Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-30
MAINE DISPATCHES.
FROM PORTLAND.
"econd Day OF the Libby Trial-Dwelling
House and Buildings Burned
Injured by Fall,
PORTLAND, Jan. 30,

PORTLAND, Jan. 30.
thursday forenoon Libby's wife and daugh-
ter sat with him. DR.. Gerrish's testimony
was continued. On cross examination bs
described the autopsy. The genital organs
were like those of a married woman. The mi
croscope failed to show any traces of semen
within them.
Dr. Charles d. Smith testified that he was
present at the autopsy. His testimony did
not differ from Dr. Gerrish's Libby's wound
showed that the ball passed through his right
ear into the skull, penetrating the brain.
There were marks of the burning of powder
on Libby, but none on Miss Snow. Libby's
ear stlll shows the powder discolorations.
Smith did not discover traces of alcohol and
detected no other signs of liquor in Libby's
throat.
Coroner Jas. S. Gould testified that the
bullet passed through the partition.
Policemen Haitian testified that the bullets
found, exactly fitted the exploded shells that
were found in the revolver.
James II. Coolbroth of Scarboro, testified
t. seeing Libby in the stable before he came
to Portland on September 4th. He was re-
pairing his revolver Libby said he was fix
ing his gun to shoot at a mark. Libby's son.
Veranus, was in the stable at the time
John Wiggin of Scarboro, testified that he
saw Libby in the front of his hotel on the
morning before the murder. Libby had a
pistol. He said: "John, that would make
hole in man." The revolver found in the
room where Miss Snow was killed, resembed
the one that he saw in Libby's hand.
Mrs. Martha ID. Turner of Scarboro, testi-
fed: Lydia Snow, the murdered woman,
came to her house the 9th of August, and
brought her trunk. She came with Libby's
son. The prisoner, Thomas j. Libby, came
about an hour after. Libby said: Get your
things on and go to Portland with me Miss
Snow did not wish to. Libby said: ut will
be the worse for you if you don't" She got
into Libby's carriage and drove away. They
returned at night. Libby called the next
night and called for Miss Snow, but she was
not there.
Mrs. Mary A. Pratt. daughter of Mrs.
Turner, corroborated the testimony of her
mother. Government here rested, reserving
one witness not yet arrived.
A. F. Moulton, Esq, opened for the de-
fence, saying that Libby has no recollection
OF events in the room previous to or at the
time of the shooting. Moulton gave sketch
of Libby's wife. He was subject to fits. He
enlisted in 1862 and served honorably. He was
a prison er at Salisbury Stockade, North Caro-
lima. six months, coming out with his consti-
tuition so shattered that he never recovered.
Soon after he became dissipated. He was al
most constantly under the influence or aico-
hol 10 within short time of the shooting AT
that time neighbor died of the delirium
tremens, which startled Libby and he tried to
reform, but his system was so accustomed
10 luuor that abstinence crazed him.
He had several spells after which he re-
membered nothing he had done This was
his condition on the day before the shooting.
Moulton claimed that this was form of in
sanity and that the man was not responsible
for his action in such a condition. At I.
NJ, Moulton suspended and the court adj
iourned until 3 2. NJ.
In the afternoon. Moulton continued for
half an hour and closed. Then II witnesses
were called and sworn for the defence. Most
of these were townsmen, comrades IN the
army and men with whom he had transacted
business. They testified that they had known
Libby since child; saw him often and knew
his reputation for peaceableness and gentle
ness to be good. One witness had seen MN
when he had thought he had been drinking :;
saw him the day before the shooting and no.
ticed a difference in him.
The dwelling and farm buildings OF ). NJ
Brown at Bowery Beach, Cape Elizabeth
were destroyed by fire. Tuesday noon' Inc
loss was two thousand dollars. Insured tor
$500. ;,
Samuel Tolman, baker of Portland tell
Tbursday, and received a conclusion OF the
hro;r and is thought to be fatally injured.