Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-11
MURDER CHARGE.
Charles L. Tucker Accused of
Killing Mabel Page.
An Arrest at West Newton, Mass,
Saturday Night.
State Police Claim They Have the
Right Man.

endeavor to strengthen if possible, the
web of circumstantial evidence woven
around Charles l.. Tucker, the Au-
burndale youth, who was arrested at
his home last night, and who will be
in the Waltham district
court tomorrow, charged with the MUIR
der of Miss Mabel Page at Weston. on
March 81, the state police worked I'M
ceasingly, today.
The house at IS Bourne street, Au-
burndale where Tucker resided with
his parents. was again visited and
nearly all the clothing belonging to
the man was removed to police head
quarters. Two detectives made Il tour
OF the Page premises in Weston for the
purpose of taking measurements, while
others examined Henry Bourne,
ncighbor of the Tucker family and Ar
thur Woodwork, the driver of Il fish
wagon. Some of fuckers clothing was
sent 70 Boston for examination as to
blood stains, by Prof. Woodward of the
Harvard Medical school.
The principal err&nd of the detec-
tiVes, today, was to find some person
who saw Tucker in the vicinity of the
Page house. but up to tonight no such
person had been discovered.
Plaster impressions of fuckers teeth
made last night in the presence Of the
officers at police headquarters, were to-
day, turned over to n local dentist and
hard rubber casts will be made from
them. 1t is said that they were found
or the breast and neck of the murdered
woman. st one time there We're more
than $50 persons on the road i'll front
of the Page house.
During the day, Albert Tucker, IA
tier of the prisoner, visited the cell
room of the station and had Il 15-min-
ute conversation with him. Mr.. Tuck
cr seemed much agitated when he
emerged from the cell-roOm, but he said
that he was prepared to prove that his
son was at dinner ut 1l.45 in the fore
noon of the day on which Miss Page
WAS murdered.
Tucker will be taken to Waltham at
9 O'Clock tomorrow morning, arraigned
in the district court and formally
charged with the murder of Mabel
Page.
After the pleading which will I'M
doubtediy be not guilty. the govern
mcHt will ask the continuance which
VIII be granted. The accused man has
not yet obtained counsel. The exact
line Of defence is not yet known, but
it is certain that Tucker will seek to
establish an alibi.
Albert Tucker, tonight engaged Valley
& Times, firm of Boston attorneys, as
counsel for his SON James II. Valley
and Thomas F. Valley. two members of
the ii:ln. were in consultation with the
Tucker family. this evening. Later they
visited Tucker in his cell. When they LEFT
the police headquarters they stated that
at the present stage of the case they
could say nothing beyond expressing the
belief that the police had arrested the
wrong man and that they could prove
their client innocent. The elder Tucker,
by advice OF counsel, refused to discuss
the case.
1t was learned, tonight. that counsel
for the government and for the defence
had agreed to n continuance Of about 10
days, as the government it is said, will
not be prepared to present its case when
Tucker is arraigncd. tomorrow morning.
West Newton, Mass, April 1O.-Aftcr
Il battling search of nine days for the
murderer of Miss Mabel Page, who was
stabbed to death in her fathers house
in Weston, on March 81, the state po-
lice arrested, last night Charles l..
Tucker, former railroad employe.
who had early in the week apparently
established an alibi on his whereabouts
on the day Of the tragedy. Tucker win
be arraignc1 in the district court at
Waltham, Monday, charged with the
murder of Miss Page. Chief Shaw of
the state police said after the arrest:
1--WE are satisfied that we have the
right man"
On being asked if Tucker made any
he replied:
"lIc did not have to; we have the
right man"
Tucker was arrested at 6 o'clock, last
night, at the home of his parents in
about two miles from the
Page house i'll Weston, and locked up
in the police station. The arrest was
made very quietly and on one outside
of Chief Shaw, State Detective Whit
ney and Chief Tarbox of the Newton
police knew of it until Chief Shaw an
nounced the fact to the reporters about
two hours afterWard.
When Tucker was first brought to
the police station here. last Monday
evening, he admitted to the officers that
he was in Weston on the day of the
tragedy and that he passed the Page
house. His statements, however, con-
corning his actions that day. were so
well corroborated by friend who
clained to be his companion. that the
police were convinced of his innocence
and he was allowed to return to his
home. 1t was said at the time that he
was not in custody, but the police de-
sired to examine him in the regular |
course of their investigation of all per-
sons who had been near the scene of |
the tragedy. Nevertheless he has been |
under constant surveillance since Mon
day.
-Four DAYS were then occupied in run
ming down worthless clues until the |
case became so puzzling that Governor |
Bates requested Attorney General |
Parker and Chief Shaw of the state |
police to personally take a hand in at ,
tempting to solve the mystery.
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