Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-01
Mortuary Record.


Criminal Matters Report of the Attorney
General.
Gen. Fl. M. Plais,ed Attorney General of the
STATE, has submitted his annual report to the Gov
er1or and Council We have already given an
abstract of its dealing with the question of the
forcement of the liquor laws. In CRIMINAL matters
we 6nd that the Attorney General has been very
active the past year, personally attending the trial
and final disposition Of the following indictments
for capital offences in the Supreme Judicial
Court:
In Androscoggin county, James NJ. Lowell was
tried for the murder Of his wife, Mary Elizabeth
Lowell, on the twelfth day Of June, 1870. 1t ap,
peared that the murdered woman suddenly and
mysteriously disappeared from Lewiston, where
she lived, and nothing was heard of her for more
than three years She was last seen on the even
ing of that day, riding with her husband in the
direction of the Switzerland road. On the 10th OF
October, 1874 the headess skeleton of a woman
was found near the Switzerland road, three or four
miles from the city proper, which skeleton was
pronounced by the jury Of inquest to be the re-
mains of the missing woman, Mary Elizabeth
Lowell. The jury further found that she was muir
dered. Lowell was found guilty, senterced to be
hanged, and committed to State prison.
In Penobscot county. Elbridge W. Reed was
tried for the murder Of John Ray, at Midway,
September 20, 1870. This the third trial of
the prisoner, and occupied fifteen days Defence,
general denial. Verdict. guilty of murder in
the second degree and Reed was sentenced to the
State prison for life.
In Washington county, Amos c. Benner
tried for arson, the burning in the night time OF
the dwelling house of Charles r. Holland, in Penn
broke; verdict, guilty. Exceptions were filed by
his counsel and were argued at the Law Term tor
the Western District, in July. The opinion OF
the Court has not yet been announced.
In Knox county, Charles Tilton Robbins Of Deer
TIse, was tried for the murder of Solomon Camp,
"a British subject on board the schooner "Anne
II xto IF
by reason OF insanity, and the prisoner committed
to the Insane Hospital.
In Waldo county, in the case of John True Cor
don, tried and convicted at the October Term,
1873 of murder in the first degree. the exceptions
filed at the time of trial, were Withdrawn by his
counsel, and the sentence Of death was pronounced
npon the prisoner.
In Cumberland county, the only indictment for
q capital offence now pending for trial Is one
against Jonathan Watson for the crime OF arson.
He was once tried and convicted, and the verdict
set aside; new trial was entered upon, but not
finished on account the death Of one OF the Jur-
ors.
Four men are now in custody charged with
capital offences and awaiting the action of the
Grand Jury: Two for murder in the county of
Androscoggin; one for murder in the county Of
Penobscot; and one for arson in the county OF
Piscataquis. These cases will be disposed Of in
January and February, at the next terms OF the
Supreme Judicial Court for said counties respec-
lively.
large number of civil suits have been disposed
of.
The Attorney General renews his recommends
ton of last year. that the law regulating challenge
in capital cases, be so amended as to give to the
State the same number Of challenges as is now
given to the accused. The accused now has the
right to challenge eleven of the jurors percmptor-
", while the State can challenge five only. In
capital trials the main policy of the defence in the
selection of jury, is to exclude therefrom every
"strong' man, and this policy is greatly befriended
and strengthened by the existing law. He recon-
mends also the repeal Of the statue prohibiting any
mans sitting as jury in a capital case who cannot
conscientiously find person guilty Of an offence
punishable with DEATH 1t often deprives the State
of the services Of some Of the best men summoned
IS jurors, and in cases, too requiring the highest
intelligence. lie also recommends the passage of
an act making it the duty of a coroner, in case Of
inquest on dead bodies, to forthwith notify the
County Attorney or Attorney General, who shall
he reuu;red N attend the ipouest