Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-05

LIBBY MURDER TRIAL.
ies''mohy Ior Government ClOsed-SuIli.
van e. Andrews, Esq, Commences
the Plea for the Defence.
PORTLAND, Feb.

ToRTLASD, FEB. 4.
DR.. Charles w. Bray and DR.. E. C. Neal
testified as to the symptoms of insanity and
deliriam tremens. Rebutting testimony for
the State was given by Daniel S. Leavitt,
Nancy X. Snow, Geo. F. Stevens, Richard
M. Libby, DIR. John F. Palmer and DIR.
Stephen II. Weeks
"Wednesday forenoon, Policeman Lang
maid OF Portland, testified that he met Libby
on the afternoon Of the 4th of September.
He noticed nothing peculiar about his actions
and did not see his hands tremble.
Sheriff Benz, True testified that he served
writ process on Libby on the evening of
Sept. 9TH, at the JAIL he was setting on the
edge of the bed afterwards lay back on the
bed. He read the summons at Libby's re-
quest. Susan A. Libby of Scarboro, was
employed by Libby at his hotel up to the first
part of September. When Miss Snow left
the hotel she went away before breakfast.
Libby soon drove away in his Doggy; didn't
know when be came back. At this point At
torney General Baker announced that the
testimony for the government was closed.
Sullivan c. Andrews, Esq began the plea
for the defence at 1890. He referred to the
occurrences on the morning of the 9TH of
September, about which no dispute exists
The night clerk passing the room heard
laughter. When the clerk entered the room
in the morning Libby lay on the bed. The
woman manifested no fear but stood calmly
with the door open, with chance to escape
if she wished, and locked the door herself
when the clerk went out, When the officers
found Libby lying on the floor after the
shooting, he was asked what he had done and
he replied he was almost dead. His only idea
was that something had happened to him. He
had no thought of the woman. or of killing
himself. A man meeting with an accident
and becoming insensible on recovery, his
thoughts go back TO the time when he be-
came unconscious. Libby's mind did not
recur to the shooting because he had no
recollection of it. There was no earthly mo-
tive for Libby to commit this crime. Libby
had intimate relations with Miss Snow
for long time. He was on the pleasantest
terms with her; there is no exdance of dis
agreement. If he had been rational the man
would not have left his family gone away
with a strange woman and murdered her and
brought shame upon his family. He inherited
a thirst for liquor. Had struggled against 1t
and tor four or five days preceding the shoot
ing had drank but little The prisoner has
opened his character to the jury freely. The
result has been that the first citizen of Maine
has testified to his good reputation; but ex-
cepting a single fault he is a man as pure as
any in the country. IL IS Impossible that
such man would commit like crime with
out motive. The preponderance of the
tlaf hn "
least drunk on the afternoon and night of the
shooting. All the men he met in the after
n.,on saw that he was sober. DR.. Smith and
Charles b. Nash took particular pains to ex-
anime Libby's breath after the murder ana
foupd no trace of liquor. Was the prisoner
responsible at the time of the shooting! Inc
yery fact of the shooting negatives the ques-
tion Dr. Gordon says the acts OF LiOoy
wopld indicate insanity Raising and point
ing the pistol is the best possible evidence
All the other medical witnesses for the de-
fence agree. Libby evidently had no pre-
meditation of crime, or he would not nave
arranged to trade wagons week later. Ihe
testimony of Libby threatening Miss snow
when she declined coming to PORTLAND WIN
him is unreasonable, because she never would
hays refused him. his influence over her was
90 great The shots were fred at random.
The theory is that the woman attempted 10
wrest the pistol from Libby, and imagining
her an enemy. he fred. If the night clerk
had attempted to take the pistol, he would
have been shot, vet Libby could have had no
yengeance against him. The portion OF the
deposition of Mrs. Libby relating to Liooy
acts and habits during the summer ana pre-
ceding the shooting, was read. Mr.. Andrews
closed in an eloquent peroration.
Al one the court adjourned to T. M;
In the afternoon ATTORNEY General baker
made the closing argument for the oIa.e'
occupying nearly three hours. 'uuse oo"-
new will charge the jury in the morning.