The Portland daily press., 1870-02-19
MAIN E.
Trial of John Lawrence at Bangor
for the Murder Of Mrs. Atwood.
VERDI ct OF THE JURY.

Especial Dispatch by Interna sional Line.]
BANGOR, Feb. 18.-Mr Frye, continuing his
discourse finally, illustrated the picture OF hid
eous insanity drawn by his brother Knowles.
If the story of sunstroke is true, who don't the
prisoner inform his attorney who procured his
pension or something of that nature. 1t wasn't
sunshine but moonshine. Why has not the
prisoner testified? The desire for rum is some-
times inherited Both parents were intemper-
ate. An insane love for liquor, if yielded to,
is drunkenness. This, then, is their defence.
The prisoner has not been shown hard drink
err. For eighteen moths he worked steadily.
Here followed brief temperance lecture. He
continued: lyon may be led to pity and for
give him, and do; but that must not influ-
ence your decision. After nights debauch
could you expect to see the indications of
sober man? No, but unsteady nerves, general
wildness of manner and the legitimate result
of debauchery are what Mr.. Treat saw.
He wished to be the important witness, not
outstanding testimony to the contrary. be-
lieve both men had been drinking whiskey.
When Washburn noticed the insane appear
ance he tells of, why didn't he tell Lawrence's
brother, whom he saw frequently? The de-
fence was desperate indeed when they must
introduce as an evidence of insanity that the
prisoner "blabbed and talked" when about his
work. AT this point Mr.. Frye read from works
on insanity and suicide. Jealousy was the ac-
kuowledged metive. He drank to stimulate
him to the deed. Wanting the poison showed
deliberate and rational planning. His argu-
ment then was to the effect that many persons,
surrounded by desperate circumstances, COM
nit suicide to avoid what they deem greater
evil. 1t is necessary to watch a condemned
man lest he commit suicide. John Lawrence's
act was a logical termination of life like his.
Mr. Frye explained Williams testimony thus:
Lawrence was in a maudlin condition, and as
result of this he was about to relate his in
tentions to William. The latter interrupted
him after his first remark. This cooled him a
little and he passed it off by the remark, 81
am going to Ireland" Mr.. Frye continued:
When they empanneled they consulted with
the prisoner. Has he shown any act or look of
an insane man during the trial? Had the
prisoner testified he could have you every
thing concerning the case and you could have
Judged fully of the matter. His jealousy was
without cause, but not without such evidence
as was real real in its effect To Lawrence,
knowing the woman with whom he lived, aud
being of low instincts and suspicious Of men,
it was a reality. He joined the defence in as
serting the innocence of the respectable citi'
zens involved The defence would not put
Lawrence on the stand, for his own testimony
would confirm the charge. Though he had an
unsound mind you can't pronounce him not
| guilty; you must go further and say he did not
know 1t was crime. Can you, against his own
statement, find him ignorant of this knowl-
| edge? With a complimentary allusion to the
jury and hope that he should never again APP
pear in capital case, he concluded at u
| O. clock. Adjourned.
AFTERNOON.
Judge Kent began his charge by state men
of the case. He remarked that no doubt the
jury, like himself, would gladly have avoided
the responsibility of the case could they have
done so. But once in mans life crdinaril!
does he serve as juror in a capital case. 1t de-
mands his utmost attention; that he must no
regard the wishes or threats of any person
You pass no sentence, make no law; when
after due consideration, you say guilty or no
, guilty you have done your duty He theI
f stated the charge in the indictment. In an
swer to tne question what is murder, he reat
the statute. Laying aside the matter of in
sanity, no question is raised az to to the homi
eide; yet 1t is necessary to keep its circum
stances in view. He reviewed them in full
The lag presumes every man sane who is ca
pabie of committing grimes in other words
the Government is not bound to prove SAINT.
when insanity is not claimed. The preponder