Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-17
ISAAC b. sAwTHLLE
On Tsial-Hs Exhibits Wonderful
Nerve and Coolness.

Dover, N. H., Dec. l6.-The Stra6ord
county court house was filled to its utmost
capacity this forenoon, when Isaac B. Saw
telle, charged with the sensational murder
of his brother Hiram in February of this
year, was brought in for trial. just before
IL o'clock Sheriff Pingree entered the room
with his prisoner, who looks about the
same as he did six months ago and wears
the same suit of clothes. He took his seat
between the counsel for the defense in the
space reserved for the bar and will proba-
bly, occupy this place during the trial
Sheriff PiuRree is keeping . close guard
over the pris Dner.
A consultation between the attorneys and
court resulted in waving the reading Of
the indictment. Sawtell was then ordered
to stand up by the clerk and In reply 10 .
question in low tone of voice not audible
ten feet away and with flushed and excited
looking face pleaded mot guilty" The
selection OF Jurors was then proceeded
with. The twelve jurors were secured.
1t is understood here that the prosecution
will have stronger case than even the
most ssnguine imagined it would have.
The list of witnesses shown to Isaac, yes
terday. contained no less than l02 names.
most of whom are already here this morn
ing. Among these are the following from
Msine: William H. Chamberlain, Jessie
Mills, George G. Elwell, Horace Horne.
Frank W. Rankin, DR.. Parker, Joseph
Wentworth, Addie W. Rankin. Abbie S.
Varney. Eiward d Wiley, John C. Pierce,
Daniel II. Blaisdell. Ezekiel Pierce, all of
Lebanon; Rswson Roberts, Rita 4. Ham,
mond Of Berwick, and Charles P. Costello
of Portland.
The prisoner 10 looking very well and
adds day by day to his reputation Of being
one of the coolest men that ever occupied
prison cell in New Hampshire, charged
with serious crime. He 10, if anything. 4
little timer than when he appeared in Roch-
ester and was remsnded to await the action
of the grand jury. His spirits are - good
Is ever, and for all any one knows he is a.
confident as ever that he will be acquitted.
He has said so to one Of Sheriff Pingree's
former prisoners.
In the afternoon every seat was taken.
Isaac sat quietly and listened very intently
to all that wen. on. The indictment in the
three counts was read to the jury, after
which they were sworn. Solicitor Kivel
inside the opening statement to the court,
taking two hours in so doing When, be
he had finished the court adj burned. To-
morrow the jury will go to Rochester and
60 over the entire country covered by the
case.
The Indictment charges the prisoner,
first, with the murder Of his brother Hiram
at Rochester, February 8, last; second,
with being an accessory before the fact in
New Hampshire to crime committed in
Maine by a persou unknown; third, as &C.
cessory before tie fact in New Hampshire
to the murder of bis brother Hiram by q
person unknown.
The counsel for the defence made for
NAL application that the State be compelled
to elect a count on which they would rely.
No decision was made today, this being
left to the discretion Of the presiding jus
iice, who can decide at any time before the
States case is rested. County Attorney
John Kiv.l opened the States case to the
jury. He minutely detailed the crime and
Isascs movements from the time re par
suaded his mother to deed to him her prop
er'y in Boston, over VIII ch the dispute with
With Hiram arose, until he was landed in
in jail charged with the murder. The So
licitor said the government had witnesses
ready who would forge perfect
chain of evidence against the prisoner.
Kivel closed With a request for the privi-
lege of adding to the remarks after the in
spection Of tue grounds. which request was
granted. Chief Ju.tce Doe announced
that the jury would view all premises con-
nected with the murder tomorrow. Solici-
tor Kivel and Counsel Edgerty alone would
be allowed to speak TO them, explaining
points for the State and defence respect
lively.
Court then adjourned till nine o'clock
Thursday morning.