Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-09
PLEADS INSANITY.
Continued from page ~


G. r. L. Wentworth. West Gardiner:
"A. w. Hawkes.. Manchester; J. F. Far
well, NaSSalboro; Howard w. Halves.
Nassalboros n. r. Folsom, Augusta: Fl.
q. Halves, Hallowel; l.. o. King.
Monmouth; John NJ. Gasln, Augusta:
l.. A. Dyer. Augusta; Fred S. Pullin,
Oakland; Joel +. Gardiner. Nassal
boro.
\ short recess was then taken in or
der to give the jurors time to make
any arrangements which they desired
before entering on their temporary
confinement When court again OPEN
ed County Attorney Heselton opened
The case for the government. The fol-
lowing is brief abstract of his most
excellent opening:
The present case differs from the
one just tried uhe Quirion). as there
will not be 50 many puzZling questions
to answer There will be no question
Of reasonable doubt. The jury will
only have to weigh the evidence and
decide on questions Of fact. The de-
Tense will be insanity. The law is that
this must be upheld by a preponderance
of testimony. Usually it is necessary
for the State to prove beyond reG-
sonable doubt the material allegations
Of the Indictment 1t would have to
prove that Mamie Small was killed,
and that il was done with malice
aforethought. The admittance that
the act was done made by the defense
by chosing insanity as the defense.
has relieved the State of the burden of
this proof The only question to be
ic- woo
the respondent insane when he com-
mitted the act?' and this must be
ne. iya n"eponderance oftestimony.
W. h. respondent insane or suffering
from some disease of the mind so that
he could not distinguish between right
and wrong? According to the defense
he did not have malice aforethought-
He did not realize what he was doing.
The burden of proving this is. there
fore. on the defense because it has set
UP the plea OF insanity. The whole
case is brought down to the determn-
ing of a simple fact"
He then gave briefly his opinion of
the law on insanity in such cases. and
explained the different forms of in
sanity as recognized by law. He then
briefly reviewed the case, and as many
new facts were brought out ii may be
we'll to also briefly follow his story Of
the events leading up to the murder.
..Bradford Knight and Mamie Small
were children together. Their parents
were neighbors in Richmond, and they
grew up together. They had played
together as children and had been al
ways intimate. Knight at length
married Angie Small the sister Of
Mamie. Mamie was at their house
more or less after the marriage. and
after Mrs. Knight went away to work
she assisted her hrnther-in-laW in do
ing the homework. Knights affection
for Mamie grew gradually until at
length it became unlawful. About
two years Mamie left her home IN
Richmond and came to Gardiner to
work Her connection with Knight
was broken off. and she evinced lie
sire to have no more to do with him.
They exchanged letters and Knight
tried to retain his influence over the
girl but she gradually drew away
from linn and finally wished to end 1t
altogether. Last summer she went to
old orchard with her employers and
while there got acquainted with some
New Hampshire it'bBit w li'ii 'ii
returned Knights efforts t. influence
her were continued. ana she decided to
ret away somewhere without his
knowledge. Through her New liamp-
shire friends she obtained IA position il
Andover in that state. and went there
attempting to conceal her departure
| from Knight.
She made arrangements with her
sister so that all her mail might be
forwarded to her through her hands
and all her letters to her friends at
home might be received through her
also. She remained in peace in An
dover some little time. Then by some
means Knight found out where she
was and suddenly without telling any
one where he was going, left home.
He turned uD in AndoVer under the
name of Small. He inquired of the
station agent there on his arrival if he
knew of a girl there by the name OF
Small. The agent remembered that
girl of that name had come there. and
told Knight where he could find her.
KNIGHT asked him how she was get
ting along and was told that she was
doing finely and was well liked She
attended church regularly and enjoyed
the respect OF everyone. knight re
pIied that she had broken up one
ramiIy in Maine. and that she was a
hard ticket He then showed the
agent some of her letters to him with
questionable passages in them. He
was asked if he was an officer, and ne
said he was rot. but that he had
right to look the matter up. Later he
called at q house where Mamie was
assisting in arranging for Christmas,
and called her out to the door. She
was out a short time and then re-
turned greatly excited and in tears.
She did not remain long in New
HAMPSHIRE after this. but returned to
this State She went TO Gardiner
where her sister was working. and
stopping with her looked for situa-
ton. knight soon appeared in Gar
diner under an assumed name again,
and stopped at the Evans hotel
This was just before the murder,
and the story Of how he met the I'M
| fortunate girl near the common. Shot
her to death. his escape and arrest the
next morning, are we'll known.
At the close of Mr.. Heselton's open
ing the court adjourned till p. M.
1