The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-17
WHISPERED A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY.
The Crowd In the Court Room
Failed to Hear the Words
AS sawteII Denied That He Killed
His Brother.
'"e Celebrated Case Is at Last
Brought TO Trial.

DOVER N. d., December 1e.-Tbe long
looked Tor and much discussed trial NJ Tsaac
b. Sawtell for the murder OF his hrothar
Hiram, was opened In the Supreme Court
this morning in the handsome new court
house In this city provided by Stafford coun-
ty for the transaction Of its law business,
and as had been expected. awakened deep
interest in the community that showed itself
In rowded room and close attention to the
proceedings. Chief Justice Doe reached the
city early in the morning In very good health
and thus disprCved the rumor Of a post
ponement. All the other interested parties
we're on hand.
Within the Bar was a soodly represanta
tl0n OF Stafford county's legal talent. wbils
counsel at their table were objects OF much
attention. Just at the rear Of counsel set
tne defendant In the case with Sheriff Pin.
Stwtell was dressed In a dark blue suIt
made for him after he left the Massachusetts,
State Prison, and with CLOSELY trimmed.
graylsh hair and whiskers, looked far from
being criminal. He sat facing the fury
seats and was TO all appearances as cool and
collected person as any In the room Many
were the Efforts to get good look at him.
and many were the comments passed In
whisper from mouth TO mouth.
AAO NOACuudns was ftpTtHtuLtu DY Hons.
James A. Edgerly Of G,eat Falls. George II
daley OF Biddeford. and Joseph Il. Worces-
Ter Oh Rochester, as counsel, while for the
government were Attorney General Barnard,
county Solicitor Klvel and Mr.. Elmer j..
Smart CT Rochester,
After brief consultation between counse.
kivel, Edgerly and the Court, Clerk Geo
d. Durgin ca led upon the defendant TO
oIanu up Wnat say you 70 the charge
guilty or not guilty." ne said, as Isaac faced
nlm, MOT guilty" came the faint reply, so
faint, In fact, that the clerk had to repeat
the words In order TO make sure that he
heard Alright. The plea being thus formally
made. the defendant resumed his seat and
MS gaze at the empty jury. seats while the
This completed. the work Of selecting was
begun, each juror as he was called being
subject to questioning by the court attorneys
Tor the government, aud counsel for the prfs-
oner. The panel included 90 persons, 12 be-
challenges. '' ~
InI, afternoon every seat was taken.
Isaac sat quietly, listening very intently 10
all that went on. The Indictment, In three
counts. eSun . was read TO the jury, after which
opening statement for the state, taking two
hours In so doing. When he had finished
court adjourned. Tomorrow the Jury will
go tn hOcnester and go over the entire cOun-
try covered by the case.
The indictment charges the prisoner, first,
with the murder of his brother at Rochester.
February ., last; second, with being an ae-
cessory before the fact in New Hampshire
To a crime committed In Maine by person
unknown; third, being accessory before the
tact In New Hampshire To the murder of his
brother Hiram In New Hampshire by per-
son unknown. Counsel for defence made
formal application that the state bs com.
PEELED TO elect the count on which they
would rely. No decision was made TODAY.
this being left TO the discretion OF the pre-
siding Justice, who can decide at any time
before the states case /, rested.