The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-02-07
From The Maine Democrat
Supreme Judicial Court.
RICE, j., rREsIDIyG.
TrupAY, Jan. 2S.

TrnpAY, Jan. 2S.
STATE. Us. Joel Hooper .-Indietment for ar
son. JOSIAH II. Drummond, Attorney Gene
raj, end Rufus p. Taplcy, for Government
Ira L. Drew, and Luther 7. Mason, for delft.
The jury were speedily cmpanneled, no ono
OF those called upon confessed 10 having any
bias In favor Of or against the prisoner, and
but one said that no had any conscientious
scruples against finding person guilty OF
crime punishable with death, II the evidence
should -utisfy him Of the guilt Of the person
accused.
The evidence for the Government occupied
two days or more, and the substance was ~
follows:
Mr.. Warren, OF Lyman, testified that
about eleven o'clock ON the night Of the 10Th
of September last, he was awakened by tho
sufIocation Of smoke, and going out through
the Kitchen to the shed, found II In flames.
He went back, and going out Of tho front
door, took ladder and mounted 10 the win
dow of the chamber where his little daugh-
ter was sleeping, broke in and groped around
after her, but could find no trace Of her, and
was compelled to retire on account Of the
density Of the suoke. Mr Warren then
gave in detail the position VI the place where
the FIRE was discovered, and pointed II cot on
plan Of the buildings, he alec stated that
the hos.pen in the rear Of the buildings, had
been partially destroyed before the fire, rs
tending to show that the Ere was the work
of AN incendiary. Dir. Warren and several
members of his family aleo testified that no
ashes OF very combustablc material were kept
in the shed-that no light had been there
that evening. nor any smoking IN that vicin-
ity. a young man also testified to passing
Mr.. Warren's hoasc about ten o'clock that
evening, md that he then saw no indications
of fire there. Two men also testified that on
different occasions they had heard the prison.
or threaten to injure Sir. Warren, who IL bis
guardian and brother-in-law. IL appeared
that Hooper thought Warren bad wronsed
him out of considerable sum Of money
Two young men, a son Of Mr.. Warren, and
another young man, testified that on the
night Of the fro they were coming home and
met person about 148 rods from the house.
Said the man walked in stopping attitude,
was short, slonehed his hat over his eJcs
when he walked, and stepped aside when
they met. After passing they booked round
for him but could not sec him. The next
day they went out and measured the tracks
Of the man, and thought they appeared Ike
those Of Mr.. Hooper. Various e0rroborat-
ing circumstances were introduced to show
that tho man must have been Hooper.
The counsel for the defence introduced ev-
idence tending to prove an abb. That
Hooper was at hs own home At eight o'clock
ON that Sunday night, that he went TO hd
then that his home is about four miles from
the place OF tho IRE; that persons were up
in his house 1.-TWO families live thee.l till
neatly ten, and heard No noise in the prison.
crs chamber as thOsgh he were getting out.
Ako that young Warren had IN the prelim.
mary examination testified that no frst sho't
the man whom no met WAS one Enmons
and that he didn't think its being his uncle
till after the fire was discovered. Tho exam
nation OF this easc occupied the court until
Thursday noon. when the Attorney General
entered nolle prosequi, and tho prisoner WAS
discharged. .
The next case WIS ...-' f..E
STATE, rs. Ruff, C. Lint6,id. Indict-
,nent for rapc. X. p. Tapley for Govern
ment. T. NJ. Hayes and Z. Eastman wcro
appointed counsel for the prisoner by the
CouIt. Trial occupied till Friday noon.
The Jury, after being out less than half an
hour. c,me in and found the prisoner guilty,
and be was sentenced TO imprisonment for
life. ......-..... .,l i. -
I STATE rs. JonaS Patterson. Indictment for
ns-auIt and battery. II. =. hpley. County
Attorney, for Government. The prisoner be-
ing araigned said he did not know whether
no was guilty OF not, that be was unconscious
Of having done what was charged against
him In the Indictment. The Court appoint
cd Moses Emery, Esq., his council. The ev-
idence in behalf Of tbs Government showed
that sometime last October the prisoner as
saultcd his wife. knocked her down. and
slammed ON her aftcr she was down. Tho
defence set up Was insanity. Two or three
LAWYERS was called and testified thai at var
ious times Patterson bad consulted with them
told them he had acen visions. been visited by
angels, &c. Tho Jury found the prisoner
guilty, and be was sentenced TO ten months
confinement in the County Jail.
On Friday afternoon the Court adjourned
iii Monday, g p. NJ. The remainder OF tho
term will DO holden by Judge Goodenow.