Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-26
A PATHETIC SCENE.
Mrs. Fosburgh Tells of Her
Daughter Mays Death.
Saw Masked Men and Husbands
Desperate Fight With Them.
Defence Closes Counsel vii, Ask In lac ia
Order Verdict MOT Guilty.


Ars. Il. L. Fosburgh, the gray haired
hother, went upon the stand and told
III simple words how her daughter May
passed from her life: told how masked
men entered her room, appearing be
fore her with hideous coverings upon
their heads: told of her husbands
fierce and terrible encounter in the
bed chamber told of how she heard
her little daughter Beatrice cry out:
on. mama. look at May and de-
Scribed the torturing scene when she
found her daughter lying upon the
floor IN the agonies Of death and then
saw her eldest son fall down uncon-
scious by the side of his sister He
voice failed her and she shed tears
The other members of the family sat
listening to her word picture
Did You notice the relations of the
family to each ether while YOU were
there"
affcctionate."
And would YOU say that OF all the
members"
Yes"
These were among the questions
NHiii Nflf til 70 anu answered ny
Miss BERTHA l.. Sheldon of Providence.
by her testimony the defence wished
TO show that there were burglars in the
house ANA that they We're seen by Lit
tie Beatrice
Miss sheldon was relating the story
of her awakening by Il piercing
scream and declared that she opened
the door leading to Mays room ana
cried: What is the natter" Robert.
Beatrice ana her father and mother
Were in the bed room at the time.
Witness saw the body Of May upon the
floor and at that instant Beatrice re-
piled: Burglars have entered the
house and shot May" Miss sheldon
was fresh looking ana bright, YET with
a slight pallor.
Another point Of interest in Miss
Sheldon's testimony was that relating
Fro the reason she left the F'osburgh
house 50 suddenly after the tragedy
and as to why she was refused per-
mission from her father to attend the
inquest. She said she felt that she
ought to get away as soon as possible
from the house as she would only be
in the way there. AS to her failing to
testify dl tilt Inquest. Sllc tt' i.ii tii Silt'
was willing to do so but her father
would not permit it. solely on account
of her health.
Mr.. Sheldon, who was present. tes
titled to the truth of his daughters
statement.
There We're many witnesses who to-
day. gave corroborative evidence.
among them the shoe salesman from
New York. both of whom identified the
single shoe found in the house. saying
they sold it to someone.
There were also Mr.. Lund. the book
keeper. who identified checks and let
ters signed by Robert L. Fosburgh and
his son. the defendant. July %. 1900, the
day the shoes We're sold and Harry >
Plumb. a neighbor. who heard the
screams and pistol shots. the cries for
help. and also saw the foot prints on
the ground. This witness was cor
roborated by his Wife.
Mrs r. r. Bullard. now at Madison.
Wis. declared that on the fatal night
she heard two men talking about mid
night loudly in front of her house and
that after they had been gone about an
hour she heard pistol shots far off.
MIS- Ntliit iptNtli ~ VI Is'St (.
who at that time lived in Pittsfied. on
Beaver street, testified that her nus
band. was very sick on the night of
Aug. 20 ana she claimed that he was
disturbed by the loud breathing of two
men who had stopped running when
opposite her house. She opened the
blind and told one of the men who was
standing by a tree. to go away The
incident excited the sick man 50
greatly that as Il result he died two
days later.
Mrs. Fosburgh was the last witness
of the day, and Immediately after her
testimony was concluded, the defence
rested. This was at $50. Then the
government introduced some little evi-
dence in rebuttal ANA the defence put
on one witness in rebuttal. That closed
the case, with the understanding that
the government would have an oppor-
tunity of placing COL. Whitney, the
state detective, on the stand in the
morning. to which time court al
journed.
AT the close Of the session. Judge
Stevens. together with the counsel for
both sides. retired to the anteroom,
Wnefe Mi. JOY itl' Ioi tlt 'Ni'ii''
made a long argument ON the question
of his suggestion that the judge order
n verdict of not guilty. The result is
not known officially but it is under
stood that arguments will be made in
the case at the opening of the session.
tomorrow. Lawyer JOyner stated that
if the case were argued. District At
torney IIibbard for the defence, would
probably not take over an hour and
half 1t is possible that the case may
go to the jury by tomorrow noon.
Counsel Hubbard for the defence an
nounced. tonight. that he would make
the argument. tomorrow, Which IS
thought to mean that the demurrer OF
the defence to the decision of the court
refusing to order a verdict OF not
guilty is Overruled.
The first witness of the day was Miss
NJ. Estelle Chaplin, sister of Mrs.
Shepardson. who testified that she was
a singer in the Congregational church
at Dalton. On the Sunday night that
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