The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-07
OF The MURDER
OF HIS SON.
Aged Alexis Cakes Convicted at
Hou|ton, Me-, Yesterday.
CRIME COMMITTED IN AUGUST
The Younger Cakes Was Shot Down In His
Own Door Yard by His Father
THEY HAD QUARRElLEO FREQUENTLY.
H'onay coreIal ralrss kads Shoh but Effective
Summing Up Jury Returned vsrd OF Of
Guilty Of Murder In he lrst Degree.

Houlton. Me. oct. Alexis Oakes
so years Of age, was yesterday convict
ed of murder in the first degree for the
killing OF his son Oliver on August 81
last. The state of Maine having no
capital punishment. the penalty for this
crime is life Imprisonment. Yesterday
was the fifth day OF the trial, which
has attracted much attention because
OF the particularly revolving nature of
the crime and the age of the murderer.
The government and defence having
completed It's evidence in the preceding
DAYS. counsel FOR the defence having
entered their plea Thursday, il remain
ed for Attorney General Haines 10
make the final summing up. His
argument began by reminding the jury
OF their duty. and the responsibility
resting upon them In part. he said:
You have, am satisfied, arrived at
some conclusion of this case from the
evidence which has been presented. 1
came 10 you a stranger. having no
personal interest in the result OF the
trial, no fee TO earn, but solely To as
sist in the ends OF Justice which is my
duty. Last term IL was a boy accused
OF numbering his father: this time an
old man is accused of numbering his
son. / never vet conducted case of
this mature but. so far as my personal
ieeilnRs are concerned. 1 would rather
ask that the case be mol pressed But
the public demands that the who takes
tf1e trtT urrutirrr-- rftist- -he-tit+e-+-4-
where he can do no further harm. Now
we have an admitted killing. You have
here map of the scene where the
tragedy took place. Oliver Oakes when
he received the fatal shot was stand
ing in his own door yard. He was shot
by Alexis Oakes. his father. You
must keep this fact In mind. You have
heard five witnesses who saw the facts
and who testified that Alexis Oakes
shot and killed his son Oliver: that he
permitted the body 10 lay where II fell
without ascertaining the extent OF the
injuries he had inflicted. The shoot
ing occurred at "A. m and the victim
died at $3.50 u. m. the same day. 1t WIS
a very -hot-daN ard tt4-pFe+aet- them
!. ortunatC mal from the sun and swarm I
of flies his Nike covered him with a
Quil..
The cid man said he shot To KIN.
lie first fired the little gun. and miss
ed him: then he took the long gun.
and 'poDoeI him.
The guss were not produced IN
count, the government being unable To
get them. They were IN possession ue
Alexis Oakes wife. and when called
for by the prosecution Mrs. Oakcs
claimed she did not know where they
were. Only one witness was produced
who testified that Oliver had a gun ~
his possession. and that Witness was
not present at the time OF the sholurg.
"fou don't believe the testimony Of /
uhat witness. You cont believe that |
that red gun was in the hands OF oliver |
oakes. The father and son were very ,
host le, repeatedly threatening each |
other. were quarrelsome. and frequent |
~ got irato rows. II YOU permit such 1
person as Alexis Oakes to go free your !
towns and pianta tlcas will soon become \
largely depopulated.
II have the satisfaction OF feeling |
that IN my 20 years Of practice never !
knowingly. ass sted in the conviction OF .
an innocent man III YOU believe the
testimony introduced by the defence
anl are satisfied that Alexis Oakes was
justified In the shooting Of his son. say |
80: but II on the other hand. YOU are /
satisfied that this old man deliberately /
shot his ssca without just provOcat t1on |
a. ] Believe he did don't let The fact I
of his Old age influence your verdict. |
1f you return q verd ct Cf guilty he will !
have good care by the state: he cannot
live r;any wears. AMI will he placed
where he can 90 no further injury"
Mr.. Haines's plea was of hair an |
hours duration. After recess Judge |
Savage charged the jury. occupying an |
hour and 90 minutes.
The tnrv then retired for deliberation |
and az 5;To brought In verd 'ct OF gull /
ty of murder in tho first degree
ATTORNEYS for the deferce will osL
FOR n new trial. pui sentence is with
held, pending such action.