The Portland daily press., 1896-10-26
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J

ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
West Parsonsfield, October 24.-'tFrom
a gun in the hands of Frank J. Palmer
of Parsonsfield.
This concluding cause in tho verdict
rendered by the ooroner's jury this af-
ternoon. is clue to the outcome of the
long continued inquiry into the cause
of the death of Mrs. Betsey R. Hobbs,
the aged widow who Was shot and an
attempt made to burn her body in her
home, October 9th.
Sensation followed sensation in rapid
rotation today and forever put at rest the
criticism that was offered by some Of
the nervous people about here, to the
effect that no progress as being made
toward locating and Furnishing the pepe-
traitors of that tiendish crime.
Not only did the coroner and his
jurors reach a decision today, but they
listened to the confession of one whom
they had held under suspicion, and at
the close of the inquest Frank j. Palmer
and Charles Savage were placed under
arrest, arraigned ON oharge of murder
and committed to the York county jail.
Coroner i. @. Bradbury of Saco took
a S7-mile drive across country this morn
ing, and reached the farmhouse of John
L. Wentworth, near Province pond, in
season to begin his final session prompt
Is at 10 O'Clock. A matter of universal
surprise was that nearly all those who
had testified at former hearings were
summoned again into the presence of
the court of inquiry But it turned
out that about all that was wanted In
most cases was the signing of transcript
lions OF the stenographer's notes on the
evidence. This formality occupied but
little time. and the list of witnesses was
ground out with astonishing swiftness.
UP TO week ago the promise of an i'm
mediate
CLEARING OF THE MYSTERY
was regarded as very slight. There had
been tendency on the part Of numerous
witnesses to tell only half the truth In
answer TO certain pertinent INQUIRIES.
They are afraid their own buildings
may be burned or some harm come TO
their families If they implicate anybody
and the wheels Of justice should happen
to clip" This explanation on the part
OF one who had been prominently CON
nected with the Investigation made a
decided impression on the jury last week.
1t was. then, with not little feellpa
of encouragement that some of the
members of the jury took possession of
their seats this forenoon. But certain
twinkle in the eye of County Attorney
Emmons seemed to indicate that the I'M
expected was about to happen. He had
been putting personal effort into the
detective from Pinkertons Boston
agency had been employed to the same
end.
The people of the neigh boring yillaoea
had been strengthened in the SUSPICION
that Charles Savage and Frank Palmer
knew great deal more about the oause
of Widow Hobbs's death than they had
admitted during the hour they had been
under examination.
When the name of Charles Savage was
called by Constable Weeman, from the
open door of the jury room, the Young !
suspect was closely watched. He had
come over from his home across the
New Hampshire line of his own free
will, for no summons could reach him
there He drove over with his father and
sister. The two male mem bers of tho /
trio joined the crowd in the barn. wbiie
the young woman, attractive in dreas
and features. was uthered into the kitch
On t. await her turn In the jury room
Charles answered promptly to his mama
He is only 20, has smooth face pink
and white complexion, sharp eye and
a face that did not seem to bear
THE STAMP OF CRIME.
He was neatly dressed. He did not
wnver on his way to the house, but his
wrinklsd brow showed that he was nm
dergoing severe mental strain. II was
a full hour later when he emerged and
Joined the witnesses who were ta,kin.