Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-29
BEST GUILTY.
The Jury Says Murder in the
First Degree.
They Retired at 4.48 and Returned
Verdict at ll.04.
Story Of The Closing Ar,umanis and the
Judges Charge.

| Salem, Mass, March 2S-With ,
smile on his face and a pronounced
nonchalant air, John G. Best heard 4
jury of II Essex county citizens con-
denim him as guilty of wilfully mar
dering. last October, George +. Bailey.
his fellow workman, at the Breakheart
! Hill farm in Saugus.
| A verdict of murder in the first de-
gree in Massachusetts means but one
thing. death, and. tonight, Best stands
| in the shadow of the electric chair
| The jury deliberated little over six
hours with a short respite for supper.
about an average length for "A capital
| case based on circumstantiaI evidence.
| finally agreeing that Best and none
other committed the fearful deed of
shooting Bailey dead in his TRACES. Of
cutting up his still warm body. Of
placing the dismembered parts in bur
lap bags and then trying to hide his
! crime by sinking the CHASTITY remains
| in a pond some distance away But
murder will out. and the poor. shriv-
eled remains Of the Saugus farmer
| We're recovered piece by piece. to final
! ly confront the author Of the deed and
bring him to justice.
l n
ed Lawyer Sisk, the attorney for Best.
| notified the court Of the usual inten-
| ton of filing a motion for new trial
and one month was allowed him to do
50.
Then. turning TO his client. he spoke
n Few words of cheer which Best ap-
parently did not heed. for he smiled
again ana almost laughed as if the
result Of the terrible 10 dlyS strain
Was n matter far reioicino rather than
for sorrow that instead If being 4 free
man, IMPRISONMENT and ignominous
death stared him in the face.
Judge sherman. after the clerk ,tad
nnllaa M itn.v cop,nIim.utpd INA -
rather h,cgard looking men for their
p1tionce ana the conscientious per
Torrance, Or their work ana then dis
missed them while Best shaeklel to
two officers. was led back to his lonely
| cell
The iu,,v Ieft tho coiIrt room nj 1 20
This ort.rn,on ana returned of ltoi
..cI,,l. t.ni,,lt , ,ar;a, ~ 4 b.u,s ANA
II ,,in,tae
Pc had baar t,,,.n ant of the cn,,rt
room ANA ia tbe iniI while the iurv
rn,.a AM Mn yras hroIpht il, again
eha cl,led to IDENTITIES Hishop and
C,o,,.Ia,, who bod boon cont fo, him
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b,l com in u.or,, mat a. or,a.n,ant
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ro"i''S' 'ooh tiieii Se"'S "ii 'ile ~
mere was ldfSt hui'ioei "a si9'i"
LOTS III the court ioo'l-
men hes, '"oh HIS seal III 'iie y. Is
All, C,n,.i, ,,ara ,hara a. rraat Kin,
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, minute later Attorney Sisl, Joined
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