Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-05
GUILTY OF MURDER
Mrs. Ool!ey Retreats Her First
Plea and Pleads GUILTY.
Judge Bonney Decides 1t to Be Muir
der in the First Degree.
Ers. Dolly Not Yet Notified Will Sc Later
Sentences.

Portland, Feb. Am immense GROVE
assembled in the corridor Of tie City
building, this morning, attracted there
10 doubt by the published announcement
that the case of the State against Eller
Dolley was to be called.
The bcncheS for the witnesses were
again filled with practically tho same pco
pie who occupied them one week ago.
when the unfortunate Rose Dolley faced
her prosecutors. As was the case in the
trial of Rose, a large number Of the spec
tators were women. There We're women
witnesses, women stsnographers from the
Business colleges and young women who
make Il pretence of being stenographcrs,
some Of whom were kindly invited TO stcI
outside Of the rail before the proceedin rs
OF the trial began.
AT 1920 Lawyer Anthoinc whispered
To deputy sheriff, who Immediately made
tracks for the room where Rose and her
mother nave been confined during the
time that the court was in session. At
torncy General Powers was in his ac-
customed seat, having returned from o
visit to his family in Arocstook county.
When the court finally convened, Mrs.
Dolley was led into the court room by a
deputy sheriff, She appeared pale and
; hsggard, her appearance being enhanced
by the widows weeds that she Wore. She
took the seat by the rail formerly occupied
by her daughter Rose.
Clerk of Courts Libby then asked Mrs
Dolley if she wished tn retract her plea of
not guilty. She replied that she did, and
pleaded guilty of murder
The court decided that there might be a
hearing to determine the dagrec of muir
der. The counsel agreed that the evidence
in the Rose Dolley case may be considered
by the court in fixing the degree of muir
der in the ease of Ellen Dolley.
Mr.. Anthoire addressed the court and
urged that Mrs. Dolley ought to he sen
fenced for murder in the second degree.
He claimed that the murder of the child
by Mrs. Dollcy was not premeditated,
When she left home to come to Portland
after the child she had no intention OF
numbering the baby. But one event after
another exasperated her. The baby could
not be disposed Of at the Catholic home,
and it became necessary for Mrs. Dolley
to take both mother and child home with
her. She felt the disgrace keeuly and be
rated Rose. All at once, in IL tit Of frenzy,
she jumped from the carriage and rushed
into the woods with the baby in her arms.
She took the child's life when she was
frenzied and was sorry for her act when it
was over.
Attorney General Powers on the other
hand, argued that Ms. Dolleg' crime was
murder in the first degree. All her acts
showed promedtated murder. She re
marked that she wished the child was on
its fathers grave. In fact, everything
went to show that she deliberately planned
the murder.
Judge Bonncy reserved his decision rs
20 the degree of murder. The sentence is
| the same imprisonment for life, for muir
der in the first degree or second degree.
This afternoon, Judge Bonnay rendered
his decision, adjudging Mrs. Ellen Dollcf
guilty of murder in the first degree, and
Deputy Clerk Of Courts Libby made the
entry in the docket to that effect, Mrs.
| Dollcy was not sent for and Judge Bon
| nevis decision VII be later communicated
| TO her