
by the present wife, and 'C.tarle.s Man.
ming Mohr of New York All Adela
Mari. wife Of DR.. Ernest 1ler: oe Bal
| timore. ~
.~rhe life interest in one-third Of the
real estate" it was explained. sig
! ures a little better than one-fifth of the
total real estate outright for a person
OF Mrs Mohrs age, which is 49, Under
the law she cannot get her share for at
least a year, this period being allowed
for the presentation Of claims. But we
have anticipated her need Of funds be-
fore the expiration Of that time and
| have agreed on a lump sum to tide her
| over"
Neither attorney would disclose the
amount. It may be about 5000. Attor-
ney Knauer denied that the value Of
the estate II as much as half a million
| as has been reported. The inventory
Of the appraisers shows personality of
sso, 900 and the tax books show real es-
tate in this city and Middletown Of s70,-
900. Mrs. Mohr's share then is approx
imately $4,000 on this basis.