Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-16
DEFENCE CLAIMS INSANITY.
George Briggs Tells OF Events Of Day He KILLED
Mrs. Florence Jones.

ANCWpOlts ~. H., Jan ~. AAA> e~~O-
day of the trial of George II. Briggs
for the murder Of Mrs. Florence Jones,
at Langdon, Nov. 2, 1901, strengthened
the already strong belief that insanity
will be the plea of the defence in palli-
alton of the crime. The witnesses, to-
day. included two or three relatives,
who testified as to the presence OF in
sanity here, who will offer evidence in
rebuttal. tomorrow, and it is expected
that the testimony for both sides Will
be concluded by tomorrow night.
Defendant Briggs took the stand in
his own behalf, this afternoon, by tes-
tifying that he had trouble with the
Jones family, who were his neighbors,
over cattle and fences; that they had
ali threatened his life; that he was in
mortal fear of them, but that he had
never made threats against any of
them.
The first witness of the day was
Chauncey Jones, husband of the dead
woman. whose testimony was concern
ing the trouble he had had with
Briggs. whose cattle were continually
getting out of their pasture into his
fields.
Lawyer Edward NJ. Smith of Alstead.
testified that between 10 and IL O'Clock
on Nov. 2. while Selectmen Cram and
Parker were in his Office after war;
rant for Briggs arrest, Briggs came
into the Office and said to Cram: II
have been hunting for you and want
to give myself up" Witness told him
he was just making out the papers for
his arrest. The selectmen asked Briggs
about Mrs. Jones and the latter said:
Yes. she is dead. When / shoot I
shoot to kill" He laid his revolver on
the table and remained in the office 10
Or Is minutes in conversation with the
selectmen. He was afterward taken
by Constable Criton M. Dodge to his
home in Langdon.
E. 3. Briggs of Barrett. a brother
md Hattie M. Briggs Of Williamstown.
VT, sister Of the defendant, testified
that they had an aunt who was insane
when she died.
Royal w. Clark, whose wife is a
cousin of Briggs. testified that an I'M
lie of Briggs had also been insane.
George H. Briggs. the defendant
then took the stand and gave a history
If his life. showing that he was born
n Williamstown, VT, Al years ago. He
had lived for some years in Western
mining towns and worked for three
years in Boston. leaving his family in
Morrisville. VT, during the latter
period. While in Boston he heard his
wife had procured a divorce and he
married his present wife in Boston
our years ago. Soon after he came to
LangdOn and bought a Mace near the
tones farm. He said he and the
JOneses had trouble over his cattle.
They would keep driving his cattle into
the road and keep him running after
hem all the time. On several occa-
sions, Mr.. Jones, his wife and son
Cleveland had called him all manner
of names and threatened to do him up
and he bought revolver for self-pro-
lection. Jones also caused an attach
ment to be placed on his property.
On the day of Mrs. Jones' death the
cattle got out and while he and his
wife were rounding them up, Cleveland
Jones appeared with something in his
hands making a terrible noise. The
boy called him names and witness had
no recollection of what happened after
that. Witness then told of driving to
Alstead and giving himself up, but
said he had no recollection of telling
the selectmen that when he shot, he
shot to kill. He had never had any
words with any one in Langdon except
Charles Wesley and never had any
trouble with Mr.. Bridges over taxes.
Briggs testimony was not concluded
when court adjourned until tomorrow.