Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-09
Reported for the Kennebec Journal.
TRIAL OF BARNARD LITTLE.

r,. RocKLAND, April 9th.
ms morning Mr.. Reed offered in evidence
one OF the letters identified by Stephen Lit
Ie as letter written by him to Charles
White. lie offered it not as bearing upon the
question OF motive to commit the act but
as bearing upon the question of the sanity or
insanity of Little. The government wished
10 show by the letter that there were grounds,
however inadequate, for the prisoner to sus-
pect that White was interfering in his affairs,
and that it was no delusion, as claimed by
the defence
The court remarked that no evidence had
been produced showing that the letter had
ever come to the knowledge of the accused,
therefore it would not be admissible to show
motive for the commission of the crime, but
it was admissible only on the naked question
OF whether there was an insane delusion in
the mind of the prisoner with regard to the
matter of correspondence between his boys
and White.
The following is an extract from the letter
and is all from it that bears upon the case -
II want you to tell father that he might
want a dollar as bad as l want it now, and he
might be without child near him; our coal
is all gone now, and il will be hard to get any
more. If he would only send little money
to buy some clothes for S--and mother
we could get some ourselves. We have not
Sunday pants or any thing else. You may
tell him if he don't send some, he will not
think anything Of himself when he will find
policeman taking him by the shoulder and
walking him off and then he will have to give
it. want you to read this little piece to
him."
DIR. WIN. A. BANKS, recalled by the gov
eminent, testified Il have been in practice
20 years; have read considerable upon the
subject of insanity; have attended the pris.
oner since the second day of March.
QUEsTIoN.-What in your opinion has been
the state Of prisoners mind as to sanity or in
sanity?
Objected to by prisoners counsel on the
ground that witness was not an expert within
the rule laid down by the court.
COURT understand that there is an ex-
ception in favor of the attending physician
who has had charge of the patient. l think
the witness comes within the exception re-
lating to experts and will allow the testimony.
WITNESS During the time have attended
him it is my opinion that the prisoner has
been of sound mind and sane; have had the
matter of insanity in view while observing
him; his wounds when l saw him were nee
essarily painful; sleep would be likely to be
disturbed with such wounds; has made the
request to have brandy to drink in his water.
Cross Eramination.-I asked questions
which thought would be likely to bring the
matter to light if he had diseased mind
that was during the treatment here at the
lookup; no one requested me to make such
an examination; had heard hints of such
defence being put up; have read authorities
on insanity, since the trial began to refresh my
my memory.
DIR. HARLOW, recalled by defence Il have
heard the testimony since gave mine; there
is no change or modification want to make
in my testimony.
All the testimony being in Mr.. Mortland
proceeded in his argument for the defence
which occupied nearly four hours. Mr..
Reed followed in the closing argument for the
government which occupied about two hours.
The Judge then charged the jury, report
of which will be published tomorrow.
After an absence of nearly four hours the
jury returned a verdict of murde, in the sec
ond degree.
The prisoner betrayed no visible signs of
emotion, and when sentenced the next morn
ing to hard labor in the State Prison during
the remainder of his natural life, the same
look of indifference was apparent.