Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-25
THE sCRIBNER TRIAL.
Third Day-Testimony Of the Prisoner,
| and other Proceedings.

lels mouse one evening prior 10 inc luuh VI
May. Went up one night after they were in
bed. Raped on the window. l had been
abed. I raped on the door three times
stopped short time; George Wood Is my
neighbor; the milk did not make me sick il
was something like a dose of physic; drank
something Mrs. allie n gave me at the same time
took the milk, did not ask her for it, she
got the milk. described on book presented
by the County Attorney where the children
stood in the room and placed his hand on his
own person and indicated to the jury where
he struck each child.) Remember how held
the spade out when | struck the children.
My health was good, had good appetite and
slept we'll Don't remember If had much
head ache prior to this. Don't remember OF
making any talk about the constitution abOl-
ishing capital punishment. | wore nous
tache, shavedmy face smooth and wore paper
collar. Gle showed his neck to the jury, and
exhibited marks Of the wound The Judge
asked if he was sorry that he had committed
the murder, and he replied that he was. He
continued: | knew at the time that had
been cruel to my family.
Mr.. Titcomb asked for the reading Of the
records. Court permitted.
Frank Small the court reporter, was sworn
was the reporter at the March term, 1879,
on the trial of JASON z. Scribner. (Read from
his record giving the testimony of the pris-
oner at that time)
Mrs. Sarah A. Scribner called; Am wife
of prisoner; I did house work; worked in
factory; worked in Augusta, three years.
Friday evening before murder was ut school
house Temperance meeting; when got home
Jason was up. We talked about an
hour on the events of the temperance meet
ing; Jason slept well we did not get up very
early. He took the baby up on his lap after
breakfast. Invent to the grave yard heard
the child say wait papa! wait Jason was
going to cut down tree: | asked him not
to grave yard near our house; Jason swore
at me he began to damn me; said d--n
you and came towards me, raised the spade ;
Said d--n YOU, Ihave lived with you as long
as | want to went into the house; he came to
house and raised the spade; struck my arm !;
struck the baby struck Maude. (She repre-
scented on sheet of paper the pos ition of each
member of the family present when Jason
attacked them.) The children went into
the house when went in; Jason shut the
door and came at me Jason hit the child
rem on the head with the fiat Of the spade
When he cameto the house he acted as if
something had madded him; when provoked
he was violent in his conduct; his face was
Tehu WHtn he was odsOl tuOW u
things off the table at me
Put his hand through glass in the night. He
said, II am id fool to put my hand
through the glass" Said everybody was i'm
posing upon him; said | imposed upon him
wanted Herbert to cut his hair; Herbert re-
fused and he said 'd-n you dry up" Set
the clock on the floor; this was the same
month he committed the murder: said, ''d-n
it, I'll murder" said he would cut my Cd
id throat from ear to ear; when he was
good natured he used the children well when
cross he abused them; he broke the front
door in about II years ago; he called for me; ;
didn't hear him; before l could get to the
door he smashed it in; seven years ago he
kicked the panels Of the door-it was the day
his sister was buried he wouldn't go; it was
his own sister, stayed at home; he pounded
the dogs head till he made it bleed badly: he
broke the stove cover and door at different
times. He didn't want to go to his fathers
funeral; had to coax him to go he always
drank considerable up to two years before
this sometimes he was brought home drunk ;
got drunk sometimes once a week: when in
liquor would go to sleep; would swear
Put his hands through the looking glass ;
threw a tea pot at me; he threw water on
Mrs Allen when Ernest was born; caught
table az years ago. and threw it out into
the kitchen; he threatened to run a knife
through me.
Cross-eramiaed Had been no trouble
between Jason and myself the night before
the murder He said he was willing should
90 to the Temperance meeting. asked Mrs.
Knowles to go home with me, | was afraid of
him. He choked me- When he choked me
knew he was carrying a razor with him.
Took his children up in his lap, hugging and
kissing them the same as any father would.
Have heard him complain of his head.
Abby c. Wood was called and testified:
Reside a short distance from the prisoners
house, have been to his house frequently;
have heard him use profane language to his
wife and others.
w. p. Vaughn. Reside near Mr.. Serb
ner; have had trouble with him; he has made
threats of beating my brains out.
George Wood: Know Scribner have been
at his house: he is a passionate man; heard
him use profane language to his wife.
Mrs Augusta A. Coombs: Reside near
JASON was angry when the neighbors brought
anything to his wife,
Abner Coombs called: Husband of the
last witness known Scribner since he was a
small boy; the evening prior to the homicide
did not notice ANYTHING remarkable in his ap-
pearance.
Geo w. Knowles Reside in Augusta,
two miles from Scribner; he had spoken
about the trouble between himself and Dan
iel and said he would have revenge; they
would send him to State prison, but capital
punishment was abolished.
John II. Miller resides in Augusta. Have
known Scribncr twenty-three years, | consid-
er him a quick tempered man as shown by
threats of violence. heis cross; have no pref
udice against him.
Linwood Wentworth: Know Scribner: he
told Fred to get up to the table Id quick or
he would kill him.
jeanette Wade: Know Jason; have lived
in his family, one night he brought home some
Holsters, threw them all over the floor; got
mad and went out of the house.
Elmer A. Scribncr: Aged l6 years last
March: am the Oldest child; have worked
out been absent from home considerable;
seen my father throw dishes; saw him break
glass; saw him throw a box at the window !;
broke the sash have heard him use profane
language used it most all the time.
Cross-era mined Saw my father caress the
children at home; take them in his lay; kiss
them, praise them up.
Morris +. Leighton: Reside in Augusta, is
years old know Mr.. Scribner; was at his
house the year before the trouble; said he
would put knife through my id heart.
Joseph b. Wilcox: Father of Mrs. Serb