The Portland daily press., 1877-12-29
CHIME I'm MAINE.
Annual Report of Attorney General EN-
cry.

The annual report of Attorney Gu. Ia. EN-
cry is published. During the year which it
covers there has been an unusually large num-
Der of murders committed in this state In
Oxford codnty Miss Ianthe Morgan aud Mrs.
Sophronia j. Libby vera convicted of murder
in the second degree, for the killing of the for
mer's Legitimate child, aud sentenced to i'm
prisonment for life; in Sagadahoc. Isaac N.
Cox, aged IA, was convicted of manslaughter
for the shooting of his father, and sentenced to
six years in prison; Edward NJ Smith was COZ
victed in Hancock of murder in the fir IT de-
gree. for the killing of Melissa T. Thayer of
Bucksport; exceptions were filed aud the case
is still pending in the Law Court Several 9th
er homicides have been committed during the
year. but none of them amounting to murder
in the first degree, but the Belgrade wife MUIR
der. MIR. Emery is of the opinion that the
presence or absence of the death penalty has
no direct influence on the number of murders.
The Attorney General has personally had charge
of the trials above mentioned, and has also
attended the three sessions of the law court.
He repeats his former suggestion that County
Attorneys be required to assist in presenting
their cases to the full court
The report says that very large proportion
VI LHe pfOSoCullOuS III the several C0untIeS are
for violations Of the liquor law, and if that law
is not well enforced it is not for the want of
abundant prosecutions. The County Attorneys
are generally commended as faithful and Ca
pable officers.
Mr.. Emery doubts if coroner's inquests upon
dead bodies are of sufficient use to justify the
expense incurred by them. They generally de-
termine nothing. Their verdict is of no use to
anybody. 1t does not acquit or convict. 1t is
not single step toward acquittal or conviction
The testimony taken is only useful to the re-
spondent as it has to be filed in court, and thus
the respondent can learn infinitely the evidence
and make up defence to fit it. The officers
engaged upon the case always looks up evidence
Independent of the inquest. The Attorney
thinks the state can safely abolish the whole
Anticipated machinery, and in place of it simply
take the dspdsit4it5an ls 81 fsst
mony could be thus collected with celebrity, Sc
crecy and at comparatively little cost. The At
torney could determine whether it was of use
to prosecute.
He suggests legislation concerning the matter
of expert testimony 10 criminal trials. 1t
might be provided that whenever the pr0secu-
ton or defence shall consider that any matter
should be Investigated and explained by an ex-
pert, application shall be made of the Court or
Judge for the appointment of disinterested
expert. The Judge shall notify the other side,
and after hearing, shall appoint such person as
he finds to be suitable. The Investigations
made by such experts should be open to both
sides during the entire progress. 1t it be re-
condite matter the Judge might appoint more
than one expert. The gentleman so appointed
would not be employed by either side, and
would have no employer to serve. The investi-
cations and opinions could be vigorously tested
be more satisfactory to the court and jury.
The following table shows the number and
kind of indictments in the state, excepting
Knox county, for the year: