Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-01


power of circumstsntial evidence will again
be demonstrated in this case. 1t is not my
purpose to dwell at ler 9Th, in this opening,
upon it. Suffice it to say that the govern
ment relies largely on it to prove its case.
will be proved to yonr satisfaction, which
prove the prisoner at the bar guilty of hon.
icide.
The circumstances of the murder were
briefly these Mr.. Getchell died Dec. Q last
in his own home in Sidney about or 80
p. M. He was buried in graveyard
there the following Tuesday. His death was
exceedingly sudden and alarming and excit-
ing. He was tough, rugged, hard work.
ing farmer aged 46 years, as perfect man
physically as you often see, born, think
there, and lived there the greater portion of
his life. 1t was Saturday that be died in
great agony, convulsed with spasm.
About 10 days or two weeks prior he had
consulted DR.. Brickett for what he sup
posed was some heart trouble. The doctor
examined him and prescribed. He found
no heart trouble, but considered that he suf-
fered from muscular rheumatism. He pre-.
scribed gin and sulphur.) From Monday
morning until Saturday noon he had worked
with John Fowler cutting wood. was well
every minute and worked hard. Had taken
his medicine regularly. This Saturday
forenoon he went to the woods as usual,
taking his medicine before breakfast about
A. M. He worked all the forenoon, came
home to dinner, went directly into the
house, took some of this medicine, sat down
and commenced to eat his dinner, when he
was taken with spasms. These passed off
and he commenced to eat again, when he
was taken with another spasm. He went to
the lounge. The counsel here referred to
Mr.. Getchell's complaining that his head
felt peculiar and that when he went to the
lounge his lower limbs seemed numb. DR..
Driscoll was then sept for and came about
l.20, and was with him an hour or so and
left him quite comfortable. He did not rec
ognize symptoms of poisoning. but gave
some medicine which probably acted some
what as an antidote.
In course of his opening the county
attorney referred to the fact of the remain
ing contents of the bottle being turned
out. He said she left some of the medi-
cine in the bottle but-unfortunately you
may say at first thought was not pre-
served. You will say who was responsible
for its destruction upon the testimony. 1t
was turned out by DR.. Driscoll in order to
put some carbolic acid in the bottle, the
acid to be used upon the dead man.
The manner of his death and what Mrs.
Getchell said as to the cause of bis death,
p,,lo 81, late oh all
to have said that he had a private disease)
raised great suspicious in the minds of
those simple country people. So great be-
came the feeling there that something
should be done that the coroner was applied
to, William H. Libbey, as careful and ex-
perienced an officer as there is in Maine.
lie caused the body to be taken up and
brought to this city and an examination
made by the most skilful physicians
in this county, Drs. CrooSer,
Giddings. Bricketts, Turner and DriscoI.
The body was in perfect state of preser
vation. Every organ was found to be per-
feet, external and internal. The lungs
were gorged with blood but otherwise
healthy. They came to the conclusion that
he died of strychnine poisoning. They
sealed up the stomach and portion of the
kidneys and liver and Mr.. Libbey took them
to Prof. F. G. Robinson, an expert chemist
1t Bowdoin college. He will tell you that
he found strychnine sufficient TO kill seven
or eight men or more, that the man died
of strychnine poison, and that there was az
least four grains of it, The quantity found
is exceedingly significant as bearing upon
the guilt of this respondent. Please bear
this in mind.
So the fret great primal fact will be estab-
iished that Mr.. GetcLel died with strych-
nine poiso ing, administered or taken into
his stomach but a short time before his
leath, for no human being could live but
short time with such a tremendous dose.
Strychnine is one of the most deadly poi
sons acting on the nerve centres.
Thus the fact of his murder will be es-
tablished. The next question, was he mur-
dered by the prisoner at the bar? We shall
know he was, also the motives for the COM
mission of the crime.
That this poison was in this bottle of gin
and sulphur you will fully believe; that it
was put in between the time he took some
of it before breakfast and the time he came
home to dinrer you will not have the slight
est doubt. That he had been taking it for
werks; that he took it that very morning
without any difficulty proves this-nothing
else that he took or ate at that dinner hour
could by any possibility have contained it
for every other member of the family ate
the same food as he did.
When he first complained while eating
she says, 81 guess You have taken too
much of your medicine" After he got on
the lounge he wss cold and wanted some-
thing to warm him up. She suggested TAX
ing more of the medicine.
He did not want to take any more of the
but she persisted, and Mr.. Fow-
Ter, at her request, fixed some of it, sweet
ened it put hot water in it and gave it to
him. He tasted it and found it intensely
bitter. So is strychnine yer, bitter. Mr..
Getchell complained of its tasting bitter,
hut said he hadn't noticed it before. Mr..
Fowler had tasted of it the day before and
il wasn't bitter. Thus ! shall prove to you
that the poison was put in that bottle that
very forenoon. will prove to you that it
was this respondent who alone could have
put it there, had any opportunity to do it.
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