Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-02
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Daily Esnnthtf ontnal
THE So. GEORGE MURDER TRIAL.
Nathan r. Hart on Trial.

RocKLANp, October /. The trial OF Nathan F.
! Hart for the murder of Mrs Sarah ii. Meservey
at st. George, December last began in the gu
preme Judicial court to day, Attorney General
Emery and County Attorney l.. VI. Stsples sp-
bearing for the State, and J. ii. Montgomery Of
Camden and r. F. Duuton of Belfast for the de-
! fence A jury was empsnelled and at the open
ing Of the afternoon session, the county attorney
opened the case for the government.
! Mrs. Meservey was woman about forty yesrs
Of age, of retiring habits living alone, her hus-
I band at the time being at sea. The murder IVES
committed, as claimed by the State, on Saturday
! evening December 22d, and the deceased was last
seen alive about six O. clock P. NJ, on that day.
! The crime was not discovered till January 29th,
when susl iciops bsviug arser, the house WAS en-
tered and the body found 10 the bt droom in the
clothing worn during the day, partly developed in
blanket a knitted wooden scarf wound tightly
three times around her neck ADD kuotled, and her
hands tied above her head cut over her left eye 1,
various bruises about the body Bloody towels
and spots Of blood were found about the house,
aud every evidence of a severe struggle.
The State claimed in the opening, that the
crime committed hy some one familiar with
the premises, who came for money, as shown by
the house having been rsnsacked, and not finding
what sought, aud be found by the deceased on
/ her return, murdered her to prevent detection.
The State ella inns that Hart was the perpetrator
as indicated by certa in admissions made by him !;
by the handwriting Of a certain paper found in
the house of the murdered woman. evidently plsc-
ed there after the crime to divert suspicion; by
his failure to account for himself the fatal Sat
nrday night; by statements he made about the
crime which al the time made could ouy be known
10 the perpetrator, and by certain letters received
from Philadelphia and Providence since his arrest
claimed to be in Harris handwriting, and to bear
internal evidence that they must have been writ
ten by the person who committed the crime.
Several witnesses were introduced to show
when the deceased was last seen alive, and when
and how the murder was discovered, and the con
diton of the body and of the premises.
| DR.. +. +. Hitchcock testified to examination OF
the body found as above described None Of the
wound. and abrasions were sufficient to cause
| death, which must have resulted from strangula-
| ton The neck was compressed to two thi rds the
: natural size by scarf knotted around it, and a
person would not live a minute and half OF
| two minutes WITH the neck SO compressed
| Hart is abou, fifty years Of age, rather thick
set, slightly STOPPING shoulders. full rather mild
, looking hut somewhat stolid face, dark brown
hair slightly spriDkled with grey closely cropped
sandy grey whiskeis. His six months coufne-
ment has not told upon him. and he ms nifests no
emotion, but takes his situation very easily.
| The court room las been crowded at the after
! noon ssion.