The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-15
1s1 a17s 49, s7-'s 4
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~ q AusuKv July Is, 1867
10 the Editor Of the Press
In your issna of yesterday l observed an ex-
tract from an article which Appeared in the
Gospel Banner and which takes the ground
that the verdict rendered in the yerrili case
is against the evidence brought out at the
trial. The Press then adds the following CON-
melt: .----..-s-
1t seems evident that Verrill has been con.
victed on insufficient testimony Luz STATE oI
the public nina was such In the community
where the horrible tragedy occurred that we
fear an accusation was analogous to convic-
ton.
Now let me say that probably no man ever
tried In this State for murder was favored
with more impartial investigation than Yer
rill. The public mind was not excited at the
time of the trial. During the five months
which had elapsed from the commission Of the
crime, all had become calm. The govern
ment bad judiciously kept everything to itself
and never was community less determined
as to the guilt or innocence of an accused par
ty. The only feeling manifested during the
trial, and that became quite strong toward its
close, was rot against but in favor Of Verrill.
None of the witnesses against Verrill dis
played any strong desire to convict him. Ger
tsin!y the prosecution. in the persons of At
torney General Frye, and County Attorney
Bicknell, showed no desire to deprive the
accused of anything which might tell in his
favor the defense was well conducted by
Messrs Record s. Ludden. AS for the Judge,
II is generally conceded that he was liberal
towards the party on trial. So far hear no
fault found with the Investigation; but it Is
charged that the Jury rendered verdict
against the evidence-a very grave charge.
Jury of twelve men, Of more intelligence
and less prejudice it would be difficult to en-
panel. They heard the evidence and argu-
ments from beginning to end, saw all the wit
nesses, and rendered verdict of guilty. Sure
~ the presumption is in their favor, and not in
favor of the editor of the Gospel Banner.
Many of those who witnessed the trial
throughout, thought the jury would disagree;
many thought they would acquit others that
they would convict. Some who regarded ver-
rili as Innocent at the beginning of the trial
held him to be guilty at the close; but with
others the reverse was true. Thus public sem
timent was divided; and as usual in such cases
the public sympathy was with Verrill. '
When George Knight was tried in this town
tor murder, the jury did not agree at once, and
there we're not few who thought him iuno-
cent, and more who thought the evidence in
sufficient for conviction; hut presume there
could not be found ten men in the county who
would sign petition asking that he be par.
doned. And already the public conviction
grows stronger here that the verrill verdict
is right; and without doubt this conviction
will strengthen unless new evidence favorable
to Verrill is discovered.
do not wish to, and would not argue the
case, but this viii admit The circumstances
adduced in corroboratioD of the testimony of
Harris, taken alone, are not, as the Judge stat
ed in bis charge, sufficient to build well
grounded suspicion upon; but they are not
TO be taken alone, which may make a world of
difference. The case is not to be determined
from one thing, but from all things, not alone
from the evidence, but from the appearance
OF the witnesses. BARLOW,
I NoTE.-"Barlow's" Communication respect
ing the verdict in the Verrill case, should have
been addressed to the Argus. The article to
which he refers was borrowed from the Argus,
to enable US to get out paper Friday morning
after unfortunately pi-ing page of our inside