Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-31
TAlNE DISPATCHEN.
FROM PORTLAND.
i"ird Day OF the Libby yTrial-Testimony v
OF Prisoner at and Previous to
the Time of Shooting,
PORTLAND. Ian 9O

PORTLAND, Jan. 80.
The trial of Thos. J. Libby for the murder
o. Lydia Snow, was resumed at 10 A. M. Fri
day. IN the superior court at Portland. The
first witness for the defence was Thos. r.
Haskell of Cape Elizabeth He testified that
Libby's reputation for peaceabeness was
good. he had never observed any impair
ment of his intelligence. Charles w. Libby
OF Scarboro testified substantially the same.
Frank b. Seavey of Scarboro, storekeeper,
saw Libby on tine 4th of last September, be-
tween and 10 O'Clock. He was nervous
but the witness thought he had not been drink
ing. lie had not seen Libby under the infiu-
ence of liquor during the summer Libby
talked intelligently. He had never noticed
anything strange in his conduct.
John II. Davis of Portland, paying teller
of the Casco bank, cashed checks for Libby
on the afternoon of Sept. 4th. Libby was
sober.
John b. Pike, barber of Portland, saw
Libby betw cen and 3 o'clock on the same
afternoon. He was feeling bad and had his
head shampooed. Libby was nervous; said
he was going to take drink and invited the
witness to go with him. Libby said he had
taken nothing that day, and was going to
drink but once. Libby drank whskey at the
Falmouth Hotel. Witness saw Libby at
Cape Elizabeth in the evening. He talked
thick and appeared confused.
N. j. Wilson, stable keeper of Portland,
testified: put up Libby's horse about three
o'clock on the afternoon of Sept 4th Libby
appeared nervous. He came for the horse at
o'clock in the evening; was nervous and
hurried; he said he was late; woman was
with him; between II o'clock and midnight
he brought back the team; the woman was
still with him. On cross-examination he said
he noticed nothing peculiar about him.
Mrs Justin II. Haskell of Portland, testi-
fed that Libby came into her husbands bar
ber- shop to get his head rubbed. He appear
same thing several times. Later, che saw
him on Exchange street, talking to himself
and swinging his arms.
Chss. Z. Haskell, husband of the above,
testified substantially the same.
Peter II. Bradley. carriage dealer of Port
land. testified that he had conversation with
Libby at Wilson's stable, the same afternoon;
he talked about buving carriage; | noticed
nothing peculiar.
NJ. II. Studlev dry goods dealer, testified
that Libby called at hi, store that afternoon
and paid bill there was nothing unusual
in his appearance.
Charles S Woodbury. of Cape Elizabeth,
officer of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, tes-
tilted that he saw Libby on the evening of the
4th when he came to take his degree; he
came in talking in loud tone and laughing;
his GAIT was irregular and he was weak in the
knees. The witness thought him drunk and
told him he could not take the degree.
AT o'clock the court adjourned to p NJ,
Jos.ah Burleigh testified to seeing Libby
NJ the Knights of Pythas Hall at the Cape;
didn't think he was intoxicated
Elliot King testified to seeing Libby on the
street on the evening of Sept 4th; spoke to
him but he did not reply.
The counsel for the defence then called
Thomas J. Libby. The prisoner said he
lived in Scarboro; aged a; had been In the
/ ho,aI business nine years. He narrated the
circumstances of his leaving home on the
| i,b and coming to Portland to pay bills and
take the Knights of Pythias degrees in the
evening. After putting up the horse he went
| into tho stable office and sat down and that is
tho last he remembers until evening when
his recollection returned by spells. then again
| he lost himself till later when he indlstinctly
remembers his horse rearing and piunglng,
,hor oil ;s again blank till he recognized
Mr. Moulton in the police tatloD the next
dav. only took two drinks on the 4th or two
swallows; had been drinking heavily all
GUNNER. but for two weeks prior TO sept
4th had been trying to break OF didnt want
liouor but was in such tremuious state tna'
snmetimes he tried it to quiet himself a little :;
S.d heen acquainted with Lydia Snow about
year and half; lived about two miles from
L;m she came to work at bis house, but on
annount of her work about the table found
s.,,l, w;th her and she left the house
On HE way to Portland overlook her; on the
r,sd said, miss Snow, suppose you won
IA, w w;,b me todsy?' The reply was, turn
~ ..hael around and see whether Will or
nn, He turned the wheel and the woman
,,o, in. he left her in Portland; never haa
env malice or i'll feeling TOWARDS the Na"aa
had carried the pistol on my person since the
burelaries at Scsrboro beach; In his ooyhood
had dizzy spells and ireqasn, Ipps dp,s;eS hi,
,arssr in the army, how he was taken pris'
oner Oct. 1864, at the battle of Cedar Creek
and and the subsequent imprisonment at Sauls, ao
hnrv. when discharged he weighed ioo
,,n,,nds and was near starvation; froze MS
taat there and contracted the rheumatism
nh;,a there could not write correctly his
memory vas so affected. The witness then
detailed several attacks he had had SINCE ms
discharge from the army: de said that !or
week prior to Sept Sth ne haa ,hras s,rps bonr. u
little, on an average OF two OF 'h'ee noufS
each night. -, -
r,;nation. and at the adjournment OF the
court. was going over these attacks which