The Portland daily press., 1895-05-10
Startling Evidence Will De In
troduced at the Hearing.
MRS. TIBBETTS WOULD HAVE
DIED FROM ANOTHER CAUSE.
1t Is Said That No Evidence of Criminal
Operation Was Discovered-Sensatio
Results of the Autopsy Performed
Probabilities of DR.. Plaisted's Release.


Probabilities of DR.. Plaisted's Release.
The Sanford murder case will be aired to-
day in court before Judge Bul bank at Saco.
The hour set for the reliminary bearing is
3 a. III. 1t is believed that DR.. J. n. Plais-
ted, the man accused. who has been in
charge of two sherifs for the past nine
days, will be cleared of the charge of
murder Oh the testimony of the physicians
who were present at the tomb in Oakdale
cemetery,and assisted in the autopsy. These
physicians were j. H. Neal of Rochester,
N. H., DR.. G. A. bennett of saco. DR.. g. W.
Blagden of Sanford and DIR. T. a. B1agdon
of Springvale, the latter being present in
behalf of DR.. Plaisted. When seen imme-
diately after the autopsy. County Attorney
Emmons. said he was sorry. but could say
nothing with regard to the result. but did
say that he regarded the case as more
serious than before. Notwithstanding the
fact that the greatest secrecy was observed,
the actual result of the autopsy is Anown.
1t is known to Senator f. NJ. Higgins.
counsel for the accused; it is anown to DR..
f. A. Bragdon of Springvale: it is
whispered about town, and there lis little
doubt that the man charged with having
duSoo Inc utdtu VI MIS- SdTuu L.. I1DUeILS
is thoroughly acquainted with the facts,
and if he is there are good grounds for be-
Loving that he has little fear of the out
come. The certificate OF death states that
Sarah L. Tibbetts came to her death on
April goth, and that the cause of her demise
was septicaemia, or in other words, blood
poisoning. 1t will be remembered that on
the afternoon of Sunday. April 2Sth, the
dying woman made an an:e-mortem state
ment, which was listened to by DR.. j. II.
Neal of Rochester. N. H., DR.. c. W. Blag-
den of Sanford and William Sanborn of
Sanford, her brother. The condition under
which this ante-mortem statement was oh
tanned were very much as follows: DR.. j.
H.Neal, a specialist in female diseases, told
the woman that there was little, if any,
chance of her recovery, but that while
there was life there was hope. however, be-
fore he could perform certain surgical
operation he said he must know who per-
formed the operation that brought about
the existing conditions. She said she would
die first. All right. said the doctor. that is
a privilege you have. Later she made the
statement, which. it is expected VIII play
more or less important part in the pre-
liminary hearing today. duplicating DR.. j.
N. Plaisted. 1t was on the strength of this
statement that Sanborn, the woman's
brother. after consulting with well known
attorney. brought the matter to the atten-
tion of County Attorney En.mons, who or
dered the arrest of DR.. Plaisted. Now with
regard to the result of the autopsy. 1t is
known that it revealed rather unsavory
condition of things. 1t is proved beyond a
doubt that whether or not criminal opera
tion was performed at the time supposed to
have been alleged in the wonan's state
ment. death would have resulted from other
causes. Death was absolute, sure and cer-
tain. 1t was only question of time. 1t is
believed that no evidence of a recent crim1-
nal operation was found. But the autopsy
did reveal the fact that criminal opera
tion was performed by some person un-
known, some six months previous, and
which had discharged, tiled. discharged
and reflled until large qua nifty of pus
had accumulated. This was removed and
the abcess itself. about the size of a hens
egg extracted. The formation of pus had
been going on incessantly, inducing blood
poisoning of the most agg:avating and in
famating nature. County Attorney En-
mons is aware of these facts. Ono peculiar
aspect of the case is tle fact that it is ex-
tremely probable that the prisoner will be
cleared of the charge of murder on the
testimony of government witnesses.