The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-01
THE KITTERY MURDER.
Man charsedIwith Kiiling Old Woman
Pleads Not Guilty.
ESPECIAL TO THE rREss.J

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Alfred. May si.--After a weeks rest.
the York County Supreme court resumed
Its sessions here today. Judge wiswell
presiding. 1t was busy day, both In
OWL and criminal matters.
DIR. Frank NJ. Grattan Of Biddeford,
who was indicted on charge of criminal
malpracttce, came into court and fur
nishsd sureties in the sum Of 81 900 for
his appearance at the September term, to
which time his case has been postponed.
In the afternoon Frank p. Parks, the
kittery young man who is charged with
numbering Mrs. Mary Tariton, an aged
widow Of that town. was brought into
court. The two counts were read to him
and Parks pleaded not guilty.
When he came into the court room,
about $50 O'Clock, hsndcuffed to the
deputy sheriff in charge, the trial of a
civil action was in progress, and he had
to wait his turn. He kept his eyes riveted
on the Judge, and appeared entirely in
different to what was going on about
him.
The alleged murderer is of medium
size, very dark complexioned and had
black hair, heavy dark eyebrows and a
black mustache. He has increased HIS
avoirdupois during his four months con-
finement, but has whitened out some-
what His features do not indicate a
viciousness such as would bs expected OF
one charged with robbing and beating an
old lady TO death; but he does not appear
to be endowed with any great amount of
brains.
His plea OF not guilty was uttered In o
clear voice. When asked II he was with
out means and desired the state to fur
nish counsel for him, he replied in the
Affirmative.
At the prisoners request. Judge Wis
we'll assigned Judge Emery of the Ports
mouth Municipal court to take charge os
the defense, and announced that the civil
docket must be cleared in readiness for
the trial of the murder case, beginning
on Monday, June IL.
Parks was then taken back to the
county jail, accompanied by his attorney,
who entered his cell and remained in
consultation with the prisoner about an
hour. Judge Emery says he is unable at
present to state what will be the line of
his defense. 1t is generally understood.
however, that the claim will be made
that at the time of the murder Parks was
insane from over indulgence In liquor.
When Parks was brought to the county
jail he was advised by his attorney to
make no talk with anybody about the
murder. This advice the prisoner has
fully lived up to. lie has been allowed
the freedom Of the jail corridor two hours
every day, but he has most of that time
kept from the other prisoners, and SO far
as can be learned has not mentioned the
murder to any of them. Letters from his
father have repeated the caution against
committing himself in his con sersation
with jail attendants and fellow prisoners.
A SUIT FOR DAMAGES.
the civil suit which was put on trial
today, and will consume most of the time
of the court till Saturday. is the action
for damages, brought by George Demers
of Biddeford against Frank @. Deering
of Saco Demers worked in behring's saw
mill, and while assisting in saving log,
in September, 1897, was struck by fly.
ing slab and thrown ON to the small saw,
which cut off his right leg just below the
knee.
Demers alleges that the accident was
due to faulty construction Of the ma.
chinery and demands $40, 600 damages
Mr.. Deering alleges contributory negli-
gence on the part of the plaintiff and a
fellow workman, and declares that the
construction of the machinery was not
faulty.
/ Hon. Il. W. Hovey o. Biddeford is
counsel for the plaintiff; Fairfield and
Moore of Saco for the defendant. Some of
the testimony of employees of the mill is
taken through an interpreter. which
makes progress rather slow.