The Portland daily press., 1894-03-02
THE THoRNE CASE.
The Arguments on Both Sides Made Yes,
terday.

Paris, March LIN the Thorne muir
der trial today Hon. George D. Bisbee
opened or the respondent. Every person
is presumed innocent until proved guilty
said he. No person knows who shot
Whitman. The struggle on the store
platform between Mr.. Newell and the
burglar occurred in utter darkness.
Shots came thi ok and fast from north OF
them. Whitman was south Of them, no
person knows just where. The state
Gains that this burglar was Thorne.
It's own witness, Mr.. Newell, testified
that he did not know the burglar hred.
Thorne then lid not shoot Whitman.
Several witnesses testified that Ihorne
was a good scholar, regular attenaant
at the Sunday school and was genefally
considered a model young man, ana that
Officer Garland gave slightly different
testimony before the inquest At this
point the defence asserted there was no
necessity for further testimony because
the testimony presented by the. statesh IA q
proved the innocence of the respondent.
Hon. James S. Wright closed for the
respondent. The death, he asserted. OF
Whitman was the result OF bungling
work. When Mr.. Newell entered the
store. the burglar ried to dart. out. behind
him showing that he intended no harm
to any person. Mr.. Newell grabbed him
in the doorway and was Instantly
dragged on the platform of The piazza.
At the same instant, according to the
states testimony, five or six shots were
fred rapidly, all from the same dlrec-
ion. II, is clearly impossible that boy
strnreline in his arms could have shot
another person without Mr.. Newell
Knowing it. Mr.. Newell testified that SO
far as he knew the burglar he grappled
with fired no shots.
The evidence shows that Wsman was
probably standing at the south enc OF
the piazza. According to Officer Garland,
he fired his shots from the northeast
angle of the niazza southwest towards
the door, His evidence as to the mum Der
of the shots he fired is contradictory.
The state claims that Garland fired i've
shots and Thorne one The evidence
shows seven or eight shots. How can
these other shots be accounted for unless
The officer used his other thirty 1.-TWO size
revolver, or the burglar had an accom-
piice?
ATTORNEY General Powers made the
aI1nment for the. state. The defence, he
ssH have been driven to the wall IN
Seay position taken. The state claims
nSIirdar in the first degree. The defence
virtually admits that Thorne was the
burglar who was surprised III tne seuio
on the night of the murder. The hat
dropped By the fleeing burglar has been
Identified as Thorne's. The com bination
of the safe and key to the inside vault
were found in Thorne's pocket: Thorne
himself ad aitted to Mr.. Newell that he
fred once. Add to this Mr.. Stones
testimony yesterday. Officer Garland
had no revolver of the size that caused
Whitman's death. Whitman was shot
before Garland fred at all. The bullet
taken from Whitmans body fits Thorne's
revolver but does not fit Garland's. The
burglar when grabbed by Mr.. NEWELL in
the doorway had the free use OF his
arms. Newells words were: The first
shot flashed right up in my. face and
were apparently nearer than thesothers =
Tnorne himself admitted that, he tired
once. Thorne alone had revolver using
thirGy-two size central fire cartridges,
such as that found in Whitman's body,
Thorne must have fired before Mr..
Newell threw him down. This revolver
cannot be accidentally discharged 1t is
hard to pull. Thorne's words We're: l
fired but once This does not imply
accident.