Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-21
Chapdelaine Once More
a Free Man.
No Way Connected With Mrs
Brighams Death.
ige UtIey Scores State for Unjust
Prosecution.

Chapdelaine accused of the murder Of
Mrs. Emma Brigham al Leicester. Nov.
25, was discharged by Judge Samuel
ttlcy in the district court here, today.
The case had been postponed on two
previous occasions.
Assistant Attorney Taft conducted
the governments case. Maps of the To-
cality in which the murder occurred
were shown. Several witnesses gave
evidence touching on the minor details
1t was shown that Chapdelaine had
been seen talking with his father on
the edge of the woods near the scene of
the tragedy on the same day. One
witness testified that the defendant
was warned by his father to be careful.
Francis Door, aged nine years, testi-
fed that he passed near the scene of
the murder on the afternoon in ques-
ton while he was returning from skat-
ing. He said he saw man making a
pile Of hemlOck boughs apparently on
the spot where the body of Mrs. Brig
ham was found later. From this point
the boy said he went towards the
Chapdelaine house which he passed Is
minutes later He made the statement
that he saw the defendant entering the
house just as he passed by. Chapde-
l;,ine wore blue overalls and a blue
jumper. The man in the woods wore
dark coat and a fur cap. 1t was not
Chapdelaine.
Attorney Taft asked the police if his
story was the same as that reported to
the state police. Door said it was. The
witness denied that he had talked with
Lawyer O'Connell, but admitted that he
had discussed the case with his father
and mother. When asked why he did
not appear in Leicester. yesterday,
when ordered to do so by the state po-
lice said that OF three occasions when
Dorr told the story he stated that he
saw but one man while on his way
home from skating and that was the
one seen in the woods. Dorr had told
tho officers he did not know who the
man was and said nothing about seeing
Chapdelaine. Capt. Proctor told about
finding the clothing at the Chapde-
lame house. The defendant had admit
ted that the clothing was his. 1t had
been submitted to Prof. E. S. Wood Of
Harvard, for analysis.
The report Of Prof Woods examna-
ton to the effect that the blood stains
upon the clothing of Chapdelaine We're
human blood was submitted. The re-
port showed that the blood was upon
the young mans overshOes. trousers.
gloves. blouse and hat. With reference
to the gray hairs found on the boys
clothing, which also were submitted
for expert testing, Prof. Woods report
said there was possibility that they
MIGHT a frOYV, tho head of tho
murdered woman, but the professor
could not be positive about the matter.
Medical Examiner Fred H. Baker OF
Worcester, described the appearance of
the body and told of the cause of the
death. A number of neighbOrs also
gave evidence with reference to the
movements Of the Chapdelaine boy on
the day of the murder, and the evil
dence. was closed.
Judge Ctley then announced his deci-
sion that the boy be discharged and in
cidentally he spoke sharply Of the ac-
ton of the state police in taking the
boy into custody. He said that he con-
sidered the evidence of blood upon the
clothing as Of little weight as all boy
working upon a farm were liable to
not understand why the boy was ar
re sted.
Chapdelaine was released from the
dock and joining his father and moth
er, left the court room. AS he went out
he received a number of congratula-
tons.
Following the disposition of the
Chapdelaine case, that of John Riley.
who was arrested in Boston on suspi-
cion in connection with the case and
who afterwards was brought to Wor-
cester. was taken up and the man was
discharged for lack Of evidence.
This leaves the case as much of a
mystery as it was when the murder
was discovered.