The Portland daily press., 1895-08-08
GETCHELL MURDER CASE.
Arguments for New Trial Begin
Before Law COnrt.

OF VIM. III. Getchen of Sidney, and the
Trial of His Wife for Murder.
lntrenched behind big pile of books
and with the almost 1900 pages of the
history of the Getchell case to go through
Hon. Herbert NJ Heath of Augusta has
been in the Supreme Court room this
week, preparing himself for the hea ring
for the new trial
The long and sensational trial of Mrs
Clara Emma Getchell of Sidney some
months ago before Judge Wiswen is still
fresh in the public mind. She was con-
victed May l2, 1894
1t was largely question whether Mrs.
Getchell had exclusive opportunity to
have administered the poison that ended
the life of her husband, William Henry
Getchell. 1t was.also a great question
what were in reality the exact relations
existing prior to the murder. between him
self and a man whose name made fire.
quent appearance in the case. He was
the close friend of her husband, and had
been for long time before they were
married and he was at their house much
of the time.
On the morning of his death Mr. EGetch-
ell got up and did all his regular work
about the house. He looked after his
stock, and sat down to breakfast with
good relish for his food. He did one thing
more, he took drink of his medicine, !"
that is of gin and sulphur, that in his case
was medicine
Then John G. Fowler, who had been
working for him, called at his house and
they went to Mr.. Getchell's wood lot
about mile or rather less from the
house, and there worked until l.. 80, when
they started or the house for dinner. Mr..
Getchell was in good physical condition
for all Mr.. Fowler observed, and seemed
eager for dinner.
AS matter of fact he was then within
ued until he died, and only few hours
of even that life of torture remained for
him. He reached the house and went to
the sink to wash, but found no water
there and with two pals started for the
spring, a few rods off, returned within a
! few minutes. s
He washed, and then went to the pan
try, where he had his bottle of gin and
sulphur. Mrs. Getchell. said at the time
/ Of the trial that she did not know what
he went there for, but Mr.. Fowler said
| that he saw him take drink out of that
bottle.
He eat dinner, and there was no poison
oned and they all partook OF the same
food.
Soon alter dinner Mr. Getchell was TAX
en- sick. At first he ascribed his trouble
to the fact that he took the gin before
dinner. He grew worse and developed all
the outward signs commonly observed in
cases of poisoning. They gave him hot
water, rubbed him, put on plasters, tried
all they could to help him, Mrs. Getchell
being an active assistant, but despite all
they could do he died. He seemed to full
ly understand that he could not live,
and asked his wife to remember him after
he was gone. He died very suddenly at
last, and Mrs Getchell did not seem to
understand that he was actually in a
dangerous condition until he was dead,
when she showed every evidnce of grief
| The funeral was hardly over when there
was demand for post motem ex amin
alton, and it was ordered and was made
by Drs. Crocker, Giddings, Turner and
Brackett.
The post mortem settled the point that
he died of poison and that it was strych-
nine. Mrs. Getchell was arrested, tried
and convicted The State claimed exclu-
sive opportunity on the part of Mrs.
Getchell, but this was denied by Mr..
Heath, who raised the theory of suicide.
How Mrs. Getchell obtain ed the poison
if she did give it to her husband was
something of mystery. On the stand
she bore herself we'll
1t was aobut 5. 80 p. m. when the argu-
ments in the Lewis case were concluded,
and it was not expected that the argu-
ments in the Getchell case would begin
until today. But the court decided that
Mr.. Heath could begin, and he started in,
telling the story of the murder. He spoke
only short time; and the argument will
be res umed again this morning.