Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-10-11

Rockland, Me-, 10. Yesterday afternoon
Dr. Wood, professor of chemistry in Harvard
University, testified, that he had subjected
the spots on Miss Marks night shirt to care
full examination and found them to have been
made by blood.
Seth Patterson, jailor at Wiscass set, ident-
fed letter and envelope written and direct
ed by the prisoner when in Jail.
Maynard Sumner, bank president, was put
OH the stand as an expert in writing and gave
his opinion that the threatening letters were
written by the same person as those jast iden-
tilted by Mr.. Patterson.
Rockland, Me. 10. The Court came in at
nine o'clock. The room was about half filled.
The prisoner manifested some anxiety,
but is still calm and self possessed. The ar
ticles of clothing which have been the subject
ofprevious testimony, were put into the case.
Sheriff Hobbs was called; identified letter
taken from the Mank house. The threaten
ing letters. six in number, were then put into
the case, and were read by the County Attor-
ney. These letters are admitted to have been
written by the prisoner. The letters are
highly threatening in character Among the
expressions used, are: "You have ruined me,
soul, body, reputation, and mind, and l will
put a ball through your heart" ''You had
better get your coffin ready, for you will need
it very soon" "You will need your money
and your life insurance too, brfore year"
'Vengeance is mine These words were
used many times She said she had pistol
which was given her in Boston. The letters
abound in direct threats, and some of them
are grossly obscene in character. Most of
them are without date or signature, but tw o
are signed 81. A. Mank"
This closed the Government testimony, and
the court adjourned till afternoon.
Opening of the Defense.
The defense opened this afternoon. l.. NJ.
Staples made the opening argument for the
respondent. He called attention to the I'M
certain nature of circumstantial evidence,
claiming that every link in its chain must be
established beyond doubt, and cited various
cases where wrongful conviction had been
OUtdluSu upUu eNlueLCc VI tHlS CHARACTER. lie
detailed the circumstances of prisoners con.
nection with DR.. Baker, claiming that she
had been seduced by him seven years ago I'M
der promise of marriage, at time when her
kept up his illicit connection with her under
repetition of this promise. He claimed that
there was reconciliation between the pris
oner and deceased after the threatening let
tiers were sent, and that they had met frequent
ly on intimate terms after the date of the last
letter, March, 9th, up to the night of the
murder. On that night deceased came to
Warren Marks house and received an affec-
tionate welcome from prisoner, and occupied
her bed; both had been asleep. and Miss
Mank was aroused by the sound of the pistol
shots, and in terror fled from the house and
made her way to Mr.. Spears in the manner
described. This was the simple story she
had always told. What passed between them
before the murder was stated.
At the conclusion of the opening argument
| Miss Mank was put upon the stand. She de-
tailed the particulars of her acquaintance
with DR.. Baker, giving the general facts, as
stated above. The illicit connection between
them began seven years ago, at which time
he promised her marriage. He procured an
abortion upon her person sometime later, and
sent her to Boston for like purpose last fall.
She had also given birth to a child, of which
he was the father, three years ago On the
29th Of October last, he had renewed his en-
gagement to marry her. From that time till
February he continued to visit her, when he
ceased his visits, and in that month the
threatening letters were written. In March
he renewed his visits and continued his visits
and intercourse with her up to the time of the
murder.
The prisoner had testified to the circum-
stances of her intimacy with DR.. Baker up to
the Saturday proceeding the tragedy, when
the hour of adjournment having arrived, her
examination was suspended
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