The Portland daily press., 1901-02-18
Respondent Surrounded
by Friends.
People OF South Berwick Turn
Out TO Welcome Him.

win IL. knight, on trial for the murder
of Fannie Sprague, today walked out
from a net of suspicion that had woven
about him, "a free man, acquitted before
che world OF robbing another OF that most
precious gItt-iife.
1t took the jury less than three hours
TO return its finding The momsns he
vsrdic5 was given there began demon
stration seldom equalled In a court room,
and almost before Mr. knight had time
to leave his place he was surrounded by a
crowd of friends anxious 20 extend their
congratulations.
Mr.. knight was so overcome as to be
able to make scarcely an audible reply,
but his expression told mora than words
would OF the relief that had come after
months OF suspense. The Jurors, as soon
as they were dismissed by Judge Powers,
left Immediately for their homes They
were unwilling to give any information
as to the result OF the first ballots, al
though one admitted that there was no
change from the first expressed opinion
as to guilt or innocence
There was great amount OF sympathy
shown during the whole progress OF tbs
trial for Mr.. Knight. Day by day the
absorbing topic OF conversation every
where In York county ami gene-ally
throughout the state was as to the value
of the chain of evidence that came in
slowly during the eleven days OF the
trial. Ths verdict appears to be generally
welcomed as the only conclusion possible
to derive from the complex fabric OF cir
cumstantial evidence ths state seemed TO
have gathered about the accused.
sHhere probably has never been trial
in this state so carefully planned and te-
nsolously fought on the part of both
state and defence as this. Attorney Yea
ton, senior counsel for the defence, said
he ha1 worked on the case night and day
for months past and was completely ex-
hauEtsd, Attorney General Seiders, who
was assisted ny County Attorney Mat
thsws, said their efforts for nearly year
past have been untiring and every prob
able clue was traced that come to the
notice of a score OF officers
The trial has probably been the most
notable TO come before Supreme ooDrt
In this state In recent years because OF
the tiendish character OF the murder and
the absolute mystery which for months
hung about the identity of the perpetra-
tor.
After several suspected ones had proved
their Innocence OF any connection with
the murder, and after the ooroner's jury
had found that the woman came to her
death at the hands of some person or per-
sons unknown TO them, County Attorney
Matthews, convinced that he had detected
the guilty one, on his own responsibility
mad Edwin II. knight indicted on Decem-
Der "a, 1900, nearly year after the muir
der, So cleverjy bad the crime been
planned and carried out and so taetfully
did the perpetrator cover up his retreat
that there was scarcely clue upon which
to build case.
In opening, Judge Powers said that
the prisoner who stood before them was
charged with the highest form of crimi. |
nal homicide. No innocent man should |
be wronRfuIly punished; the guilty |
should be convicted and brought to jus
tice. The security OF society depends up
on the carrying into effect OF this law,
that the guilty one shonld suffer the
full penalty.
Judge Powers defined the meaning OF
the term OF murder. lie explained the
different phases and the varied motives
which may constitute murder In the
first degree. Any concerted scheme to
take human life in pursuance OF formed
design, IL, murder in the first degree.
The other forms OF murder were described
and the circumstances which may have
led to the particular crime explained,
The duty Of the state is to show beyond
reasonable doubt the guilt Of the accused
Crime seeks secrecy. It is seldom COM
mitted in the presence of others. 1t is
therefore necessary for the government
to use circumstantial evidences when
direct evidence is wanting The govern
ment is Obliged to prove beyond reason
able doubt all facts which directly con-
Germ this commission of the deed.
= = We cannot lawfully draw an inference
from fact which is not the truth be-
you'd reasonable doubt. The govern
ment must show that there was op-
portunity TO commit the orime. Wheth-
er the prisoner had time sufficient to
commit the crime, the jury must decide
from their own knowledge OF the case.
The value of the testimony Of one witness
that he looked at his watch and therefore
knew the time was greater than that of
he one who simply tried some months
after. in his mind to approximate time.
Judge Powers dwelt upon the circum-
stances which the testimony OF witnesses
showed TO exist at and about the scene
Of the crime. He followed the testimony
of witnesses as to the last time where
Yannie Sprague was seen and gave his