Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-12-26
,SAWTELLE TO HANG
Found Guilty OF Murder in
the First Degree.
AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE IN COURT
The First Tuesday in January, 1892, Set
for the Execution.

The Prisoner Received the Sentence in q
Prison Until the Day Designated for
His Death His Counsel Take Three
Exceptions.
Dover, N. H., Dec. 26.-Sawtelle was
found guilty of murder in the first de-
gree, and was sentenced to be hanged on
tie first Tuesday in January, 1892.
Lawyer Edgerly, in his argument for
the prisoner, after speaking of the i'm
portance of his case, alluded to the rules
stand, and applied his explanation of the
evidence.
The Indictment, he said, contained two
counts, one charging wilful murder of
his brother in Rochester; the other that
he had hired, induced or procured some
party in the State of New Hampshire to
go into Maine and commit the crime.
Counsel claimed that the evidence failed
to show conclusively that Hiram Saw
telle was in Rochester at the time the
murder was committed; that his identit Y
had not been fully established.
The Attorney General outlined the
history of the trouble between Isaac
and Hiram over their fathers property,
claiming that Isaac found he had to get
Hiram out of the way, or abandon all
hope of obtaining complete possession of
the property. He could have assassin
ated him in the city, but he could not
get rid of the body, and finally decided
upon this diabolical plot. He then
sketched the movements of Isaac and
claimed perfect chain OF evidence
against the prisoner.
Judge Doe then charged the jury. He
defined the law bearing upon the case in
avery clear manner. He stated that if
the murder had been committed it was
murder in the first degree He was not
aware of any evidence of any other MUIR
der. At his conclusion the case was
given to the jury and the court room
was cleared.
Rendering the Verdict.
The jury filed in 1 hour and 81 minutes
after they left their seats, and the clerk
called the roll. The foreman then rose,
and in answer to Judge Does question,
"Have you agreed upon a verdict?' said:
ave have"
"W nat say you, gentlemen of the jury"
said Judge Doe, "as to the first count2
Do you find the prisoner guilty or not
guilty?"
eve find him guilty." was the
answer
''Of what degree of murderr'
"Of murder in the first degree"
The Sentence.
Acknowledgement Barnard Immediately
moved for sentence. After a moments
consultation with Judge Bingham, Judge
Doe wrote the sentence and handed it to
the clerk, who then read it as follows:
"Isaac B. Sawtelle, the sentence of the
law, you being found guilty of murder
in the first degree, is that you be i'm
prisoned in the State prison at Concord
until the first Tuesday of January, 1892,
and that you then be hanged by the neck
until dead"
The scene was impressive in the ex-
treme. The prisoner was pale, but did
not make a motion, except that he re.
spectfully turned his head toward the
clerk when the sentence was read, and
there was nothing else in his manner to
indicate that he had just been sentenced
to death.
Defendants counsel have taken three
exceptions: First, to the testimony of
Marion Sawtelle; second, to the admis-
sion of the copy of Jeanette Sawtelle's
telegram to Isaac; third, the testimony
of witness in regard to the amount of
travel on the Marsh road. They will be
raised on briefs and arguments will be
given before the court, whose decision
will be rendered the day appointed for
the execution of the sentence.