The Portland daily press., 1897-01-23
THE KENISON CASE,
'Che Dangerous Weapon Clause Of
the Indictment Mol Pressed.
HENSON PLEADS GUILTY TO
OTHER CHARGES.

Mrs, Martin Tolls Her story-How Bach
eldor was Found- Miss Chaplin Pleads
Guilty of Peri ury-Tells why She
Perjured Herself.
The story of Mark M. Bachelor "a
tragic death at North Sebago, December
3 9Th, and the incidents leading up to 1t
were recited III the superior court, this
forenoon.
Leslie A. Kenison, who has been at the
county jail ever since the ooroner's jury
charged him with striking Bachelor
with sled stake, sat in the dock, at
tentively watching proceedings. Beside
him was Miss Bertha L. Chaplin, o Sc
hago young woman who lives at the
Kenieon place, and whom the grand jury
Indicted for committing perjury in her
testimony befors the inquest.
After q brief consultation between
County Attorney Libby and Messrs.
Eeiders and Chase. counsel for the re-
spondents, tho court was informed that
kenison desired to retract his plea. The
to mol pros that clause of the Indictment
containing mention of the dangerous
weapon. leaving the charge simply as
sault and battery. To the Indictment
thus amended, Ken!son entered plea of
guilty, and also pleaded guilty to the
charge of perjury.
Miss Chaplin, brunette with pink
oI,o an1 attirod II, eTriLjur coctrp,a
of black with orange trimmings, then
stood up in the dock and pleaded guilty
to the charge of perjury.
Judge Bonney expressed a desire to
have the case outlined by the county at
torney, in order to assist the court in
imposing sentences on the respondents.
He wanted to hear from the lips Of some
of the government witnesses the story of
Bacheldor's death.
Miss Ellen Martin, whose husband
was i'm plioated in the assault on Mark
III. Raoheldor, and hung himself the
next day after the coroner's verdict WAS
rendered, WAS first called to the witness
stand. She is Young appearing straight
forward woman, whose sad face gives
evidence of the burden of responsibility
she feels in the rearing of five fatherless
children. Through her black tulle veil
the color could be seen coming into her
ohesks whom in her narration of the story
of the assault upon Bachelor reference
was made to the part her husband took
in the affair. Her story was, in sub
stance, as follows:
MRS. MARTINS STORY.
Our family, on December 9th consisted
of my husband, myself and five children.
My husband has since died. On that
day Mark Bachelor called Mt our house
twice. The second time he came about
8 o'clock, lie was considerably irtoxi
Gated. MIR. Martin and !, Leslie Kenison,
Henry Flint and Miss Chaplin ware in
the yard when he drove in. lie got out
of his sleigh, said he was going to put
I'D his horse and "clean us all out. My |
husband told him be had better 60 home,
but Bachelor said he wonld be id if |
be would. Then he asked: "What
sneaks are them, up there" referring to
rs, who were farther away from him
than Mr.. Martin.
Fearing there might be trouble, I
asked my husband to come into the
house, and he did SO. After a few
minutes I went out into the yard aga n.
Baoheidor was talking to Kenison and
Henry Flint. I heard him say to Henry
You are not good fellow Henry re-
piled: "Haven't I always used you all
right?'' ''No you haven't" said
Bacheldor. Then he turned toward Keni
son and told him he was not good
fellow. kenison said: "That's all right,
Mark Just then Bachelor struck
Kenison with his fist, knocking him
down.
Kenison got up ana started TO run to-