Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-13

husband of Clara Emma Getchell.
had died, Dec. 9, 1898. and at the i'm
mediate time of his decease, no foul
play was suspected. His symptoms had
been those of strychnine poisoning, but
the attending physician had failed to
recognize them as such. After the body
had been buried, suspicion began to be
aroused, and the remains We're eX
humed. Strychnine was found in the
stomach, liver and other organs, show
ing that death had resulted from that
! cause. Mrs. Getchell was suspected
and before her arrest, was interviewed
by the county sheriff who was accom-
panied by a stenosrapher. Later she
| Was interviewed by Dr. Driscoll and to
both she told the same story, the story
which really resulted in her conviction,
for it showed it to have been possible
for her to administer the poison. II
this possibility We're to be stricken
from the evidence, said Mr.. Heath. no
grand jury in the land would ever have
brought even an Indictment against
her. She was tried in April 1894, by
Judge Wiswcll of the supreme judicial
Souil Iloll- L. L . NJttl ittoli, tiNll NooiieS
attorney, appearing for the State and
Heath and Southland for the prisoner.
The case went to the Law court. re-
manning there two years. The case
vent to the Law court on Il general
motion. but there was another motion
filed and that WAS on account of two
witnesses. whose testimony. if they
| had appeared and given it, would have
| demanded Il new trial and probably
have resulted in her acquittal. The
| case was argued in the Law court by
Judge Powers, and the motion was
over ruled. Mrs. Getchell was COM
mitted to the State prison for life in
1896.
This was all Mr.. Heath had to
say at present, but he would supple
ment bis evidence, later, by petitions
c'sncd by persons of repute and stand
| Ing frcm all over this vicinity No at
to get q long list of names had been
made. but only the names of those ac
ruainted with the facts and those best
able to judge of the case. Mr.. Heath
had never appeared before the Cover
nor and Council asking for a pardon
but once before. He appeared now be-
cause Vi Il urn Dtlltl III tllt liliioNtliSC
of Mrs. Getehell and he was not asking
the Governor and Council to do any
thing which he would not do himself,
We're he in their position.
MI GliGden, brother of the prisoner,
then took the stand. He stated that he
had been absent from the State of
Maine "a years. He knew nothing o.
the case when it occurred, but after
learning the facts had become cOnvinc-
ed that his sister had not received jus
ticc and had come East to perform the
duty which he felt devolVed upon him.
He found that public sympathy,
throughout this section was with her,
and very few families in the neighbour
hood in which the crime was commit
ted had any idea that Mrs. Getchell
was guilty of it. He would be unable to
remain here much longer. and would
like the matter to be settled as soon as
possible. In answer to questions by his
counsel. he said that he had been here
since Sept 5, 1903. His home was in
Michigan, and he worked in lumber
camps in winter and on the river during
the summer. He came here with a let
ter of recommendation from the Cover
nor of Michigan. He has seen eight
members of the jury which convicted
his sister, and seven of them, including
j. r.. Brann of Halowell, the foreman,
had signed his petition. Only one had
refused. One was dead and three had
moved away. The class of people whom
he had asked to sign his petition We're
lawyers. doctors. selectmen and other
leading men. He had the signatures of
the seeCtmen of Sidney and of Bel
grade. and that of Sheriff Ham of this
county, but had made no effort to get
long list of irresponsible siSners. He
had been to see his sister in prison. to
learn the truth from her own lips, and
she had declared that she had told the
whole truth, already, and had no word
10 add to or detract from her story.
Neither had she shielded anyone else;
she knew nothing of any guilty person,
whatever
County Attorney Leigh asked if the
petitioner had employed his time since
Sept. 5, in visiting cities and town fot
signatures to his petition. Petitioner
replied that he had Mr.. Gldden then
left the stand. and the petition was laid
on the table until the next regular
meeting. which will occur Nov. "a.
recess was declared. i'm order to
wait for the arrival of Councillors Jones
of Bangor. and Murchie of Calais. The
session was resumed on their arrival.
The case of William A. Withee was
now resumed, and Louis A. Barker APP
peared as counsel. He stated that he
appeared in behalf of one of the six
rumsellers of PenobScot county who
were punished, while 1874 went free.
His client was d man of about 35 years
of age. and had for many years been
engaged in stage driving and livery
stable business. Some two years ago,
his health became too delicate to admit
of his Carrvinn ON such work and hcI