Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-21
LETTER FROM RULKL1ND.
RockLANp, March lG, 1871


TO the Editor of the kenaejee Journal:
The Supreme Judicial Court commenced its
session here yesterday, Judge Kent presiding.
Litchield the Lime Rock Bank robber was
brought down from Belfast yesterday. 1t will
be remembered that he was tried at the last
September term of court and convicted as ac-
cessory before the fact Exceptions were
filed to the ruling of Judge Barrows who pre-
sided, relating to the admissibility of the testi
mony of the operator of the International
Litchfeld short time before the robbery, in
these words: ''The children will leave to-
night,"-signed "Uncle." The exceptions be-
ing allowed, the prisoner was rcmanded to jail
The full court have sustained the ruling of
Judge sBarrows, and the prisoner is now
brought in for sentence. His counsel, how
ever, j. G, Jewett, Esq, of Belfast is not
disposed "to give 1t up So" He to-day pre-
scented a long motion for new trial on the
ground Of newly discovered evidence, and of
alleged tampering with certain jurors who tried
the case. The petition alleges that two wit
nesses will now swear that John Graves, Jr.,
one of the principal government witnesses,
and an accomplish Of the burglars-was
present at prayer meeting on the Sunday
evening preceding the robbery when he swore
he was at Iitchfeld's house and had a con-
yersation with him in relation to the robbery :;
that the telegraph operator viii testify that
she now recollects that she did not deliver the
dispatch above referred TO to Litchfeld, but TO
his clerk, and that the clerk will testify that
she did not deliver it to him and that he never
saw it.
As to the alleged tampering with the jury,
the petition does not inculpate the County At
torney, but alleges that Warren c. Perrigo, a
member of the bar was heard to tell one of
the Jurors while the trial was in progress, that
Litchfeld was guilty and hoped he would be
convicted, and that said Perrigo slept with
said juror at his Office one night during the
trial, and that a witness heard perrigo making
other improper comments in the presence Of
Juror during the trial. The petition pre-
sents very strong reasons for a new trial, and
the only difficulty in the way seems to be the
lack OF certified report of the evidence taken
at the trial. .TAere WIS no official reporter,
and the minutes of the presiding Judge were
very brief. Quite a full report was taken for
the kennebec Journal and it was proposed by
Mr.. Jewett that it he sent to Judge Barrows
TO be certified with the consent of the County
Attorney. The County Attorney did not at
that time assent, and argued against the mo-
| ton because it presented two distinct causes
for a new tiial which could not be properly
Joined Mr. Jewett then offered TO accept the
minutes, taken by the County Attorney as a
report of@the evidence, and said lie would d.
vide his motion The matter here subsidized
and win be renewed in day or two, when it
will be more fully argued Public opinion
has not in the least changed, as TO the part
Litchfeld took in the robbery, but there is
evidently desire to see fair play and an i'm
partial trial. His friends feel very confident
that new trial viii be granted.