Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-15
PIERCE IS GUILTY
~
Of Attempted Murder Of H.
{. Teel of Lewiston.
Will Plead Nolo Contendere to Other
Charge of Attempted Murder
And The Several Charges OF Criminal Libel
Will Be Dropped.

charged in the Indictment" was the
verdict of the jury with which the trial
of George W. Pierce of Lewiston for
the attempted murder Of Ex-City Mar
brought TO conclusion, late Saturday
afternoon.
The entire forenoon was devoted to
the arguments Of the counsel. Mr..
Heath, speaking for the defense from
$50 to II, and County Atty. Mccain
from Ills to 1915. Both arguments
We're exceedingly able and powerful.
Mr. Heath. for the defense, made no
attempt to break down the evidence of
the State tending to show that the
prisoner sent the bottle Of poisoned
liquor to Mr.. Teel, though he made no
admission that he did do so. but con-
fined his argument entirely to the ques-
ton Of the prisoners sanity or insanity
The main feature Of his argument was
the claim that no sane man could have
been guilty of the numerous acts Of
showed Pierce to have been guilty of
liS llit last IL I!lOIiNilS III IOl " HIS
arrest.
County Attorney Mccain argued first
that Pierce sent the liquor detailing
the links in the chain of circumstantial
evidence which pointed to the con-
clusion, and then reviewed the test4-
monY to show that these acts of the
prisoner We're not the results of insan-
ity. but We're consistent with his whole
career from boyhood; that he was NOT
insane. but was and always had been
possessed of the criminal instinct
Judge Whitehouse began his charge
to the jury at go. and occupied
an hour in it's delivery. After stating
that the State must prove beyond i
reasonable doubt that the prisoner act
ually performed the act charged, he
gave the rule Of law applicable to the
plea of insanity made in his behalf by
his counsel. He said that the burden
was upon the defense to satisfy the
jury by a fair preponderence Of evil
dcnce that the prisoner was insane.
He also stated that it was not enough
that they show that the prisoner was
a prey to an insane deluSiOn that he
was being prosecuted by the men
against whom he had shown animosity.
but he must show that he was 20
overwhelmed by this delusion as to be
incapable of distinguishing right from
wrong, 50 that at the time he com
mitted the act alleged, he did not know
that he was doing a wrong act, for
which he would be punished by the law
if detected
The jury retired about $50 ana We're
half
returning the verdict above given.
The prisoner was not ViSibly affected
by the verdict. sitting quiet and impas-
sive as he has during most of the trial
During the day he appeared to take
more interest than usual in the pro
ceedings In the early morning. prior
to and during Mr.. Heath's argument,
he several times chatted quite freely
with Judge J. w. Mitchell. who is coun-
sci for his wife in the suit for divorce
now pending.
1t is expected that Pierce will be SEN
fenced upon this Indictment some time
next week. 1t is not yet known defin-
itely whether the other cases against
him will be tried or not. 1t is under
stood. however, that this will depend
largely upon the action of his counsel,
and that with the county attorney IL is
either plead guilty to the other charge
Of attempting to murder Judge Cornish
or fight
If ne should receive the maximum
sentence of 90 years, with the allow
ances he would be entitled to for good
behavior, it would be possible for HIM
to regain his liberty in some IL or 10
wears. and at his present age he would
not be so old at the time of his release
as to be beyond the ability to continue
the career which has characterized ms
past life. The State officials feel. there
fore. that he should be sentenced upon
both charges and placed beyond the
possibility Of doing further harm.