Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-01-30
ROSE D0LLEY.
On Trial at Portland for
the Murder of Her Baby.
County Attorney Opens for State
With Story Of Crime.
Sad Scene About the Youthful Prisoner at
Close Of Speech.

Portland, Jan. 29-Thc case of the
State VS.. Rose Dolley was begun in the
superior court, this morning, before Judge
BoDney. She pleaded not guilty.
Lawyer W. NJ. Anthoine appeared for
the defence and County Attorney Charles
A. True and Attorney General Powers for
the State
The indictment by the grand jury is to
the effect that Rose Dolley of Windham,
in the county of Cumberland and the
State Of Maine, on the 25th day of Novem-
Der, in the year OF our Lord 1895, at West
brook, with force of arms in and upon a
certain infant child named William Dol
ley. feloniously, wilfuily and of malice
aforethought did make an assault, and
that the said Rose Dolley, then and there,
feloniously, wilfully and of her malice
sforethought did kill and murder.
The jury was empanelled as follows ::
Louis L. Files, Gorhsm; George w. Bsale,
Portland; Frank Rankin, Gorham; Tim
othy r. Brown, Scarboro; Wlllian n
Dow, Gray; Abel H. Hartman, Bridgton !;
Jabez True, New Gloucester; Willard f.
Beaton, North Yarmouth; Henry a. Stet-
son, Brunswick; William W. Merrill, Deer
ing, foreman; Robert W. Howe, Deering
AT the opening for the State, Mr.. True
described the meaning of the words malice
aforethought, and in this case Of alleged
murder claimed that Rose Dolley did will
fully commit felony and commit the
murder, wherein one infant, William Dol
ley, was done to deagh, and claimed that
fDn 1pAiicp as lined in rha
dictment would be proven.
The person now on trial, Rose Dolley.
is now about i9 years of age Last fall
she was delivered of "a child. On Wednes-
day, the 22d of November. Rose Dolley
went to the house of Mrs. o Hara, on
Chestnut street, where the child was left
to be cared Tor A few days later, Rose
Dolley called at the house Of Mrs. Hara
and asked to take the baby away. Mrs.
U'Bara dressed the baby and tied around
mis- neck II handkerchief belonging to her
self. Rose Dolley came TO the OHara
house that night in covered carriage
commonly alluded to as a buggy. There
was woman in said buggy who is now
believed to be Mrs Ellen Doliey.
Mr.. True then traced the alleged ac-
tons of Rose Dolley that night, the at
torncy claiming that one william Law
renee discovered footprints, presumably
those of woman, in the woods at West
brook
The brother of William Lawrence saw a
woman acting strangely in the woods,
and the next day, this brother, and one
Leighton, discovered a baby's hood.
When young leighton net Rose Dolley
in the woods she endeavored to tell him
where she had left the child, William
Dolley.
It is also claimed that when Rose Dol
ley took the baby from Mrs. O'Hara S
house. Mrs. o Hara wrapped handker-
chief about the baby which afterward was
found to have strangled to baby, as it is
claimed at the hands of Rose Dolley, and
Mr. True said that the prosecution was in
a position to show that Rose Dolley did
wilfully, knowingly and with malice
atorethought encompass the death of this
innocent child.
Mr. True then alluded to the alleged
confession OF Rose Dolley, and Mr.. Firth $
testimony in the case as brought out at
che coroner's inquest.
When Mr.. True had finished his opening
argument there was scarcely dry eye in
the court room. Rose Dolley sobbed pitt
fully and many a strong man found The
| tears moistening his eyes as he watched
her heroic efforts to remain calm.
The newspaper men, officers Of the law
and the members of the bar who were
present, men used to scenes of this kind,
| we're all deeply affected and FASTENED to
get out of the sight of the suffering girl
| as soon as the judge had adjourned the
| court
| There were many ladies present, this
| forenoon, and these gathered around the
prisoner and tried to comfort her. The
tears of these hearted women
mingled with those Of the prisoner and
there ensued scene seldom witnessed in
this court room, when almost everyone
was in tears and the lonely prisoner found
hent upon her the pitiful looks of all.
Rose Dolley, still shaken by sobs, was
hurried from the court room and placed in
!, carriage which stood at the rear en-
| trance. and hastily driven to jail. An
immense crowd had assembled in front OF
the City building to see the girl brought
out but Sheriff Plummer ouswitted them
and got his charge into a hack without
| her being seen by single person.
DR.. John Thompson, who made the
autopsy, was the first witness. He was Of
the 0pinion that the child died of strangu-
| lation.
DR.. n. Y. Lord testified to the same
oplnion. Several witnesses testified to the
and clothing.