Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-07
KNIGHT INDICTED.
Charged With the Murder Of
Mrs. Fannie Sprague.
Expected that the Trial Will Be Sen
sational in the Extreme.
State Officials Claim TO Have Strong Evidence
knight Protests Innocence.

Saco, Me, Jan. G.-After five days
session the grand jury at the January
term of the supreme court which con-
vened in this city, Tuesday, rose, Sat
urday afternoon and reported - indict-
ments, which, according to County At
torney Mathews, is the largest list
found for many years in York county
The most important bill found was
against Edwin II. Knight, a former Sc
lectman and leading citizen of South
Berwick, for the murder of Mrs Fam
ME Sprague, whose body was found in
a burning barn on the old Knight farm
at South Berwick Junction, May /.
The murder was one of the most
brutal in the history of western Maine
and caused great excitement in that
section for number of months.
Knight, the suspected murderer was
arrested the day before Christmas and
taken to the county Jail at Alfred,
where he will remain until his trial
which will probably take place in the
supreme court in this city the first
week in February.
The trial will likely be one of the
most sensational and the most bitterly
contested in the history of murder
cases in Maine. 1t is said that four OF
the ablest lawyers in the county will
act as counsel for former Seectman
Knight. Knight declares that he is in
nocent. and it is said fully expects to
be acquitted at the coming trial.
That the State has damaging evil
dence against the prisoner is claimed
by the officials who have been working
on the case for months.
A local paper, last night. printed a
sensational story to the effect that ii
was rumored about the court house,
Saturday afternoon. that an attempt
was made to tamper with the grand
jury while they We're engaged on the
Sprague murder case. and that the
man who had attempted it had put
many miles between himself and this
city since he learned that the officers
We're after him.
\ prominent county official who was
seen, would not confirm this story. but
admitted that an attempt had been
made to tamper with some of the wit
nesses who testified before the grand
jury.
There has been considerable funny
business attempted while the grand
jury has been in session." said the Of
fetal. and it will probably be shown
up when the case comes to trial | am
not at liberty to make any statement
tonight regarding the tampering with
Witnesses but later may be able to say
something for publication
The indictments made public, beside
that against Edwin II. Knight, are az
follows: Arthur Parin and Alfred Mai
hot, Biddeford, larceny; John Moody
Kittery. compound larceny; Oscar }
Bronson and Daniel Meserve. Bidde-
ford. compound larceny; William
Beaumont and Alfred ProVencal, Bid
deford. compound larceny: Israel Smith
and Fred Smith of l<ennebunkport
compound larceny; John T. Cooper
Saco, assault and battery. two Indlct-
ments: Mary +. Cuilins. Saco. nuisance
Every public Indictment is against
bound-over prisoners in Jail OF under
bonds.
Owing to the large number of indlct-
ments reported it is evident that the
ma iority of bills found are against
liuuor dealers in York county who hold
United States licenses. 1t was reported
early in the week that every saloon
Keeper in the county who held a Uniteo
States license would be indicted.