The Portland daily press., 1896-02-05

bl6y U6 lusplr6u WlUu, 10 CAUSE Gnelu TO
undergo the ordeal of standing for long
time. in that dark corridor, like SO many
sardines in box, in the hope that they
may be admitted through that gate and
have a chance to gaze at Ellen Dolley,
while she is tried for the murder of a
helpless infant.
After the opening of the court, Ellen
Dolley was led in and took her seat beside
Mr.. Anthoine her counsel. He whis-
pered to her and all at once she burst into
tears and held her handkerchief to her
eyes.
This was the first time that this strange
and apparently hardened woman had dis
played the great strain under which she
has been laboring.
What MIR. Anthoine whispered to her
may be inferred from what followed.
County Attorney True announced that
the State would mol pros the indictment
against Ellen Dolley charging her with
State was ready to proceed with the trial.
Mr.. Anthoine said that In behalf of the
respondent he would like to retract her
previous plea Of not guilty.
Ellen Dolley was told to stand up.
Clerk Libby asked if she would like to
retraot her plea OF not guilty?
Eyes, sir" she said in a very low, sad
voice.
"Are you guilty or not guilty."
Guilty. in still lower and sadder
voice. Then tie miserable woman sat
down and again held her handkerchief
to her eyes and wept.
Immediately there was consultat ion
of the counsel and it was soon agreed
upon that all the testimony in the trial
of Rose Dolley should be used by Judge
Bonney in fixing the degree of murder
upon which Ellen Dolley shall be sem
tenced.
Ellon Dolley is only 40 years old al
though she Looks much older. She has
had hard life especially for the last
five years since her husbands death. She
has had large family to provide for, a
farm to manage and a continual struggle
with poverty.
She is Of a nervous irritable disposition
and her troubles have made her mors so.
when angry she is very violent and al
most uncomfortable.
The arguments as to the degree of muir
der were as follows:
MR.. ANTHOINE'S PLEA FOR
MERCY.
Mr.. Anthoine said that all the circum.
stances and testimony tend one way;
that is to show that at the time of the
committing of the deed Ellen Dolley was
in condition hardly to know what she
was doing.
| She went to Portland that morning in :
tending to take the baby to her home.
| Something was done or happened that
caused her to fear or dislike to take the
baby home. She tried Ito leave it at the
Catholic home Failing in that her
anger was aroused. 1t has been shown
that she has a very violent temper. She
was so angry that she called her favorite
| daughter vile names and OF the baby said
she'd like to dash Its brains out on it's
fathers grave.
| Arrived ct the woods she jumped from
| the carriage with that quick catlike move
ment and rushed into the woods, not car
Ing what became of the baby or herself.
She rushed through the thick bushes oar
ryina the baby, through water up to her
knees and pursuing an erratio course.
She didn't know where she was going
Had she plannad and premeditated this
| murder, her acts would have been differ
emit. Also when she met her daughter in
the road, she didn't know her. Ros
called to her twice. All this is explain
able by the tact that her favorite tlaugh-
ter, hi d become disgraced and when she
realized that her pet was going home
with the evidence of her disgrace with
her it was too much for the mind of this
poor woman, who had had life of so
much hard work and trouble.