Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-05
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Daily Kennshse journal
THE ST. GEORGE MURDER TRIAL.
Fourth Days Proceeding.

RocKLANp, October 4. In the Hart murder
trial Friday forenoon, witness testified that a,
the gate of the Meservey house on the day of the
murder, saw Hart and asked him who nrst pu,
them up to open the house. Hart said, II did
I've been putting Meservey up all winter to have
that damned tomb opened"
Witness asked why he called it tomb and Har,
said, because knew that she was dea in the
house."
Government stopped here and the defense was
opened BY r. F. Duntop. Jr.. counsel.
Lydia A. Sylvester, HATS step-daughtsr, test
fed that the prisoner was at home the evening of
December 22d. when the crime is supposed to have
been committed, from till about g. when witness
retired.
On cross examination witness said she was not
at home that evening, but since remembered
she was, on being reminded by Mrs. Warehouse
that she called at Harris that evening.
Mrs. Whitehouse testified: Called at Hats q
little after eight that evening, and heard Hart and
his step-daughter talking IN the next room.
The wife Of the prisoner also testified that her
husband was at his house that evening.
AT the Dquest she test flied she was at the house
but did not remember that her husband was at
home. Afterwards remembered ne was at home
when Mrs. Whitehouse WAS telling me she was at
my house that evening. Did not remember ever
telling her husband be would get his face slapped
and his shirt bosom tom out again.
In the afternoon the prisoners wife, on cross
examination, testified that she stated at the in
quest that her husband was out till eight O'Clock
on stuldsy evening, December 22d; that she Of
fered TO 60 with him that evening if be would
wait. He did not wait. Then thought she was
telling the truth, but changed her recollection sf-
ter being reminded by Mrs. Whtehouse of her
call. Now say it was Friday evening her hus-
band was ont. Did not thick strange her husb band
wore slippers to HATS Neck Monday evening.
Has trouble with his feet and is in the habit of
wearing slippers out of doors.
Mis-. Louisa Wall. prisoner daughter, testified
10 being at the village Saturday evening, Decem-
Der 221. Did not meet her father that night.
I-sac Wall was al Vinsl Walls on the night Of
the 29th Of January, when be came from Harls.
Vinsl spoke of hearing Of i1ding Of brown paper,
but did not mention Nathan Hart or anything
about cloud round the neck of deceased.
A. r. Dunton testified as handwriting expert,
that he had examined the anonymous papers and
log books, and testified that the brown paper and
Anonymous letters we're in his opinion written
by the Same hand that wrote the FIRST five pages in
the log book number one. which pages had been
admitted Ia be the hsndw riting Of A. X. Mcser-
vey. On cross examination admitted that had the
papers first week 10 March term of court or SOON
err When saw attorney general after had had the
papers several days Might have thought Harris
admitted letters and first page. of log book writ
ten by same person had not discovered more than
one handwriting. Witness admitted writing 10
letter to Sheriff Lowe, March 3lst. about Hart
"One thing is sure, he wrote the writing on the
brown and blue paper, if he kept the log book
and wrote the letters submitted Is standards"
Expressed the same opinion as late as July or Au-
gust, hut with the understanding that the first
pages Of the log were Harris handwriting.
Witness admitted cutting certain pages out of
the log book, but said be did it by order OF the
county attorney.