Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-09
A LARGE CART
Figures in Fridays Proceedings
at SaCo Murder Trial.
Murdered Woman's Fiye-Year-Old
Son May Go on Stand, Today.
State Will Rest It's Case, Today Yesterday S
Evidence.

Saco Me, FEB. S.-The State has now
consumed nearly the entire time since
the opening Of this session Of the su
premc court in submitting its evidence
IN the trial Of Edwin III. Knight for
The murder of Fannie Sprague, ami at
adjournment. tonight, there yet remain
a number of witnesses who have not
yet been called. Today the fourth of
the trial, brought out nothing entirely
new, although a large amount of cir
cumStantial evidence was derived from
the dozen or more witnesses examined.
a rather unusual piece of evidence in
the way OF large CroSS-cut cart was
inside of the rail directly in front of
Judge Powers, and during the after
noon the jury gathered about this
While Attorney General SeiderS showed
them that the oak rail found near the
murdered Woman'S body fitted in the
proper place exactly
The State viii undoubtedly rest its
case. tomorrow, when it is expected
an attempt may be made to put the
murdered woman's five ear-old son
Freddie on the stand.
The first witness, in line with the
presence of the croSS-cut cart and some
other articles thought to have connec-
ton with the commission of the crime
was Coroner Freeman c. Hall of South
Berwick. He identified certain articles
of clothing as those received from
Sheriff Spencer He had received blood
stained matches said to have been
found in the stall where the body lay.
He arrived at the scene of the muir
der about 1l.30 on May LIST. Cross-ex-
amined witness described the position of
the body when he arrived He saw
pools of blood. His search revealed no
matches nor did he see a bran sack.
There was a considerable discussion
between counsel as to the recalling OF
Chemist E. r. Angel, who testified.
yesterday. without the presence of a
person competent to judge of the char
acter of evidence submitted. Professor
Angel pointed out where he had re-
moved portions of the trousers for ex-
ANIMATION His testimony was brief
and in the cross examination he said
he desired to make no change from his
evidence submitted yesterday but that
lit should stand as his best judgment.
The jury occupied fully half an hour
in its examination of the trousers worn
by respondent on the day of the muir
der and each viewed the patches in the
pockets with the aid of a glass.
Deputy James II. Miles. who worked
on the ease from the time Of the murder,
was brought forward and identified the
articles of clothing worn by Edwin II
Knight on the day of the murder. He
testified to the conversation which oc-
CURED incident to the delivery Of the
clothing. May -. and said that the wool
en- shirts also worn ON the same DAY Were
not delivered until a month later, as they
were inadvertently omitted from the
| first package of clothing. The iron staple
| taken week after the murder from the
barn door leading to the shed was als2
submitted. 1t was boodStained. Witness
examined the stall where the body lay,
| but saw no bag. He described the slZ,
of the holes burned through the barn
floor When he entered the barn there
was a strong odor of burning flesh and he
also detected the odor Of Kerosene lie
searched the vicinity for crosS-cart OUT
of which the oak piece found near the
BODY was taken, and the vehicle wa :
found in the possession of Edwin knight
at Shapleigh Witness said il was old
| and worthless. Witness wishing TO bay
the cart respondent said he could have
| il if he wished. as II was worthless to
him Respondent asked no Questions as
| to the object of its purchase. The upper
portion of the court was IN position pc
| fore the court \ number Of minor por-
tionS of the cart were exhibited he
made search of the premises for the
rear stake Of the cart which was MISS
| ing. Witness repeated the conversions
with respondent in which the latter de-
scribed the stake still missing. He testi-
| fled that the respondent said he had re
moved some rails to facilitate the load
| ing of ties. The croSs-cut cart was taken
| to Shapleigh on May and left there be
cause il was old and worthless. Further
IeXamina ton of the Florence hnlsnt place
revealed on May 3, the presence OF
tracks leading from the barn DOWN 10 tie
ditch near the railroad.
The tracks on the damp ground near
| the water which flowed from the bed Of
| the railroad had the appearance OF nay nay,
imprint the heels made led him to peileVe
! the tracks We're made by rubber boo.s.
Following further he traced the tracho
across the railroad. Witness sald Euw VI,
| Knight told him on the morning of the
/ murder he went through the pasture alii
| down as far as his portable saw mil anu
| thence to the big spring. He made nil'i :, !,
repairs such as propping Up .ne l 81 hoId
| the fence in position. replaced pafS seN
| eral times and returned TO ms nous nov ian
Witness followed the path witness salu lic
made He found that birches as large d ;
1
fence. and nails had been driven III sen
| eral places. Witness did no! 20 oVeI wv
whole ground respondent visited. "a ~
| yer Yeaton objected to witness giving ~,
opinion as to how long witness tnou a
necessary to perform the work acc'rn ~
plished. Witness detailed the i,me ~ n 95
thought each repair consumed ~ an - -
minutes exclusive of the time used IN gu
! ing from one place to the next. oh-
Attorney Yeaton made vigorous %
| lection to the question as to whether ".
| ness heard from witnesses present o. -
| man in the vicinity of the ra1iroIIu 10 riea'
knights crossing, and Judge Pow n .
| after hearing protest from Attorney u
| eral Seiders. ruIed it out. ,
| Court then took recess until ciocn, I'D
| Every seat in the hall was taken da
| all available standing room was ,inon
when the court resumed at the aite' "0O
session. .,,,d and
| Witness Miles again took the siaiiI n 1
| in the cross-examinatCn SAID the nj
| he produced in court was recelVed lid
the other articles of clothing AM Wit
until he delivered it to Prof. An st H. LIONS
ness. cross-examined. confirmed nnIv
testimony that Edwin knight no .ithout
| offered the cross-cart to nm mich
cost but furnished the tools WIN ;hed