Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-04-03
PLAINTIFF STOPs.

At 2:21 Z. NJ. d. L. Hastings, Esq,
opened Tor the defense. lie desired TO
impress upon the jury the importance OF
this case. He iet the responsibility
heavily upon himself. Spoke OF the
prisoners as zone but child. weak in
years aud in intellect; the other married
with two children at home. for whose
welfare She is now in trouble both friend
less and penniIess.' They have led a
most unhappy lie, and il now is like an
open grave before them. He commented
upon difference between this case and
civil issues. la the progress OF this case
you have no RICH: to be preiudiced by
any weakness in the counsel for the de-
fense; but must judge imparIially from
the testimony. Complmenied the Coua-
ty Attorney and Attorney General, but
wsracd The jlry against taking their
words instead Of facts Oh which to form
a judgment. The defense was, ave
deny The main proposiIiops in this indict-
ment; We deny tina. there was any muir
der 10 this case; we deny that tho child
died by violence; we deny this most IL
human aud barbarous charge against the
mother" l. exists only in the minds OF
TIE people Of this section where prejudice
has taken the place OF judgment. The
line Of testimony TO be offered was TO dis
prove The charges that the child was
lrested with violence; that il was buried
clandeslineiy; that the mothers threats
were foolish remarks; that the iojnIies
upon the body we've produced after death.
Mr. Hastings resd from the law books
several definitions which might enlighten
the jury. lie should put the defendants
upon the stand. and call bu, three other
Witnesses. Tne first called was
Mis- SoPHRoNIA j. LIBBY.-Am one OF
the defendants in this action; residence
Bethel. on cross road, At place designated
BY other witnesses. Age % years have
been married I years; have two chill
dren, one q boy, years old last July.
the other girl 3 years old next April.
My sister Ianthe had been living with
me, ill January 1876, when she went to
Wm. Cookers; knew the morning after
her child was born, of its existence, Wis
tied her, and saw the whole Croker
family. have seen the mother and child
alone many times -both lying on the bed,
with no one else near. Mrs. VIM. Croker
told me that they were to adopt the child.
if boy. Child was not healthy. 1t had
sore mouth, and sore eyes which dis
charged much matter. Ianthe came to
my house when the baby was about q
fortnight old. Was at Mrs. VIM. Crook
er's Friday before baby died. They sent
for me to 60: did not want to 60, but
Ianthe persuaded me. Mrs. Croker
asked me what wanted, and | told her
We came to see about the baby. She
would not let US have the child. She
called Inc hard names and used prolane
language. We quarreled and left with
out the baby. She said it was her baby.
She threatened 10 make trouble for US.
Next morning she brought the baby to
our house Mary Z. Croker came in
first. Ianthe asksd her alter baby. She
replied it is worse. He cried all night.
Mrs. Croker got up and gave him some
rum and he was quiet after that. The
little id thing must have been drunk
or he would not have kept still. In less
than ten minutes Mrs. Croker came in
with the baby, wrapped up in shawl.
She sat by the stove with him few mo-
ments then walked to my bedroom door
and threw him on to the bed crosswise.
As she went out she said, he may live to