Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-09
LITTLE SADIE ROSS
Gives Evidence Tha, Bears Out Par.ons stor
in Hammond Murder Case.

Boston, May s.-The mysterious little
girl who was with Henry r. Parsons
On the day he shot VIM. T. Hammond
al Charlcetown. was introduced into
tile trial. today She Was brought III
by the defense. Her name IL S4dir
kosz. aged u. The testimony was
noIly favorable to Parsons and was
in blief that on that day she had
Parsons for a nick to pay for 4 ride
or the merry go-round. She followed
him down 10 the wharf % ask him for
another nickel when ~ told her 10
rIl along ana play. Her dress. the
tar In which has been mentioned, was
torn IS ZEN she left home. She testified
in q straightforward. childish fashion.
50 apparently ingenious that she even
confessed To having told 4 little white
lie to Dugdale whom she styled The
drunken man" on the fatal day, and
made a very favorable impression.
Assistant District Attorney SughFue
asked her mother. tn next witness:
Did you tell me. yesterday. that
Sadie could not be brought here as a
y.itness?'
Yes. sir
That's all"
Ana Mrs Ross stood down amid a
buzz Of speculative comment.
The other surprise Of the day was
the appearance on the stand Of Par
sons himself. His testimony did not
reach the point Of alteration with
Hammond. lie told of the little gill
asking for nickel, of her following
l. he aud Of hic Senliur
her away.
Walter Collins. thefrst witness, tes-
tilted that on June IS. on the play
ground in Charlestown. he saw Par
sons running and several men were
trying to catch hold Of him. Witness
testified that when Parsons was
caught he took revolver out Of his
hip pocket. A revolver was shown TO
the witness, but he could not say il
was the revolver taken away from
Parsons.
Sergeant Charles ]. Lowell Of station
:. who was on duty in CharlestoWn,
JLno IS. was the second witness called.
He was on the play ground on that al
ternoon and in consequence OF the IN
formation receiv went 70 Sullivan
square. where l~aw a crowd. Par
sons Was arrested. The revolver offer
Ia by the government was passed by
somebody in the crowd to Officer Con
boy There was one empty chamber
and four loaded chambers. Wheh
searched six or seven cartridges were
found i'm Parsons pocket.
Assistant District Attorney Nc
Laughin offered the revolver and Dul-
lets. which We're admitted ana the gov
eminent rested its case.
Michael j. Dryer If counsel for the
defendant. made the opening argu-
m-nt. He said that it would he shown
jhat the shot Was fired by the purest
accident The justification Of drawing
the pistol viii be shown. lie further
said that if Parsons ala what appears
infercntially from thc ease u the goV-
crnment. the defense would set up m
sanity as the basis for The act. Such
a defense. however. he said would oe
umne, csssary owing to the evidence Inc
defense would produce.
Counsel created sensation by DE-
Charms: that the little girl who was
with Parsons on the wharf whom the
government officers failed 70 hhu'
would BE- brought forward ~ TESTIFY
fur The defendant. He said the story o
the incident on the wharf was puie
pretcNt 80 that prysdale and ms
friends could pick a fight with faI-
sons.