Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-22
SAWTELL TRIAL.
Little Marion Ttsti1es Against
Her Uncle Isaac.

Her Uncle Isaac.
Intense Interest Kept Up In This lys. |
teFioas AMIR.
Marrow Escape Of the Audience From
Serious Accident.
Dover, N. H., Dec. 20.--Spectaters
arriving At the court house this molning
and vending their way to the room above
where the trial 10 in progress, were noticed
to stop at the foot of the stairs. Here they
eyed large wooden prop, leading from
the floor to the ceiling above. II
was servirg most useful purpose. and
in itself told OF . dreadful catastrophe
which had been narrowly averted. At the
close OF the forenoon session the scenes of
the morning at the entrance were reacted.
The Judges announcement of an adjourn
ment was Immediately followed by = rush
for the doors The crowd was now exhib.
iting as much eagerness to get out Of the
building rs they had to get
into it in the morning, and rush
ing pell NELL down the stairs. were sur
prised TO see q couple of officers rushing
toward them with outstretched arms. There
was look of anxiety on their faces and
they almost madly shouted, 'Stand back,
the stairs are falling" Sure enough, the
weight Of the immense crowd had proven
too much for the frail structure and to this
it was about TO succumb. The stairs
had swung to one side about six
inches and the landing above had
ssgged from its original position some two
or three inches. The ceiling underneath
was badly cracked. and small pieces had
fallen. Had this been noticed even a
minute later the floor Of the enny way
| must have given away, and as result some
20 or 100 people would have been hurled
to the basement below. Little Marian Saw
tell Was called, and before being sworn was
asked the following questions by Clief
Justice Doe:
Marian, what do YOU understand that q
person who is called as witness ought te
do?
They are to tell the truth.
Well, what would happen il he told &c me.
thing that wasn't trne? what would hap
pen il you did not tell the truth? .
would be punished for it.
The chief Justice then allowed the wit
ness to be sworn Edgerly objected to the
admissibility of her evidence.
County Attorney Kivel asked the follow
ing questions
ibid you 90 to Rochester with yor II Uncle
Isaac last February, and your gr and. mother? ?
Yes, sir.
While you were there did he give you
anything?
Mr.. Edgerly-One moment. object to
this leading way Of asking the witness
questions. II she is competent TO testify at
all, she can answer questions without your
leading her.
County Attorney Kivel-l only desired,
your honor, 10 ask a few questions
Chief Justice Doe gave no ruling on
Mr.. E|gerly's objection. but asked all the
questions, with the exception of the, last
five or six, himself, as follows;
DO you remember of goiug somewhere
once, with your grandmother and your
uncle Isaac?
Yes; to Lowell.
Did you go anywhere elset
Yes, cir.
When you were at Rochester where did
you go?
To Mrs. Smiths.
DO you remember what happened? DO
yon remember anything that happe ned
while you were there? Were yOa sick
when you were there!
Iwasn't sick Monday.
Do you remember about Monday night,
or Tue sdsy, the next day?
Tuesday morning was hoarse.
Ulo Won ,arpauhar hon you fipst rsskirad
When got up.
Did you have any breakfast?
Yes, sir,
What happened during the day Tues
day: Where were you Tuesday during
the day
Out to ride.
Did any body go with you:
Yes, sir. Uncle Isaac aud grandma.
Now, what happened when you got
back or thst evening.
Uncle Isaac aked Mrs. Smith for q esp
| and spoon, and then went up stairs, snd
then came down again, and came TO the
door ami tapped on it, and ssid ''Ms mon,
come up stairs i went up stairs, and
he took and put his hand down in bis big
valise, but could not see anythina. He
barely opened il and he says, Marion.
| want you to take this medicine l
| said, Uncle Isaac, / amt SICK" and he
| said, eyes you are; want you to take it."
"Well," eays, IL don't wan. it, becau Sc |
amt .iek He says. "Well, you have got
to take it," and so took it.
And was it in spoon or tumbler, or
something of that kind!
In a bctile.
What did he give it to you in? How did
you get it into your MOUTH
He fixed it up in cup.
| How did it taste?
| |, tasted bitter.
How did he FIX il up? What did be put
| in the cup?
Water ard that-thst medicine, and
mixed it up with his spoon.
| And what about the bottle? Did he do
anythiBg with the bottle?
| He poured the medicine from the bottle.
took two teaspooDfuls. He held the spoon
| and also the cup.
Do you remember whether this was in
the day time or evening?
| 1t was in the afternoon.
| What next:
| After vomited the grocery man came,
and he asked me to sing q song fer him,
and did. and spoke piece.
Anything else happen between You and
your uncle Isaac after you took the two
tesspooufulsf
When | went to go down stairs fell
across the bed, and he says: "Come,
Marion, you are no. so sick as that"
started. and when was on the way down
stairs | sa. on the step, and he SAYS
Come, get up and go down." and went.
whs. did you lay on the bed and set on
the stairs for?
| felt sick.
| Where did you feel sick
My Lesd was aching and my stomach
ached.
What happened next, after GU got down
s,airs.
| In little while vomited.
| Where was your uncle when yeu vomit-
ed?
He was sitting in the dining room.
This ended the interrogstions Of the
judge who put all hi, queries in a fatherly,
quiet, coaxing way. The court room was
intensely quiet, and nearly every answer of
the little one could be heard by most Of the
many spectators present.
Mr.. Kivei then resumed questioning the
child, as follows:
Do you remember the day you went
away from that house?
On Saturday.
don't mean your own home, but from
that house in Rochester,
Thursday mofnirg.
/ What did you do for your uncle Isasc
that morning?
He said Marion, 70 down stairs and
ssk Mrs. Smith for piece Of wrapping
paper" and I went down.
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