Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-21
THE SAWYER MURDER,
Preliminary Hearing for Arrangement
Of the Thompson Brothers.
Counsel for Government and Defense Enoaoes
in Some Sparring.

u a. AhoHipson ana his brother Edgar
Thompson, who are charged with the
Of Augustus Sawyer of Mon
mouth, were brought before Recorder
Goddard, Friday morning, for prelim-
mary hearing. The bearing was at the
kennebec jail, County Attorney Heselton
appearing for the government, with H.
NJ. Heath, and Forrest Goodwin for the
defendants
The Thompson brothers both pleaded
not guilty to the charge.
Attorney Hazleton made strong plea
Tor adjournment of the preliminary hear
ing until Thursday, alleging that 1t was
impossible before that time to summon
the governments evidence, which was
scattered in various. and in some in
stances, distant localities one new wit
ness being in Boston. MIR Haselton
stated that there had not been sufficient
time at his disposal to confer with l.. r.
Carleton, and Editor Mcdowell of the
Lewiston Sun, who had been largely in
strumental in the collection of evidence,
and that it was not convenient to the
former, on account of personal affairs, to
confer with him until next Tuesday
Mr.. Heath objected that, while the wit
nesses might be scattered, it did not seem
reasonable that it would take whole
week from the time of arrest, to get them
together in view of the existing facilities
Offered by telegraph and telephone com
railroads and the unlimited
moneys in the county's treasury which
was at the disposal of the government, in
this case. And that, in view of the fact
OF the ample time which had been at the
disposal of the government in the case,
that it was wholly unreasonable to de
mand any such time; that it was not
morally or lawfully just to conflne the
prisoners on such charge for so long a
time, unless immediate evidence could be
called to the courts attention the unfor
tunate circumstances attending the arrest
of Edgar Thompson, who had been torn
from his family, leaving them alone I'M
protected, and without assistance. If the
government had evidence, he wanted to
know why it didn't have it ready. More
over, he claimed that, especially in case
of accusation of murder, the most serious
crime known to the law, no mans private
affairs, as in the specified case of Mr..
Cartoons, should he allowed to detain
for a minute man on such a serious
charge.
Mr.. Heselton claimed that the govern
mcnt would show evidence enough to
warrant the appearance of the men before
the April court, and that day or so post
ponement ON the preliminary trial would
not do one iota s injustice to the accused
Mr.. Heath objected with the remark
that he and his brother counsel would
show before the affair was over that the
prisoners We're entirely innocent of the
ton
Mr. Heselton stuck to it, however, that
on account of the witnesses being located
in so many different places, Boston,
Portland, Palmyra, Bingham Mon
mouth, and some, who at the former trial
by the grand jury, had been residents of
I@,I Nd
whose present location was not known by
the government, the time demanded was
only reasonable.
After considerable sparrlng on the part
of the opposing counsel, the tim" for con
tinuance, was set for Tuesday morning
at 10 o'clock.
The prisoners were, to all appearances,
as cool as mortals are apt to be, when
accused of murder, and at times during
the sparring match of the counsel seemed
to derive considerable enjoyment from it.
on motion Of Mr.. Heath there will be
stcnographer for the purpose Of truth
fully taking down tho evidence of both
sides in the coming arraignnent and
Ewing W. Hamlen will be employed in
that capacity.
Forrest Goodwin, who, with II. Nj.
Heath is counsel for the defendants, drove
to Monmouth, Friday afternoon, to inspect
the scene of the Sawyer murder.
County Attorney Heselton was seen by
a Journal man after the hearing and asked
If he had anything to say. He replied that
he had considerable to say,and that at the
hearing, Tuesday, sufficient evidence would
be advanced to detain the alleged murder
orc until the April session OF the court
He stated that the case is very clear, and
that strong evidence is in the hands OF the
government.
He said, moreover: The two men now
upder arrest have been under suspicion for
over a year and they have been aware OF
it. for that time.
When asked if it was fact that Albert
Thomson had remarked that he would