The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-06-10
by TELEGRAPH,
MATTERS In MAINE.
Trial of Wagner.

Especial to Press.1


ALFRED, June 9.-Louis Wagner was put up.
on trial Monday afternoon for the murder of
two women, with an axe at Smutty Nose, one
of the Isles of Shoals, March 9Th Attorney
General Plaisted and County Attorney Yeaton
appear for the State, and ex-Judge Tapley and
Max Fischacher of Boston, for the prisoner. A
list OF 20 jurors was called, all of whom an
swered to their names, except Hon. John H.
Burleigh.
Judge Barrows before the empanellng of
the jury gave some general instructions He
said if the jury had formed an opinion, one
way or the other, as to the guilt or innocence of
the prisoner, and eltertans that opinion now
without waiting to hear the testimony, then he
is incompetent; but although from reading
newspapers or hearing reports, he may have
@ceiVed temporary impressions favorable or
u@aVorable to the prisoner, if he has no opin-
ION W prejudice which, will prevent him from
uo'ng impartial justice when he hears the ties
timony,then he is competent. He proposed
lour quesuons to be answered by each juror
VINO should've drawn, before he should lie
| sworn IN chieL First-"Have you formed or ex-
presseo ahS oplmon as to the guilt or inno-
cence Vi the prlsoAer?" Second-'Do you feel
any olas or prejudiee for or against the prison.
err" Third-"Have YOU auy conscientious
scruples or opinion respecting captal punish
lshmentwhich would prevent Won from render
ing an impartial verdict accoslipc to the evil
dence?" Fourth-"Are YOU ,eIated or con-
fected eltner with the deceased or the prisoner
by blood or marriage, in or within the degree
of second cousin?''
q
The Clerk notified the prisoner that he could
object to the jurors as they were called and be-
fore they were sworn. Thirty Jurors were drawn
from the box. Three were challenged preemp-
torily by the prisoners counsel; fifteen had
formed and expressed opinions and were set
aside as incompetent.
The jury as constituted are as follows: Ivory
c. Hatch, foreman; Isaac Eaton, George A.
Twombley, Horace Piper, Levi G. Hanson Ma
hum Tarbox, Benajah Hall, Charles Whitney,
William Beanal, Robert Lttleteld, Isaac Lib
by and Calvin Stevens. TIE jurors were allow
ed to send messages to ther families John
Moody, John Maddox and Vim. Drummond
were sworn as officers to keepthe jury together
until they agreed upon verdict, or are dis
discharged by order of Court
The Sheriff informed the Court that he had
provided quarters in the jailor's MONS in the
new jail The empanelllng was finished in less
than two hours from the first call OF the list
Mr.. Yeaton asked an adjournment, and will
make his opening statement Tuesday morning
The prisoner is a Prussian, young, athletic,
with ford or somewhat flushed countenance.
The victims and their friends are Norwegans
The hotel register shows witnesses from the
Isle of Shoals as follows: John S. Hontvett
Mary S. Honvett, his wife and only survivor o.
the three women from the Island, Matthew
Hontvett brother of John, Fran Christensen
brother of Mrs. Hontvett, George E. Bredsen
who took Mrs. Hontvett from the island the
morning after the murder, his sors Waldamal
and Emileslar Nelson. Other government wit.
nesses will come on the morning train.