Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-01
GETCHELL CASE.
This Sensational Murder Trial
Well Begun Monday.
Wife's Improper Relations With One
Trask Alleged as Motive.
County Attorney Carleton Represents Govern.
ment-His Opening.

The trial of Clara Emma Getchell COM
menced at the court house, Monday, in the
superior court, Judge Wiswell of the su-
preme judicial court, presiding. The
respondent is charged with the murder of
her husband on the 9th day of December
last, and she is defended by Hon. H. NJ.
Heath and F. f. Southard, Esq. The at
torney-general, by reason of illness, is un-
able to be present, and Mr.. Carleton, the
county attorney, conducts the case of the
State.
Witnesses and others interested in the
trial commenced to assemble in the court
room as early as o'clock, and when court
was opened, soon after 10, the room was
well filled with people. The respondent
was brought in and placed in the prisoners
box. She was tastily attired in black
suit, and appears to be about 55 years of
age. Upon request of her counsel she was
permitted by the court to sit by their side
within the bar. Her little boy, or years
of age, sat by her side.
The clerk proceeded to draw the Jury
and for this purpose the names of 3S were
placed in the box. The government e1er-
cised its right of challenge in three cases
and the counsel for the prisoner in II in
stances. Three were excused for cause
o,J opo ,roo ovouoo1 an oooounk to
business by consent of the counsel.
The jury as constituted is as follows Mr..
Brann being appointed foreman by the
| court:
J. f. Brann, Hallowell, foreman.
w. p. Putnam, Waterville.
S. w. Brown, Chelsea.
George H. Fuller, Gardiner.
Fred ID. Lunt, Waterville.
Samuel Small, West Gardiner.
Charles E. Pratt, Augusta.
Wesley H. Clark, Belgrade.
jesse II. Bartlett, Gardiner.
r. S. Fogg, Fayette.
Frank w. Tabor, Vassalboro.
Charles W. Trafton, Waterville.
On motion of MIR. Heath the witnesses on
both sides were excluded from the court
room save the one who is to occupy the
witness stand.
The jury are quartered in the Park
house in charge of Deputy Sheriffs Mad
dox and Berry. They are charged not to
read the newspapers and will be excluded
from public intercourse.
In the afternoon the interest in the trial
tendance on the part of the bar as we'll as
the citizens.
The exclusion of the witnesses from the
court room save when testifying was an
unpleasant feature for mos. of them, many
of whom are interested in following the
case. Especially is this true of one of the
deputy sherffs, who finds himself sum-
moned as witness. He much prefers to
be present in bis official capacity.
1t is thought that the trial will last all the
week and many doubt if it is finished be-
fore the middle of next.
At 80 the prisoner came in, leading her
little boy and accompanied by young lady
friend. When the jury filed in she looked
long at them and seemed oblivious for the
time of all else about her, as if she ex-
pected to read the result of their decision
in advance.
County Attorney Carleton began his
al ~ e.
ring to the indictment and law, he said
This charge is the gravest, highest, most
serious known to our law. 1t is nothing
less than cool, deliberately planned. and
deliberately executed murder.
The State charges Clara Emma GetchelI,
the prisoner at the bar, with the deliberate
murder of her husband, VIM. II. Getchell
of Sidney, on the 9th of December, last.
This is the charge which you, under the
forms of law, have sworn to try and 10
declare the truth or falsity of.
l shall never cease to regret, your honor,
and gentlemen of the jury, that the duty of
presenting this great issue has come to me
alone on account of the attorney generate
illness.
You gentlemen cannot but have been deep
ly impressed " ith the solemnity of these pro-
ceedings. With great care the court
and counsel have tried to exercise in your
selection, that only good men and true
should be allowed to sit in the jury box,
that no biased or prejudiced mind should
be there, that only such men as are un-
biased, free from prejudice and fearless to
declare the truth as they find it, regardless
of all conse quence, should be allowed to
sit as jurors in this case. Believing you to
be such men, you have been through the
forms of law selected and solemaly sworn
70 try the issue: and this duty bss come to
you without wish on your part. The