Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-15

the account of the affair 10 the keunebec Jour
nal. He had read the bible in his family anu nad
prayers some three weeks not regularly. lie saiu
that the Free Baptsts and the Methodlsts CON
ducted the meeting, that ore wanted him aud al
otner wanted him, and he resolved TO stay where
he was. AT the time Miss Getcheii was 'nefe
husband abused her. Took away IRON ner uei-
cacies which had been brought to her by neigh
bors during her sickness. He would throw dishes
from the table, and throw the TAME OUT ihto an
other room. lie threwa fiat iron breaking OH Inc
handle Had threatened to run knives through
several ue,.ous threatened Daoiel and his house ;
made threats against John Miller i've years ago,
sa ing he would put butcher knife through nm:
Abnsed little dog that ha been gwen her, and
kicked a panel out Of the door. Threatened to
throw the spiltoon at the babe held ia my arms
Kicked one of the front doors out of the stove
and broke a cover. My child was scalded TO
death years ago. Jason felt bad at the tine, but
did not brood oven IT.. Last iail he hrst threaten
ed 20 kill some one.
DIR. George l.. Br'ckett took the stand Was
called to Scrlbners at the time the children were
killed. He fund the little girl and boy insensible
on the bed. Went down into the field and
brought jas up. Found Maud dying IRON con-
cussion of the brain. All the children were struck
similarly ON the same side oil the head. IN pre-
csely the same location.
Cross era-ined- Scrbner was conscious when
first saw him. Examined his throat and sewed
it up. | asked him what he had been doing lod
him it pity he hadn't cut his throat a little
more, as pretty Little girl was dead out there
Then he said he was sorry, and hoped God would
forgive him. Scribuer could talk with ease.
The government rested here, and l.. Titcomb,
ESQ opened for the defence. lie said the counsel
for the other side in his opening had indicated the
grounds of the defence. he jury OF Maine
has been the pride of her people, and we wish to
rest the in the minds of the jury IN regard TO
Jasen p Scribners sanity or insanity, uninfiu-
need by any outside pressure. man who Is not
sane is not responsible for crime committed. lie
thoaght the testimony of Mrs. ScrIbner her sell
Il a.. tka HnuH ma
committed, he was not responsible for his acts.
This defence was brought up before the crime was
committed. His neIghboIs had said that he wa.
crazy or "out of his head" This condition of
his mind seemed to be - morally conceded.
He inquired as to What degree Of insanity rem
dered a man irresponsible for his acts lie
thought he could rest his case on the fact OF the
condition of the mans mind at the time the act
was committed The person must be laborng
under disease Of the mind, so that be did not
know what be was doing. or he might have known
what he was doing, and his mind was such that he
thought he was doing right In either case, the
man is insane.
MANY courts have held that if a person raises
reasonable doubt of sanity it Is sufficient; Others
throw the whole bud of proof upon the gov
ernment; but we expect to meet the requirements
of the case under the most severe rulings OF the
court. We expect to show that the prisoner was
aborng under such condition Of mind rs to
render him irresponsible at the time the act was
committed. We shall show strange and curious
actions, which no man in the exeicise OF reason
would perform. We do not expect to show that
he was consecutively crazy, and that is not nee
essary. The painting of his wagon, the killing Of
his horse, his complaining of his head, his talk Of
being poisoned. would ali be brought out by wit
pesses. He was very fond of his children. This
crime was against himself rather than against So
cisty. What caused the insanity we don't know;
neither do we know when 1t began. Ii may be
hereditary, it may have been caused by broodiDg
the loss of property. or the accidental death
of his daughter.
We shall ask YOU 10 consider that this was
crime az ainst himself rather than against society.
He must either be confined IN the insane hospital
or in the State Prison. In closing he referred to
the disgi ace of the children if the father should
be condemned as murderer.
A number of witnesses were then called and
sworn for the defence.
Mrs. Mary i. Scribner, the mother of JASON
took the stand. Am 81 am near neig hbor to ia
son; he came often 10 NY house; heard him com-
plain often of bis head; would jam his hands to
his head. Would "preach, making strange talk.
Sometimes would bring up hymn book and read.
One time be said he hadn't any desire TO make Sa-
rah . widow, but if he bad 10 do il he would This
was in April. He complained of being poisoned
by Mrs Allen. Spoke OF arrows shooting him; he
said he felt better after the arrows had gone
through his head. Brought the children up there
quite often was very fond OF them indeed would
laugh and talk with them, telling how lovely they
we're; wss very indn gent man to his children
Never knew him to punish his hidren. lie lett
of work last fall, saying he couldn't work, and
that all he had TO do was to contain his mind. lie
went to meeting good deal, two or three years
ago, ana got quite Interested lie took pair OF
boots to strike Daniel, last winter he said moth
ing. He seemed to grow worse and worse, and
was strange in his conduct. On the morning OF
the llth he was up TO the house splitting wood.
and seemed to be in n hurry TO get home he said
he was ready TO die, and just as lief die one time
rs another.
Cross eranination-My son used to drink until
two years ago; changed in his condition after
that this cont ihued for a year or So lie Is not
more quick tempered than the rest of my boys.
Don't RENE m Der to have heard him threaten
Daniel had heard disputiDgs between him and
DanieL At that time noticed that Jason was
different frcm what he ever had been. Used to
10 to Jasons house was not there las winter.
That morning Daniel came in and complained
about his wagon, and that be WAS going down
street. Remember that went to Jason's house
Sunday night after the murder; Mrs Rogers was
there, well as Columbus Cottle Did not say
anything about the cause OF Daniels going to the
village. tH
James Woodward toek the stand. Reside in
the Scribner neg hborhood; had known him from
childhood. Last fall bad talked with blm, at his
house. Said be was fixed U p pretty slick. In the
,pring Ieaw him running towards his mothers;
saw him run 20 or 80 rods before getting out OF
his sight. No one was after him. Was intem-
perate until within two years. he never knew he
was a quarrelsome man, never heard him make
threats. Jase told me he lelt though he
ought to have religion and that be meant to seek
for it, This in the winter
Gross eramined-Neyei regarded him as a pas
sionate man.
George Scrbner, brother of the defendant, was
called. Am "a; live near Jasons; had converse
ton with Jason, when he said that he thought
Mrs. Allen put something in the milk; if one Of
those arrows had gone through his head, he could
have told. Saw him every day, and heard him
.'lecture, saying strange things, walk aroudd,
wiring his hands, throw his hands on TO his knees
and from thence to his head. These spells
would last five minutes, and be would say 81 have
empted my brains and l will sit down." At
one time he took an axe and made motions to kill
the horse. Thought the church would have
something to say if he killed the horse. After the
children were killed. he found Jason in the field,
and he seemed to feel very bad; asked him what
be had done; said he had killed his children as he
wanted them to go to heaven with him. He said
he bad told the folks to take care OF him as he
would commit the deed. He wanted God to take
his breath He said that Mr.. Phbick had asked
him how bis father was seemed to be 10 study.
He had threa ned to strike me one evening, when
l disagreed with him. lie took boat and held it
over my head soon as l looked up at him he
dropped the boot and began to laugh. Had heard
hi complain often of his hi ad, and of the want
OF sleep. Noticed change in him five years ago.
Cross-egamiaed-,Jason is . quick tempered,
,nE nhar