The Portland daily press., 1888-10-02
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
Chase Sentenced To State Prison
For His Natural Life,
Where Opportunities For Midnight
Candy Pulls Will be Restricted.
Hearing Before Judge Ronney In the
Superior Court.

Nearing Before Judge Ronney In the
Superior Court.
At the coming in of the Superior court
yesterday the case of State against Edward
Stevens, of Gardiner. in April last, was
called up. Chase was brought in just be-
fore court opened and without manifesting
any emotion kissed his mother and then his
wife who sat inside the bar and then took
his seat outside the rail and beside his coun.
sci, Mr.. Augustus r. Mcuiton
The testimony was taken to enable Judge
Bonney to determine, as the statute requires
when respondent pleads guilty 70 murder,
whether the crime is the first or second de-
gree. The State called the witnesses to the
shooting and the death of Mrs. Stevens, with
the details of which the public are already
familiar. \.
Dana II. Miles. police officer, went with
the ambulance after Chase. Chase was In Q
half unconscious condition but told witness
that he shot her because she would't go and
live with him. He said he asked her to live
with him and she said she wouldn't for she
was married. Chase said she had been to
the hotel and stopped with him. Police Of
ficer Langmaid testifed<o finding Chase sit.
ting on the sidewalk after the shooting
Had no conversation with him.
Henry B. Jordan heard a pistol shot
looked around and saw Chase; thought he
was firing at mark saw him fire again and
drop upon his knees; third time he fired
and fell over upon his side. The last time
he saw him take aim at his head.
George F. Bartlett, boy Ia years old
came in on the train that morning; saw this
man and woman coming up st. John street
He said something to her and she laughed
Witness was looking in another direction
when he heard shot; saw the woman fall
He started to run when he heard another
shot and then another; looked around and
saw Chase fall; ran home and told his
father.
Augustus B. Brown was keeper over Chase
at the hospital from April 20 to May II. He
testified that Chase was unconscious for
four or Eve days. After he grew rational
he asked witness when they carried Mrs.
Stevens home. Witness told him the next
day and asked him If he ever expected to see
her again. Chase said no, she was dead and
he didn't think she realized anything after
the shot was fired but died Immediately.
Witness asked him what he shot her for and
Chase replied he didn't know.
John Doughty arrived at the scene OF the
shooting before the officers arrived. He
Nhoo fhn oil nd he
women in the gutter; picked up a revolver
lying blythe woman's shoulder. Chase sat on
the sidewalk With his head in his hands.
Witness asked him what he did it for. "0p'
said he, sits trouble" Witness asked him
il the woman was his wife. He said no, and
then said he didn't want to talk any more.
Afterwards witness asked him where she
came from and Chase said he met her in
Brunswick and they both came here. Wit
ness put his hand ON Chase's head to try and
find where the wound was and Chase begged
him not to touch his head. He said the wom-
ans name was Stevens and that she came
from Bangor. Witness asked him his name
and he said it was Chase; tried to talk with
him more. but he refused to answer.
Theodore A. J0sselyn testified that Mrs.
Stevens came to his house on Monday pre-
vious TO the shooting and remained there
until Thursday morning, the day Of the
murder. He thought that on Tuesday eve
ming he met the respondent coming down the
steps Of his house. having been to call on
Mrs. Stevens.
At this point the government rested, say
ing they wished only to introduce letter or
two of the respondents which were in the
possession Of the City Marshal, who was out
Of town.
Mr.. Augustus F. Moulton, counsel for
Chase, stated briefly in outline the facts as
he expected to show them by the relatives
claimed would reduce the crime TO murder of
the second degree. He claimed that Chase
comes from a family with tendency to
brain trouble and with the cares of family
weighing upon him, the hard time he had 20
earn livelihood made him morbid, morose
and liable to those sudden freaks and inn
pulses which it was impossible for him to
control. He was out of health and out Of
balance mentally.
Mr.. Moulton then called the mother, Mrs.
Charlotte w. Chase, who testified that many
of her sons ancestors and relatives, on both
sides, have died CT paralysis and apoplexy,
while cousin Is in the insane asylum, and
another relative has fits. At 21 her son had
a sickness in which he was threatened with
fever and has not been as well since. He
had at times terrible. pains in his head and
stomach trouble. After leaving Gardiner
and coming to New York he was despon-
dent, and he wanted to see no company and
was very uneasy; he looked emaciated and
ate but very little; he had good situation
with the Brush Electric Light Company,
which he gave up when he came back East
and committed this act. While in New
York, in speaking Of people that had died,
he said, 1T Is good thing, 1t would be bet
ter for us all"
Mrs. Lora T. Chase, the wife of the re.
spondent, also testified to these Respondent
Ill k1wS II. a -.
three months for the last two years. She
said when her second child was nine months
old an intimate lady friend visited them
and her husband used to tell witness how
much he thought Of her and that he was go
ing home with her. But as soon as the lady
friend departed, she heard no more from
him about her. A year ago last spring, an
other lady friend visited them during one of
his respondent moods, and he told his wife
he thought more Of this lady friend than he
did Of her. He used at times to get up in
the night, go out in the garden and pick
beans, cook and eat them. and then 60 back
to bed. Sometimes he would get witness to
get up with him in the night and make can
dy:.
The defence called as witnesses Mrs. Lu-
cerne Wilson, an aunt of Edward Chase
and her husband, DR.. j. T. Chase and wife,
all of Hallowell, and Charles NJ. Trufant OF
Boston, who all testified to the despondent
moods Of young Chase.
At the coming in Of the court in the after.
noon, the County Attorney put in evidence
the two letters already referred to, as fol.
lows:
CORNER DRUG SroRE,l
Monday d. m.
Dear Ida-I have sent to New York Tor money
Won't you please stay one night and give this
eve., only this evening is all / ask for II you
viii meet me on the street (CongreSs) about OF
past. l will go to the train, and If you are moi
there shall understand that you are TO meet me.
will not go TO the house.
Yours lovingly, NED.
PORTLAND, Me-, April IS, 1888.
My Dear Father and M0ther-I know that you
VIII be heart-broken at the awful news that you
will hear about me, but l cannot, o, cannot
live In this way longer. The woman who dies
with me is the only woman l ever loved on this
earth. ! had planned to come here and see her
and then leave her forever, but could not; my
will is not strong enough. We prefer death to
life Of separation.
From NED"
The first letter was found on Mrs. Stevens
the other among the effects of Chase.
Edward A. Chase, the respondent, ther
took the stand, and In clear voice answered
such questions as were put to him. He saiC
his age is 27; was born In Rockland; has nj
regular trade, but worked at what he could
get was married in 1882 at the age of 21 has
three children in Livermore worked in I
| grist and saw mill, but don't think l aver
| aged dollar day while there, but support
| ed my family. went to Gardiner, July 6
| 1887 to work In sash and blind factory
| NY family remained in Livermore. 1 re
| eeived S1.25 day and paid $3.50 week fol
| board. The balance of my wages | sen
home to nv wife In .Ianuarv / laft lardi