The Portland daily press., 1869-10-01
Superior Court,

CRIMINAL TERM-soDDARD, j., PRESIDING.
THURsDAY.-State VS.. Thomas Castleden. Com
mon seller The Indictment was found under the
law Of 1867. He was sentenced to pay fine of SiCO
and three mouths imprisonment.
State VS.. Saml. Il. Whitehouse. Indictment for
obtaining goods to the amount OF 5000 from S. Ii.
Robbins agent OF Watson & Clark Of Philadelphia.
A mol pros. moved, on the ground that the pros
ecutor had not appeared in Court. The motion was
granted and the prisoner discharged
Webb. IRA I. Drew
f. II. Smith.
State VS.. Harriet L. Parker. Felonous assault ON
Mary E. Baker. The affair on the Western Promen-
ade early in June last, in which woman shot
by another, has not yet passed entirely ont oil the
public mind. 1t will be remembered that Mrs. Ba-
ker, while seated on bench on the Promenade, in
the early part of the evening, approached from
behind by Mrs. Parker, who discharged four barrels
of revolver at her. two shots from which took effect
In the back making dangerous wounds. Jealousy
assigned the cause of the assault. The as
salant admitted to bail, and has been at large
until this morning, when the case was called up in
this Court. Mr.. Webb, County Attorney, conducted
the prosecution, and Messrs. Joseph Howard and
Bion Bradbury appeared for the defence
In opening the case to the jury, The County Attor
ney contented himself with stating very briefly the
facts connected with the assault and called the wit
nesses for the Government.
DR.. Sylrester, the physician who attended Mrs
Baker, testified that there two wounds In the
back one in the oin and the other lower down. that
in the loin was about four inches deep and of aveS
dangerous character, and for day two the result
OF it was uncertain.
John S,ret, City Marshal OF Portland, testified
that Mrs Parker came TO the station house about
o'clock on the night Of the assault in carriage, ae
companied by young man; she said she had shot
"Wiggy Baker," and wanted to know il she should
be arrested witness told her she was then under ar
rest; the prisoner said Mrs Baker had ruined her
life and happiness; she had fired four shots at herr
intended to kill her and hoped she had I remained
with her until past O'Clock; for a couple Of hours
she was very excited. but calmer when left her did
not appear like sane person; she was walking tho
floor continually; said she meant to kill Mrs Baker
and hoped she had, said Mrs. Baker had ruined her
happiness by robbing her of the affections of her bus
baud and alluded to letter from Mrs. Baker To her
husband, urging him to eope with her to California
THE witness mere put two letters In the hands OF
prisoners counsel) Said she knew of an aduterous
intercourse between the partes her Indignation was
entirely expressed against Mrs. Baker; she would
not allow any person to speak against her husbands
she spoke Of accompanying Mrs. Baker home after
the shooting, and said there was quite number of
was not one of them who thought enough of her to
see her home; she brought Mrs. Bakers wig with
her to the station house. and very much pleased
ut having secured that trophy; her eyes were re-
markably brilliant like balls Of fire, and there was
an expression OF great wildness about her countc-
nance; she said she had watched many nights 10
catch her husband and Mrs. Baker together; had an
impression that she said something about finding
them together at Mr.. Parker's office Mr. Fernalds
house.
The Government rested here and Mr.. Brad bury
opened for the accused. The defence, no said. was
insanity, caused by the woman's mental and physi-
cal suiferin2s. Her husband had been induced to
desert her and her child by Mrs. Baker; had ILL
treated and abused her, and refused to provide the
necessities of lite for her during illness; that at the
time she discovered the adulterous intercourse be-
tween the parties Mrs. Parker was encisnte and his
cruelty and neglect produced miscarriage; and that
although often urged to do by her friends, she
fused to take for divorce or prosecute for
adultery but on the contrary had so long she aud
her husband llved together, up to November or De-
cembCr last been a devoted and faithful wife.
-Four witnesses were called for the defence
Mr.. James G. Turkey testified that he had known
thu defendant ever since she a small GIRL she is
relative of his wite's; she mild amiable and Of
lively, social turn; knew of nothing to render her
marriage relations unhappy until August, 1868;
about year ago he noted change in her appear
ance; she appeared gloomy, and witnessed inquired
of her the cause; after considerable persuasion she
reluctantly told him of the intimacy between her
husband and Mis-. Baker; she spent several weeks in
witness family in November and December, 1868:
her mind seemed to dwell upon her husband and
Mrs. Baker; it was difficult TO induce her to cat.
The witness testified to her sleepless nights excited
and wild department, restlcssness and at times y;o
lent manner; she would often come TO witness noec
of business, in business hours, and insist upon his
going with her in search OF her husband: Parker
and Mrs. Baker were found tog ,ther in n bouse In
the upper part OF tho city one night; the effect of
MIS- Parkers troubles caused her to lose much flesh:
as much as hty or sixty pounds on the night OF the
assault Mrs Parker came TO witness house In a wild
anu excited manner, and requested him to 90 with
ner; nc was sick and refused; and defendant went
AWAY, out came back afterwards and said 81 have
lone it,; witness asked, "what have YOU done?"
leiehdant said she had shot Mrs. Baker; and then
she went on in an excited way to describe the shoot
ing, and that she assisted Mis-. Baker home, and
she passed into the house she grabbed Mr.. Bakers
wig and brought 1t away; witness testified that he
returned from abroad once and visited Mrs. Parker;
found her sick the bed, alone, without food in the
house, her husband had just lett the house and re-
fused to provide anything for her; witness and his
wife carried her food and administered to her
stiles.
Ceoss eramined-whcu they broke up housekeep-
Ing in November, 1868, Mrs. Parker sold the furni-
lure with the consent of her husband; Mrs. Parker
told witness that Mrs Baker had threatened her lte
md had got pistol and would shoot her II she came
rear her; she said she had got revolver and could
hoot as well Mrs Baker; never saw Mrs. Par
ler's pistol until after the shooting.
Adjourned till afternoon.