The Portland daily press., 1900-06-25
ADJOURNED AGAIN.
The Familiar story in the spraKue Mur.
der Ease.


South Berwick, June 23.-The coroner's
jury, which was empaneled the day OF
Fannie Sprague's mysterious death in
the barn on the old Florence knight
farm, has not yet rendered its verdict
Adjourned till next week. was the re-
port given out from the jury room, at $50
this afternoon. When that word reached
the village 1t caused general laugh, for
the inquest has been adjourned so many
times that most of the townspeople long
ago came to the conclusion that the MUIR
derer would never be located.
But County Attorney Matthews was in
high spirits when the work OF today was
finished. "Some very important evidence
has developed today, - he said, land more
has been accomplished than in any previ-
Gus session of the inquest l am confident
that when we meet again. early In the
week, "a verdict will be rendered, definite
ly placing the burden, and that the arrest
Of the suspected party will be fully war
ranted."
There was one sensational feature in
the investigation today. Instead of meet
ing in the selectmens Office In the viii
inquest was held in the front room of
Samuel Locke's home, on the knight
arm. Just before the jurors assembled
Deputy Sheriffs Miles and Spencer tugged
into the room section from Edwin IL.
knights old wood cart The bloody oak
stick which was found beside Fannie
Sprague's dead body is similar in shape
and appearance to the cross bars that
were several months ago discarded from
this old wood cart
Edwin Ii. Knight was the principal wit
ness of the day. lie is the prominent citi-
zen. farmer, lumber dealer and ex-select.
man, whose interview at one of the early
sessions OF the inquest made such stir
in the village. He was on the witness
stand twice today, and both times was
sharply questioned in regard to his
movements ON the morning of the muir
der May LIST. His lot, in which he claims
to have been mending a fence that fore
noon, ad Joins the Florence Knight farm,
At the request of the county attorney,
MIR. knight appeared at the inquest today
clad in the same clothes he had on that
day. They consisted of wooden cap,
rubber boots and n dark, well worn suit.
After he finished his testimony. Deputy
Miles accompanied him home and brought
back the clothes in question. The officers
carefully looked them over, and pointed
out 10 the jury several stains which they
termed suspicious. The county attorney
has decided to submit those stains To a
chemical test, and for that purpose,
chiefly, the adjournment was taken.
Mr.. Knight in IA brief interview after
the inquest, said the stains in question
were caused by contact with pitch and
dirt, and added that he was perfect Y
willing any test should be applied TO
them. He further, said that the officers
seemed bent on duplicating him in the
case and that they would probably arrest
him, but he felt sure he could prove his
innocence of any connection with the
crime.
His wife and sister testified briefly at
the inquest today and so did two railroad
section hands and two young men who
We're working for knight ON the day of
the murder.
Mr.. knight has two relatives on the
coroner's jury, and most of the other
members are neighbors or fellow towns
men with whom he has long been social
ly intimate. His neighbors are standing
by him royalty, and the members of the
Christian Baptist church, with which he
is prominently connected, are indignant
because his name has been dragged into
the case.