The Portland daily press., 1900-05-04
Public Funeral Over
Remains Thursday.
A Half Hours Sermon on the
Crime and Victim.
tsPEcrAL TO THE PRRss.l

South Berwick, May 3.-All the mate
rial evidences within the knowled 80 OF
the coroner, county stsor nsy and town
authorities was exhausted at the
inquest today, and still the question OF
who killed Mrs. Fannie Sprasue remains
unsolved.
The inquest WAS adjourned iii Sstur'
day, In order to give the sst,nesrspher Q
chance to transcribe his notes. II nothing
new develops between now and Saturday,
the jury will have to officially admit Its
inability to fad out who the murderer
is. County Attorney Matthews may de-
eide, however, to continue the inquest
till sometime next week, to give the
officers chance TO hunt for more clues.
Cyrus Goodwin, o. q. Rollins. An
thouy Roilins and Everett Goodwin were
the principal witnesses before the inquest
today. Cons iderable tire was spent 10
comparing measurements or boots and
tracks, and in looking over the murdered
woman's personal effects in quest Of evil
dence. but the Investigators regfesfully
acknowledge that the mystery instead OF
clearing grows deeper and deeper.
Mrs. Sprague's remains were buried
To-Day in the family lot on the old Abbott
farm at Beech ridge, North Berwick.
Some Of her near relatives wanted u
public funeral, and their wish was ac-
ceded TO, the funeral taking place in the
Christian Baptist church about mile
from..th scene OF the m urdsr.
The heavy rain had the effect Of keep
Ing away many who msght have set their
minds on attending the funeral len
relatives and nsighbors aud towns
people to the number of about nifty
were assembled In the church when Un-
dsrtaksr McIntlre's vehicle arrived from
South Berwick village with the remains,
which had been in his workrooms sinoe
the autopsy was performed. Mrs..
Spragus's sister and one Of her brothers
were there, but the father and other
brother were not present.
The oAskst was not opened. A bunch
Of lilies from North Berwick relatives,
and 9 photograph of the deceased, lay
upon the osskst. -
After the church quArtstts had rendered
an orsning Sc le otion, Elder Zsbulon
knight, pastor of the church, delivered a
kalf-hour's address. In which he dwelt
at considerable length on the circumstan
oes connected with the case. can enemy
hath done this" was the Biblical text
which he thrice applied to the case.
''That enemy" he added, "must have
been O risnd In human form-an enemy
to sooiety and to this quiet. p Zee loving,
Christian neighborhood."
Hs then referred to his long personal
with Mrs. SprAgue, who
had long resided in this and neighboring
villages. "There was time" he said,
when she mingled with rs in services In
this Iittls church. and know that every
person in this Deighb orhood tried to
help this unfortunate one and surround
her with good influences. And can say
1t is my candid opinion that she never
did any human being harm. She wat
more sinnsd against than SHINING"
The preacher then invoked Gods bless
ing on the town authorities in theiI
search for the murderer, and expressed
TIE hope that they viii be successful IL
their endeayors. al might add" he
contin ned, ''thst every titizsn OF this
town believes NO stone should be left un-
turned In the Investigation or the case.
The laws OF the land were male to punish
wrong -doers, and IL seems to me tha
he town authorities owe 1t to every FAM
lily In the town to apprehend and brinl
TO Justice the enemy who committed this
foul crime."
In the prayer whloh followed his nd |
dress. Elder knight, asked God to diree |
the quest of the prosecuting officers ir
order that the murderer may be spprs-
handed and punished.
six carriages nlled with relatives and |
neighbors followed the hsarse over tn
i've miles Of muddy roads, from the |
church to the bury in g ground.