The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-04
FRESH EVIDENCE.
A Letter That is Said to Throw Light
on the Fernald Murder.
Developments Tend to Increase the Be-
lief that the Crime Was Premeditated-
Widow Butler and Her Belligerent Sons
They Have an Antipathy for Report
lSnecial to the PRESS. J

Lebanon, Me-. March 3.--lhe coroner s
jury summoned by Coroner Ham of South
Berwick to hold an inquest upon the
murder of Mrs. Sarah Fernald, finished the
actual work of taking testimony yesterday
and then adjourned Until Friday. when the
formal verdict will be signed. Today. how
ever. nothing has been talked OF except the
new developments in the case. which were
not mentioned at the inquest. but which
goes for to disprove the theory that Fer
nald is insane.
Early Saturday morning Lewis B. Weeks,
one of Leroy B. Fernald's neighbors, and a
friend of his, found in barn letter writ
ten just before the murder by Fernald him.
self and addressed to Edward G. Hayes, the
husband of one of FernaId's three sisters,
The contents of this letter are being kept
secret by order Of. County Attorney
Emmons. but it is understood to show that
the murder was premeditated and TO give
fully Fernald's reasons for committing the
crime.
Even since the murder Mr.. Weeks has
maintained that Fernald was insane, and
his principal reason was that Fernald acted
strangely. The day before the murder he
told Weeks that he had left his road
aCcOuuG UOUk LII NcekS1 IS UarQ ana WaQte0
him to look over it., as he wanted his
accounts all right if any thing should hap
pen. Fernald was road commissioners and
Weeks looked upon this as an evidence of
insanity. ssa48
Saturday he found Fernald's s coat hanging
in his barn, and in it was a pocket-book be-
longing to Fe-nald and containing a large
sum of money. also this letter. 1t proyee
that Fernald had made his plans deliberat, :
ly. and that his deed was not the result Of
an insane impulse. The letter and pocket
book We're delivered to Mr.. Hayes. and he
was instructed by the county attorney not
to say word about its contents.
Mrs. Eta Butler. the widow whom Fer
nald wanted to marry. denied absolutely
that she ever threatened TO sue him for
breach of promise. They were to have teen
married year ago. but Fernald's mother
objected. and from this the murder ia sun-
posed to have resulted. Mrs. Butter is a
nice appearing woman, few years younger
than Fernald. who is thirty-nine, althoupb
his age has eIroneously been given as mpcb
younger.
Mrs. Butler has two sons of fighting ape
and reporters have so far been very sby
about interviewing her, as these two sons
have announced their intention Of KILN,
any reporter that ventures into tho house
They say that they have a grave yard for
reporters laid off at one corner of tbei,
yard.
County Attorney Emmons, however. hao
no difficulty III conversing with the fair
widow. He will not tell what he found ont
but she told him the whole story of ber
alotia xuit xr;t
She cried at first, and denied absolute,,
that she had even thought of suing Lerov
Tor breach of promise.
While Judge Emmons was talking will
Mrs. Butler, her Oldest son, who had baa,'
told that there was reporter in the hons.
rushed in.
who are you" he demanded with blood in
his eyes.
81 don't know as that is any of your bns;
ness" replied the Judge, who is not scaraa
by boys.
"Ain't going to have any reporters bere ),
said the son. and he was preparing To a,h.
when his mother explained tho situatior
ard her son subsided.
The verdict of the inquest win be at4o
the usual form, and the evidence secrus.
will be laid before the grand Jury AT ~
May term at Alfred. County Attorna, :,
Emmons arrived here Friday ana ~,
present with stenographer during the in
quest, which was private. ''
MI. Enmons was asked whether a.
question OF insanity was for the iprv -,
not. he saidthat if the grand jury returned
an iddlctment of murder thes testimony ~
pert and otherwise, .as to Fernala,s -
sanity would be introduced as part Of the