Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-23
THE sCRIBNER TRIAL.
| Reca pitulati0n OF the incidents OF the
Tragedy, and Of the Previous Trials
Opening Day Of the Third Trial.

Opening Day Of the Third Trial.
On the eleventh of May, 1878, or nearly a
year and half ago, the horrible tragedy
was enacted for which Jason p Scribner is
now undergoing third trial. The
day prev ious to the murder the house
hold of Scribner, numbered, besides himself,
the wife and five children, the youngest be-
ing a babe and the Oldest boy fifteen years
of age. On the afternoon of the awful day
named above, Scribner entered the house
from without bearing a spade, and almost
Immediately began the murderous onslaught
upon those who we're the dearest and tender
est to his heart-his wife and children. Mrs.
Scribner was but slightly injured by the blow
which was directed against her; Ernest, a
child who had numbered five years, was felled
to the floor by a well directed blow against
his youthful head; the little babe was then
similarly dealt with and the murderer only
stayed his hand till the deadly weapon was
again made red with the life blood Of the lit
tie girl who bore the name of Maud. The
mother rushed from the house, bearing the
baby in her arms, but the little one fingered
only till midnight. Maud was almost in
stantly killed by her fathers hand, but Err
nests life was spared. After his bloody
work was done Scrlbner fed to the fields and
ATTEMPTED to cut his throat with a razor. Far
better had it been for him to have died, but
it was not to be, and he is now before a tri-
bunal of Justice for the third time.
Since the time of his arrest Scribner has
been confined in kcnnebec county Jail. At
the August term Of the Supreme Judicial
Court following the murder. the prisoner was
brought before it, and pleaded not guilty, but,
on motion of his counsel, the case was con
tinued to the next term, in order that he
might be further observed by experts to test
his sanity At the November term of the
court, Judge Libbey presiding, the trial was
entered upon and completed in the course of
three days. The indictment charged the
prisoner with the murder of his daughter,
Maud, and the jury found him guilty Of muir
der in the first degree. The Messrs. Tit
comb appeared for the prisoner, and Hon. +.
+. Webb for the government. At the close
of the trial the prisoners counsel filed a mo-
ton for new trial, on the ground Of an err
ror in the indictment The exceptions were
allowed and argued at the May term, 1879.
No decision has vet been rendered. At the
March term, 1879 before Judge Danforth,
second Indictment was found against Scribner
for the murder Of the other child. At this
trial, and with the plea of insanity for de-
fence as in the first trial, the jury disagreed,
it being understood that they voted eleven
tor conviction and one for acquittal.
FIRST DAY OF New TRIAL.
The new trial was opened yesterday fore
noon Judge Libbey again presiding. When
the prisoner was brought in he bore the APP
pearance of one who had not been accus-
toned to the burning rays of the sun,
but otherwise looked well and hearty. There
were but few spectators present but the number
increased during the examination of jurors,
which occupied considerable time. Some
twenty three were questioned by the
court and counsel; all excepting
the seven sworn had expressed
an opinion at the time of former trials OF were
prejudiced by reading the published reports.
Among the number set aside for such cause
were James ID. White, VIM. S. Badger,
Adam Simpson, NJ w. Farr, Elijah Blais-
dell, J. A. Bolton, Charles II. Bailey, VIM.
Hanson, Abner Hammond. J. Lampson,
Moses Perry. Jesse ID. Tuck, Joseph A. Ho-
man, hlicn ID. W ing, NtscfNc anu
Geo. r. Hayes. Some of these had never
formed any definite opinion on the case, 9TH
ers had expressed opinions founded upon the
press reports but were now unprejudced.
The court ruled that no person was compe
tent to act as juror upon the case who was not
entirely free from influences which might
warp his opinions
The list of jurors in attendance having been
exhausted in the call venires were issued for
twelve additional names, six from Ilallow ell
and six from Gardiner, and in order to give
time for bringing them forward the court ad-
journed until o'clock p. NJ.
The jurors were duly swo'n and empan-
neled Daniel W. Atkinson, Winthrop; VIM.
b. Barton. Winslow; Augustine Lord, Hal
lowell Joshua Little, Monmouth; Edmund
Parkman, Clinton; NJ. s. II. Rogers,
Litchfeld and Amasa S. Ring, Gardiner.
AFTERNOON.
The court room was well filled with anx-
ious spectators. Owing to the delay in the
arrival OF a number of persons from South
Gardiner and Hallowell, the case was not
opened. While awaiting for the arrival of
the train Mr.. Edwin +. Lyford, son of Prof.
Lyford of Colby University, Watervile, was
presented to the court and duly qualified to
practice at the Kennebec county bar. The
following additional jurors were called and
examined; A. II. Small John Gray, Arthur
Berry, Chas. A. Spear, Geo. b. McClnch,
II. X. Morrell, w. A. Winter. These were
set aside, having formed opinions and being
prejudiced in their Judgment. Alvin Saw
yer, Lewis johnson, and Reuben IIeseltine
were sworn and permitted to set upon the
case under trial.
Court suspended until . o'clock Thursday
morning.