Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-21
EXPECTED ARREST
In South Berwick Murder Case
Fails to Develop.
Knights Innocence Is Generally Be-
lieved at Berwick.
Six Witnesses Examined. Saturday. but All
Six Witnesses Examined. SATURDAY.. but All
Cues Are Blind.


this town have been predicting as like
~ to take place after Saturday sitting
of the coroner's jury has not taken
place, and the mystery of the Fannie
SpraSue murder is still far from being
solved. After six hours of examina-
ton of witnesses. the inquest was ad-
journed at 6 o'clock for another week.
1t turns out that the alleged evidence
against a certain prominent citizens Of
the town was not as conclusive as
rumor had credited it, and the officers
and members of the jury frankly ad-
mitted, Saturday night. that the case
is Just as blind as ever.
Six witnesses were examined. Satur-
Jay. County Attorney Matthews con-
Quoting the inquiry. The first witness
called was Ivory Goodwin a resident
of the ncighborhDod whore the knight
farm is located. Herbert Allen. an
other NJ ighbnr, was next called Then
Charles Il. Mcadcr. t"amstcr who is
employed by Edwin II. Knight. was eX-
amincd. The remaining witnesses were
y. Frank Rollins and Edwin II. Knight
IN who's testimony the public was par
ticularly Interested because Of the lat
:, nsationaI rumors.
Edwin II. Knight is 4 farmer ana
lumber dealer who has been rated as
one 4 South Rarwck's most prosperous
and prominent citizens. He is Is years
If age. He has long taken a great in
forest in town affairs. and has served
IN the board Of selectmen. In response
- inquiries Of 4 Boston Herald repre-
sentative. Nj. Knight said. Just before
he entered the jury room:
y have been aware fnr some DAYS
that the officers who are investigating
this case have suspicion against me-
| also know that it has been common
talk in the village ever since last Sun
day that i am to be arrested
While l don't think it would be ex-
pedient for me to make very much
talk about the matter at this time. I
can say that I am innocent Of any con
nection with the crime. l did MT COM
nit the crime, did not employ any body
- 90 it. don't know Who did it. and |
could have no motive for causing that
Wnm7us death.
L understand the officers have dis
covered that the oak cr1ssblr which
was found near the body. smeared with
blood. is similar to the crossbar used
on my old wood wagon. The man who
made that wagon for me has doubtless
built similar wagons for half a dozen
other people in this section Of the
country.
THE crosshars were ripped out Of
that wagon four or five days before the
to haul 4 load Of slecpers and as the
crosshars were in the way | Ike them
out. This was done in neighbors
yard in the presence of two other men"
Mr.. Knight further said that during
the forenoon Of May | he was fixing
fence on his farm ana that he was
not within a halfmile Of the Knight
place till after the fire ana the dead
body We're discovered.
There is 4 rumcr that two men who
were hunting for you that forenoon say
that they went to the part of the farm
where you We're supposed To be and
could not find you" was asked
They didn't find me simply because
they didn't 20 to the place where | was
at work. WAS Mr.. Knights response.
II have no doubt that their testimony
viii bear me out"
"Of course" added Mr.. Knight, 'it
isn't pleasant for Il man to realize that
he is under suspicion in such case.
but innocence will take care Of itself.
and I am not the least bit worried as
to the outcome of the affair. | shall
have no trouble in proving my inno-
nencc if / am officially accused"
81 do rot belize Ed Knight had any
thing more to DO with that murder than
| did" is a declaration heard from the
lips of many of the leading men of the
town.
The title to the Knight farm, where the
murder occurred. now stands in The name
Of Miss Almcda knight. 4 sister Of Ed
win Knight. 1t was formerly owned by
her cousin. Florence J. Knight. one of
the members Of the corners jury. Sev-
cral wears ago he met with business re-
verses. and the fortgage on the premises
was forecl0Sed. There is an insurance of
$500 on the buildings. and Samuel Locke,
the tenant. is given free rental OF the
house. in order 10 keep the insurance in
force.
Mr. Locke was again called into the
jury room. Saturday, for the fourth time,
length. He has employed two lumber
surveyors to 90 into the woods ana make
measurements of his wood pile. to sub
stantiate his early testimony concerning
Of the murder.
A. Frank Rollins was examined at great
length BY the county attorney ana Jurors.
After hr emerged from the jury room ne
was questioned as to the line of cXamina-
ton. and he replied: II was told not TO
make any talk outside. ana. Of course.
shall follow that instruction. ! told pre-
ciseIv the same story as on the first day
M inc inquest That was the truth. ana
the whole truth. and there Is no reason
why | should change it in the least.
The officers who have been at work on
the case will continue their llbors the
coming week hut they have lost much OF
their hone. and it seems more than likely
that if a verdict is rendered ~ the coro-
nar's Jury. next Saturday, it will fail TO
name any suspect.
County ATTORNEY Matthews when ques-
toned III To the prospect Of experimenting
Inc murderer. replied: 81 do not intend
TO trv any man on charge OF murder
until have a case against him.
Another officer. who has been conn meet
ed with the investigation. said: The
trouble was. TODAY. that certain evidence
which We had expected would be forth
coming did not pan out. We had been
given to understand that certain points
II rircumstantial evidence would be
horne out by some Of the witnesses
caIled TODAY, but their testimony was en-
.i-I.- =; 4fa,.o,+ from what We had antiCl-