The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-05
Convicted Man Sentenced 10 Life
Imprisonment.
How Prisoner Heard
His Doom.
Arguments of Counsel and
Charge of Judge Wiswell.

Alfred, Maine, November 3.-The trial
of George Ii. Champion for the murder OF
Mrs. Elsie NJ, Herne at the Goodwin
homestead in West Newfeld, Maine, on
June 10 last, which has been in session
since Tuesday, October 80, came to an end
tonight At exactly twenty minutes OF
nine the jury returned verdict of guilty
OF murder in the first degree and shortly
afterward Judge Wiswell sentenced the
prisoner to life imprisonment at hard
labor In the Stats prison at Thomaston
The trial has been one of intense interes t
to the people OF York county and the
court house at Alfred has been filled to
overhowing at every days session. The
attendance today was as heavy as at any
time during the week and many who en-
tered the court room at five o clock this
morning brought their lunches with
them and remained In their seats until
the verdict was returned.
The evidence upon both sides was al
In at the close of yesterday s session and
To-Day has been devoted exclusively to
the arguments OF counsel on both sides
and to the judges charge to the jury.
The judge completed his summing mp
at half past four this afternoon and the
jury at once retired to their private room
for deliberation. They were served with
supper at six o'clock and 1t was nearly
eight before any intimation that an
agreement had been reached was received.
At this time the foreman requested the
court to furnish the jury with magni-
tying glass, but upon objection of counsel
for defence this request was denied. At
$40 the jury notified the court that an
agreement had been reached, and order
was at once restored In the crowded room
There was hardly q sound as the twelvs
grave faced jurymen filed to their places
and remained standing by their chairs.
Willis Emmons, clerk Of courts, then
asked the foreman, Charles X. Goodwin,
If an agreement had been reached and
was told that the jury had agreed upon a
verdict OF guilty.
"Guilty of murder in the first degree, 7"
was the reply.
Judge Wiswell then stated that he CON
Cured in the verdict OF the jury and said
that under the circumstances he could
see no possible reason for o different re-
suit. No exceptions were filed by the de.
fence and the court then ordered that the
prisoner ''be taken to the state prison at
Tnomaston and imprisoned at hard labor
for life.''
champion displayed his customary
nerve and was apparently unmoved when
sentence was pronounced. His wife had
left the court room at the suggestion Of
the officers and was not present when the
verdict was returned,
After few minor details had been gone
over, Judge Wiswen finally adjourned the
h0r n IL
preme court
The day proceedings in detail were as
follows;
MIR. HALEY'S ARGUMENT.
1t was just five minutes after eight
when Attorney George f. Haley, counsel
for the defense, began his argument In
behalf of the prisoner. He began by
making denial that any crime had
been committed, saying that the Goodwin
farm tragedy was rather the result OF
frightful accident. He called the atten-
ton of the jury to the fact tnat before
leaving Boston Champion told his wife
that he was going to the Goodwin place,
In Newtield, and claimed that at that
time the prisoner knew that MIR. Good.
win had no large sum OF money in the
house.
Champion also was told after arriving
at the farm, by Mr.. Goodwin, that the
s., 100 received In payment for the wood
lot had been deposited In banks. He
claimed that the prisoner could not have
learned of the money having been de-
posted from Mr.. Goodwin's books, as in
those books 1t was stated plainly that
deposits had been made In three banks,
while Champion stated In Boston that the
money was in two banks.
MIR. Haley strongly criticised the testi-
mony of DIR. Leavttt OF Ettingham, saying
that witnesses for the defense had proved
cUnclusively that 1t would be impossible
TO determine from an examination of
blood In the form of a powder, whether 1t
was arteriai or vsinous blood. He also
claimed that DIR. Leavitt gave different
testimony at the trial than he gave before
the ooroner's jury, and after calling the
attention OF the jury to the fact that DR..
Leavitt had admitted that he signed the
report of his testimony before the coron-
er's jury without first having read 1t,
claimed that no reliance whatever could
be placed in anything he had said.
He then continued TO pick DIR. Leav-
tits testimony TO pieces, showing what
he claimed to be numerous discrepancies.
He claimed that every action OF Cham
pion's indicated innocence. Had ne
been guilty of the crime he would not
have gone to Boston where he was
known, but would have sought refuge in
some secluded place where be might have
evaded the authorities for years and pos
sibly never been found. He called atten-
ton to the fact that In leaving the Good
win place Champion did not take the
shortest road for Union, as he would have
done had he reason to hurry away from
the place; claimed that no evidence had
been presented to show that he passed the
place where George Goodwin's wallet was
folnd; and added that the fact that the
prisoner displayed tine bloodstained shirt
In Pennington was one Of the strongest
Indications of innocence. In regard to
the shoes known as state exhibit /, he
claimed that Lester Reed hau testified
that Scott Goodwin had pointed out to
him a scratch ON the left shoe, while
Scott sister testified that her brother
showed her scratch on the right shoe
Eueh evidence he said was Insufficient