The Newtown bee., 1895-07-12
m, passed the house of MT Norton, stop

 ped at Mr Lakes ,had cider and appeared to be in 8 hilarious condition. That shortly after the fire broke out they were seen by Miss Camp and brother, that they crouched and skulked in suspic- ious manner. Where did they go? TO
 bed? Into the house? No. Into the barn,
 and later out into the lot where they
 trailed through the high grass to the
 road. Why did theg go to the barn!
 Flight was too late. They had been seen.
 And down they went through the lot,
 leaving the tell-tale track. Down they
 went through the grass till the tracks
 diverge. They couldn't stop to straigh-
 ten up the grass. Now there can De no
 possible doubt as to the identity of these
 people. It is ridiculous, also, to claim
 that they didn't see the fire. In closing
 Mir Beecher said that the strongest flea
 ture of his case was the attempted flight
 of these men, which he claimed was pre-
 sumptive of guilt. Lawyer Leonard uncorked the yials of
 oratory in speaking for the defense. He
 also outlined the law as to propaple
 cause. He claimed it was the duty of
 the trying justice to weigh the evidence carefully. "Every e1ime,. sald MT Leon ard, s'has motive. The intention Of the criminal is the essence of crime." He
 claimed that there must be, if the justice
 were to bind the prisoner over, definite feeling in his mind that he deliberately
 went and fired the barn. He asked why Corbett should want to fire the barn or MT Camp. On the question Of motive, said the attorney for the defense, MT Camp says himself the relations between he and Corbett were amicable. If MT Corbett had been angry for MT Camps refusal to sell him cider, he would have burned the barn a long time ago. He tbo oourf if ha aau1d ina Oinp why these men should want to put their heads into the moose for nothing? Haven't they walked in and out of Newtown for years It seems rather late for MT Corbett to be developing into a barn burner for noth- ing. Mir Leonard then reiterated certain
 we'll known principles in law: You must
 prove your case beyond a reasonable
 doubt. You must believe man innocent
 till he is proven guilty, and the burden of proof rests with the State. MT Leon-
 ard further remarked that the only fact
 that was proved was that there was fire. He then paused to pay his respects
 to the testimony of Miss Camp and Rob-
 ert Camp. He wanted to know why they
 didn't speak to 'sNick." Why they
 didn't go to the fire? He wanted to know if cousins couldn't show enough interest
 to go to the fire, why should MT Corbett
 be expected to go? He asked the justice
 how much reliability was to be placed on the testimony of Miss Whittet. She thought it was about 10 o'clock when she heard the 'sstill small voice. of MT Cor bett in the barn. He passed over as of little value MT Beecher's claim of flight,
 and other matters referred to by the the States representative. In closing he asked his honor if he believed there was
 any real evidence against the accused? If he believed if in the event of the men be- ing bound over, the state's attorney would try the cases? He claimed the charges were of the most fiimsy charac- ter. He further asked his honor II he believed the men were guilty would they have remained in town to be arrested? For these and other considerations he asked for the discharge of the prisoner. MT Beecher closed for the State. He expressed surprise and amusement at the course taken by the attorney for the de- fense. He believed that MT Leonard had treated the case fiippantly, when he should have been serious. For it was serious question with Michael Corbett, who, if bound over, would surely do time. On the question of motive he believed MT Leonard had gone off on wrong scent. | It is not the duty of the court to decide on the question of reasonable doubt, but l on the question of probable cause. He | referred to the attempt of Mir Leonard to | belittle the testimony of Miss Camp. Miss l Whittet and others and answered him to l someylength. The way this man Corbett remained quietly at home was by cut ting down through the lots and hiding in
 an out-of-the-way place. The conduct
 of these men when they came up the hill
 was suspicious. In closing MT Beecher
 stated it wasn't a question as to what was
 possible. As the Supreme court says. in
 the case of State against Turner, 'It is
 not question of possibilities" He be- l lieved the evidence not only warranted l his honor finding probable cause, but l that in view of the evidence presented. it l was his sworn duty.
 Justice Cavanaugh found for the de- fense, discharging the prisoner.
 | Additional facts concerning these cases
 will be found on another page.