Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-04

". g. CHoArE, Clerk.
@ T. SrEyEss, Sheriff.
L. A. BuRLkIGn, Sten0graphef.
L. T. CAHLITox. County Attorney.
THURSDAY, Jan. 3.
State ". Sawyer and Campbell vas re-
sumed this morning. The testimony for toe
government concluded ct ii O'Clock. A. NJ.
Goddard, Esq, made an opening argument
for the defendants and stated tina: he had 10
evidence to offer in behalf of the accused
and that they did not wish to testify in their
own behalf. He commented upon the pub
lie ex itement in Winthrop folloHing the
discovery of the crime and warned the jury
against rendering verde. unier such ex-
element. He then called attention to th.
discrepancies in the testimony of the com
piainant, Mr.. Frost. with respec' to the iden-
tisy Of the gold ring taken from his finger
with that found on the prisoners, and the IN
certainty Of the governments testimony in
respect TO the identity Of the prisoners.
The county attorney then made . vigor
Gus closing argument and the judge occupi' d
nearly three-fourths of an hour in full and
careful statement Of the law and = review Of
the testimony. After an absence Of abou
t~enty minutes, the jury returned with
vsrdic' Of guilty.
The county attorney At once moved for
eatence. Thereupon the court pronounce
apon the prisoners the -enteD;e fxed by law
and in its respect To which the judge has NJ
discretion, viz, imprisonment in State prison
for the period of their natural lives. Thu.
in precisely one week from the time the of
fence was committed the prisoners were ap
pretended, the grand jury summoned and
Co Iyened in special session, the prisoner
fairly and carefully tried and legally con-
vlcted aud life sentence imposed Ii is oe
| lieved that no similar instance can he found
in the history Of the State wis, re 80 forcibl,
an example of punishment has been aforde
| by q penalty certain. swift and severe. On
being remanded to jai. the prisoners made
full confession of their guilt, with all the
particulars.
State vs.. William A. Rhoades. This is an
indictmen Mt for an assault upon one Samuei
VI. Robinson, with dangerous weapon with
inteIt To kill. The parties reside on the
east side in thi, city. The respondent is
pawn broker and dealer in second hand
clothing. Robinson is a truckman. Both
parties have separated from their wives
X jbinson testified that on the eva
ning Of Wednesday, Dec. 20, he
was passing the residence of Mr.. Rhoades,
on his way to Pettengilrs Corner. Sic
lled him into the yard for the purpose Of
ordering lo~i of wood; that he did not
enter the house but remained in the yard
about three minutes. As he passed our tie
defendant sprang upon him and Inflicted t~ o
severe blows in the face with his ist then
thrust his hand in his pocket and drew forth
wba; he believes to be a knife and struck
two more blows upon the face, making an
lucision entirely through the nose.
Mrs. Rhoades was recalled and corrobora-
tel the testimony of Robinson.
The defense fsre sha lowed is that Robin
has been too att ntive to Mrs. Rhoades,
causing complaint on the part of her hu,-
I and, and that on the evening in question
robinson committed the first sssault and
kh aicsacted only in self defence. On
account of the absence Of DR.. Croker, a
witness for the government court A. journed
: II o 40