Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-12
wakefield TRIAL.
A Fine Display Of Eloquence in
the Arguments.
Case Closed for the Defence--The
Government Has the Floor.


|
uni See . End.
| Wednesday saw the hopes of the fe.pee-
tive sides in the prosecution depending
solely upon the personal strength or weak
ness of the t~o leading counsel.
The case narrowed down to an oratoriesl
conies, between Mr.. Spear and Mr.. Carrie
toe, with the jurys ,e,iic, the prize they
struggled for.
| The attentive audience was treated 10 q
brilliant display of eloquence from the two
attorneys which made the day one to be
long remembered by the kennebec bar.
Mr.. Spear completed magnificent etfor,
to save Wakefield from States prison, and
Mr.. Carleton began an equally powerful
one to secure what he deems TO be justice
the conviction of Wakefield.
Mex; 10 the ability shown, the feature of
both arguments is the evident. strong con-
| viction that each man has in the truth of
the side he has espoused.
Nothing could now conviace Mr.. Spear
that his client is guilty, nor is there any
thing at this stage of the trial that could
alter M.. Carleton's equally positive belief,
,ha, Blenn came to his death through the
direct agency of Wakefield.
The sincerity, earnestnes, and firm con-
yieiion upon which the arguments were
based, elevated them to the plane of elo-
quence and stamped both attorneys as
orators.
Wskefield's fate is now trembling in the
balance The government built up strong
case, which was powerfully attacked by the
defence.
Mr.. Spear has, apparently. proved con-
clu.ively that the defence has demolished
the governments case and relieved his eli
ent from all suspicion of guilt.
Mr.. Carleton is, apparently, proving be
yond doubt that the prosecution has annihi-
lated the defence, and has shown that
WakeReld is absolutely guilty.
Judge Hall's charge will undoubtedly
settle the question, the matter is so nicely
balanced He will have, therefore, far
more than usually, heavy burden of re-.
sponsibiliiy.
The opposing counsel cannot be too
highly praised for the manner in which
they have conducted their respective cases.
Neither has failed in any particular and the
result is that whatever credit will be given
as to the result of the trial should be per-
sonal to one or the other attorney.
Wednesday was the l lth day of the trial
and yet there was as large a crowd present
as at any day during its long and often
weary course.
Mr.. Srear continued his argument during
the forenoon, taking up the whole of the
three hours session. making the total length
of his plea ,ix hours.
Mr.. Spear showed wonderful endurance
and sat down "Wednesday noon nearly as
fre.h as when be began Tuesday noon.
He continued his mastery analysis of the
testimony and ended with brief but earn
est and eloquent peroration.
Mr.. Spears argument was noticeable
for its fair statement Of facts, its logical
re reasoning from the evidence as Mr.. Spear
construed it and for its dignifed simplicity,
md genuine eloquence. /, was model in
;emposit;oa. construction and proportion.
Mr. Spear resumed his argument begin
ling with an apology for having taken up SO
much of their time and said his only reason
sss that il was an important case and he
felt it wss his duty to examine all the evil
lence clearly.
Mr.. Spear had left off while treating of
the alleged denisls Of having seen Blenn by
Wakefield and he now took up the subject
again and showed again that the one quoted
,y Ryan Blenn refers directly to a denial of
The existence of third man and had been
quite naturally mistaken in its purport
He spoke of the strongest fact opposed to
the theory of direct deni,ls of Blenn's having
been there was that Wakefield had on Sum-
lay night snd on Monday morning. before
he had seen sn; of the persons who claim
to have heard him make the denials, he,
Wakefield, had freely spoken of Blenn's
having been there.
Mr.. Spear then took up Mrs. Babcock's
testimony, pointed out the strong bias on
which it was based and showed thst it had
been enlarged. The alleged denisls are
beyond the realms of common sense, for
Why should he have denied it ~ben he h i'd
pre-, ,usly affirmed it.
The counsel then touched more fully
upon the changes and enlargements each
time Mrs. Babcock appeared upon the stani.
Particular reference was made to the al
,,tion of the phrase. "his life is no better
than mine" to the statement on the part of
Wakefield a. to where Charles Blenn WAS.
liscredited it and showed that it was
brought out by the exigsncies of the case.
Again he cautioned the jury to put no
eredence in stories changed and enlarged
since the coroner's jury.
The government must prove this point OF
| ienials beyond a Reasonable doubt and
must then be fitted 10 with the rest and ths
| whole examined and weighed and then II
| there is any doubt he must be acquitted.
Mr.. Spear then ansIyzed the ststemens.
of Mr.. Drake, putting particular stress NJ or
his ttatemen. that his recollection was
clearer at the coroner's inquest. Mr.. Spesl
showed that Mr.. Drske's statement that bs
heard wskefeld's denial Of Charles Blenn''
having been at the camp arose from a mis-
take the defendant having really referrec
to the mysterious third party.
Whist is the ne1t great proposition th'
government presents: Wakefield SAYS he
vas upstairs asleep. The government put
! on Mrs. Dunn. have nothing to ssy agains
Mrs. Dams but whenyou analy ze it, you vii
not be safi.fed with it. The governmen
must prove the contention that WsksasE
was on the platform at 4 o'clos beyond I
rearonable dopts. What are the facts! Mr.
and Mrs. Dunn were rowing up the stream