The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-11
KNIGHT
DENIES
{ GUILT.
Man Accused Of Murder TGs-
titles in His Own Behalf
al SaCO.

Saco Ne, Feb. 11.-There was little
doubt that today the sixth IN the trial
Of Edwin H. knight for the murder OF
Fannie sprague, would prove to be the
! most momentoas OF the trial in that
| the accused man would take the stand
! and account for his actions on the morn
| ing of the tragedy. the errand which
brought him 10 the Pond pasture. The
length az time ne took 10 make the re-
| pairs he Is said TO have done. aud trace
tho route be took returning home
Tho witness as he entered the court
room looked 20 be IN the best OF health
and was greeted by many friends. The
court room was crowded.
The name Of Edwin Knight was called
ana the accused man took the witness
stand lie displayed marked degree OF
SELF cOmpOsGre and did not show the
least degree OF embarrassment
lie testified that his age was q and that
nc had sis children lie had known Fam
nie Sprague and she had worked at vari-
ous times an his family. In November,
1899, witness was requested by his wife TO
secure the services OF Fannie Sprague
which errand he did.
Asked where he spent his time on the
day of the murder witness described the
route he took, following on the chart
the way
He built pair OF bars and did several
other minor repairs. While looking IN the
direction of the Samuel Knight place
he saw smoke issue from near the barn.
HELPED TO PUT OUT RIRE.
Witness went Immediately 70 where the
fire burned and found there Samuel Locke
and Fannie Sprague. Witness remarked
at the time II was dangerous 20 have
fire burning SO near the barn and helped
10 extnguish it.
Witness did not enter the kitchen Of the
Locke place nor did he hold little Freddie
on his knee. He had no conversation
with Fannie Sprague other than TO say
good morning. Witness and Samuel Locke
settled at this time as to the price tho
latter was TO receive for cutting wood.
After this conversation witness traced
the way he returned 10 the pasture, told
of further repairs he made, described his
walk down the track to his homo.
Witness said the cross-cart i'm court
was his and was taken from the rear OF
the barn to the Goodwin place for the
purpose OF loading railroad ties. Witness
rode on the cross-cart He told OF the re-
pairs made on tho cart and said there
were cross-rounds Ia all the places. In
the course of loading these cross-rounds
were found to be in the way. and witness
ordered his men to break them out When
the cart was loaded. chains were used
TO hola the uprights In position. The
loaded cart was then left I'm front Of the
Goodwin place. Witness was positive that
neither he nor any of his nea-teek any
of the crossroads away from the Good
win yard.
MORNING or THE TRAGEDY.
On the morning Of May LIST witness had
intended to go 90 South Berwick, but on
advice OF his wife sent Charles Maader
TO do the errand. After Mr.. Meader had
left witness cleaned his horse. went 10
the house and out on a pair OF rubber
boots, starting for the pond pasture about
7:15.
lie carried an axe. n hammer and pail
OF nails with him. lie followed on the
chart the direction he took TO get 20 the
Knight crossing on the railroad. lie
traced his walk along the fence near the
railroad track and said he found 81 length
OF fence which n workman had neglected
10 repair.
Witness repaired this by cutting two
small spruces TO prop up the fence: nailed
on several boards further on placed in
position number OF bars and returned
To his home just as the children were
going TO shool-9.l5.
whether he left his farm during this time
witness said positively that he had not
left the confines of his farm. Returning
home witness entered the blacksmith
shop, repaired hammer handle brought
chains out TO his wagon and to hold the
chains secure, bound them with wire
Witness then helped his wife 10 set up
some tubs.
Just after this incident Mr. Newell
drove into the yard and told witness OF
the murder. Witness went Immediately
to the scene. The fire in the barn where
tho body lay had been extinguished Wit
ness remained about for half an hour
when he was requested by Florence
Knight 20 40 ON an errand This he did
aud returned Immediately. Witness re-
maincd an hour or more, not reaching
| home uutll ! o'clock. In the afternoon
/ witness ugoiu went 10 tho Florence
| Knight place and remained fully two
! hours longer
Witness knew samuel Locke for about
] three years The irst time witness knew
| ~ The presence az tho Samuel Locke place
! OF Fannie Sprague was on tho SATURDAY
/ previous to the murder. Witness then
/ saw her. when ne went 10 put out the fire
! built near the barn.
/ ON Wednesday, May .. witness. IA keep
/ inp with arrangements made several days
! m advance with Charles Meader. started
Win iur cross cart Tor ShApleigh. There
/ WAS carried in the cart potatoes chains.
] haltrrs and such other articles as were
! necessary for the trip 90 the wood Tot.
! Knight said the object OF his visit 90
/ Shapleigh was 20 strip a lot. tho timber
/ of which he'd been contracted for during
| the previous November
a POSITIVE DENIAL.
/ on the way witness drove the horses
| attached 90 the cross cart Cthe vehicle
! before the cOurD for short distance.
| lie then rode with Mr. Thompson IN the
/ attcrH carriage. Witness WAS summoned
/ 90 tho corouers jury four times Witness
\ told Of the incident when Deputy Miles
/ sought Co purchase the cart and Of his
\ Willingness Co give tho official the whule
| or any part 6f it There was not the
! least hesitation in deli, to the dcpu-
4 ty the Clpfhiug ard knife worn by witness
/ on thg morning ~ May J.
/ Witu,se described his return from tho
/ Wentworth House when Fannie Spraglc
I mctNus hln 0u fhe toad. asked for nnd
Wa glNcu f ride home The Austin honse
/ wps in charge of witness for several
yr4rs Witness said he never had b,or
2 Ns