THE PORTLAND TRANSCRIPT, May 12, 1877

                                                       MAINE MATTERS
                                                       ANDROSCOGGIN
          A three year old daughter of Jerry Russell, Lewiston, was burned to death,
     her clothes catching fire at a bonfire.
          Two cows in a pasture in Turner last Saturday fought till they killed each
     other. Both were found dead.
                                                         AROOSTOOK
          A Pioneer gives a sketch of Sidney Cook of Presque Isle, the celebrated diver.
     He began work last year at Port Morris, Long Island Sound, on the wreck of the
     British frigate Hussar, which sank in 90 feet of water 96 years ago, carrying down
     with her $600,000 in coins, intended to pay off the British army.  The diving suit
     was not of the right kind for the work, and he has had another made, which he has
     lately received. His chief difficulty is in getting light at the great depth, as the water
     is muddy. The bottom is rocky with two or three feet of mud. This mud he washes
     away with an ordinary rubber hose, the force being supplied from a pump on board
     the sloop. he has found bits of the treasure, and the contractor is sanguine of final
     success, though he has thus far spent $40,000 with but little results.
                  
                                                        CUMBERLAND
          Rev. G. T. Ridlon, now of North Fairfield, is soon to publish an historical sketch
      of Harrison. The work will give full genealogies of about 50 families of early settlers.
      Orders should be sent as above as soon as possible, since only a few extra copies will
      be printed, beside those subscribed for. Price one dollar.
          Rev. H. P. Nichols of Salem, Mass., has accepted the call of St. Paul's Church at
      Brunswick. He was recently rector of the Free Church of St. John, Philadelphia.
         The Haskell Silk Co., at Saccrappa, is increasing its capacity for manufacturing
     Embroidery silk.
         The Knowlton Brothers, machinists at Saccarappa,  intend to erect a new building
     for their increasing business.
                             
                                                        HANCOCK
         The trial of Edwin M. Smith, accused of the murder of the Trim family, began
     at Ellsworth on Wednesday of last week. We briefly recapitulate the circumstances
     of the murder, which happened last September. Captain Trim was a man 74 years
     old, and a widower. At the time of the murder Mrs. Thayer, his daughter, and her
     little child were living with him at Bucksport. On the night of the murder  Capt.
     Trim's house was burned, and in searching the ruins the charred remains of Capt.
     Trim's were found in the carriage house, and the body of Mrs. Thayer in the barn. 
     Mrs. Thayer had been to visit a neighbor, Mrs. Harriman, the previous evening and
     from the fact that several articles of clothing belonging to her were found covered
     with blood near the house, it is supposed robbery was the object, as Mrs. Thayer
     had about $850 in money. Smith, the accused was at Harriman's house, where he
     been at work, when Mrs. Thayer called, but was found the next morning at his home
     4 miles distant. There were blood marks on his clothing, and his coat had been colored
     by some dye. The American says of Smith's appearance, that "he is not 40 years of
     age, is about 5 feet 10 inches in height, well made and strongly built in apparent
     good health, of light complexion and wears full, sandy colored whiskers. His eyes
     are bright and clear, and neither seeks nor avoids the gaze of the observer, and he will
     look you almost too squarely in the eye without shrinking to be a natural for a man
     in his situation. On the whole his face is more than usually prepossessing, and the
     tone of his voice neither harsh nor unpleasant. He is intelligent, reads much, talks
     with fluency and frequently and freely alludes to the serious position in which he
     is placed." The general feeling in the community at the beginning of the trial was
     that Smith is guilty, the chain of evidence, though circumstantial, seeming
     conclusive. Sheriff Devereux testified that Smith made no inquiry as to the cause
     of his arrest. He was wearing a clean shirt, and the one he had been wearing was
    not to be found. His coat had been colored that morning, and was still wet with
    dye. There were spots on vest and pantaloons that looked like blood. Dr. Treadwell
     of Boston testified to finding large quantities of blood on the coat and cap of Smith,
     and some on pants, vest and knife. The size of the corpuscles of blood corresponded
     with those of the cloud of the murdered woman. A long hair torn out by the roots was
     found on Smith's coat, and on the cloud was a stiff hair like that of Smith's beard. On
     Monday the testimony of the State was all in, and Mr. Hadlock opened for the defense.
     Doctors Harriman and Babcock testified that it is impossible to distinguish human
     from other blood. Smith's wife, sister and sister-in-law testify that he wore the same
     when arrested at the evening  of  the murder.