New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-23
TUCKER MUSTSTAND TRIAL
HELD FOR GRAND JURY.
Action Taken at Hearing-Alleged
PAGE Murderer Cool.

the Waltham District Court. The case, one OF
the most mysterious ever handled by the Massa-
chusetts police, has attracted wide attention not
only in this State, but also throughout New
England, and even beyond. Both days found
crowds attempting to get into the limited court
quarters to hear the evidence.
1t the avowed purpose OF the prosecution
before the hearing called to present only
such evidence as IL considered necessary for the
holding Of the defendant. and only four wit
nesses were called by the State The evidence
offered was mainly that Tucker was the owner
Of a knife which could have caused such wounds
as were found on Miss Pages body. and that
after the murder was discovered Tucker had
broken the knife fearing, as he was said to have
admitted to the police that suspicion might faI
on him. The defence called nearly q score OF
witnesses In an effort to establish an albi
Tucker. who is a rather slight though athletic
appearing young man. has displayed a general
indifference to his position since his arrest
During the hearing his manner was that Of a
spectator rather than OF q person who had any
thing at stake The aged father and mother Of
the accused man were in the courtroom both
yesterday and today.
When the judge announced his decision hold
ing Tucker for the grand jury, the only emotion
manifested by the prisoner was flush which
passed quickly over his face. In a moment ne
was as composed as usual and passed out Of the
4
the East Cambridge jail pending the sitting of
the grand jury. which is scheduled to convene
the second Monday in June.
TUCKER MORE SERIOUS THAN USUAL
fuckers appearance when the hearing opened
to-day was more serious than usual. He nodded
and smiled to his father and mother when they
came in. slightly late, and then gave close at
tention TO the testimony Of Miss Amy Roberts.
the servant at the Page home, as she began
describing the household arrangements. She SAID
that the midday meal always served at
o'clock that when she and Miss Page were in
the house ell the doors except that at the back
OF the house were kept locked. and that when
. either one Of them was there alone all the doors
were locked. On the day OF the murder when
she went out she knew ali the doors were locked.
When asked how much money Miss Page had,
witness said she did not know, but on the day
OF the murder she had Miss Page take
S11 from a drawer downstairs. So far as she
knew, Miss Pages jewelry consisted only Of a
gold watch and chain and a ring. She then de-
scribed Miss Pages clothing.
District Attorney Sanderson objected TO ques-
tions on minor details by coucsel for the de-
fence, and moved that the court close tho hear
ing and hold Tucker for the grand jury. Attor-
ney Valley, for the defence. objected. and the
court ruled that the should proceed.
pleased smile appeared on the face Of the de-
PENDANT at the decision IN his favor.
Five witnesses testified concerning fuckers
movements on the day OF Miss Pages death.
All agreed in placing the defendant near the
Weston bri ige, about a mile from the Page
house at about u O'Clock, and two of them also
placed him there again at about y. IN. Ralph
Blake, another witness who passed the Page
house at II 40 a. ~, March 81 met a
stranger but he not the defendant.
UNDERTAKEN TELLS OF WOUNDS.
John A. Bruce, the Weston undertaken who
first found the wounds IN Miss Pages body IN
dicating that she had been murdered. described
his discoveries. and asserted that the medical
examiner had said nothing to him concerning a
wound in the chest IA the back. The
wound in the chest. it decided later. caused
death, instead of one in the throat. Mr.. Bruce
said he prepared the body at 11:4o p. m. on
March 81, nearly ten hours after the woman's
body found.
Testimony that no one was seen in the neigh
borhoOd OF the Page house between IL aud 1
o'clock the day Of the murder given by
four witnesses. including Mrs. Susan Cutter,
who lives at Cutters Corner. within sight Of
the Page house.
General Jophanus II. Whitney, of the State
police, reviewed his connection with the case.
telling Of fuckers arrest on SUSPICION on April
! and Of the prisoners alibi. He said he had
not verified any Of fuckers statements. Cen
eraI Whitney said that in searching the Page
house ne had found two pocket books, ondsc
tanning $32 and the other small amount Of
change.
Constable Patrick II. McAuliHe. Of Weston,
also testified as to his actions in connection with
the murder He said that he found the three
pieces Of the knife which have been produced
in court, In a coat pocket at fuckers house.
State Officer Frederick A. Rhoades testified
that in investigations made at the Page house
he found the pencil with which Miss Page is
supposed to have written a note saying she was
going to Boston. Officer Rhoades and also Dep
uty Chief George c. Neal. of the State police.
told Of stained clothing found at fuckers house.
AN UNLOCKED FOR DEVELOPMENT.
An unlocked for development in the hearing
came when William II. Cotton a streetcar con-
ductor, testified that on the afternoon Of March
81 with bloody hand rode through
Weston on his car. The government promptly
accepted the opportunity to cross-examins Col
ton. They had not done this with any witness
previously called by the defence District At
torney Sanderson asked IL the blood on the
mans hand looked If It came from cut.
The witness said It looked as IL one Of the
| fingers had been crushed.
After Edward Page father Of the dead woman,
VINO was the nrst government witness mad been
called to answer certain questions of defendants
counsel to his house, and Miss Roberts had
been recalled for brief time. Mr.. Valley an
I nounced the close Of the defence.
After brief recess the arguments were be-
gun. Mr.. Valley, speaking for the defence, de-
clared that the government had not produced
I evidence enough to show the probable guilt OF
Tucker, while the evidence of the defence had
proved that Tucker could not have committed
the crime in the intervals of time unaccounted
for by those who had seen him. AS TO the knife,
he said IL natural for Tucker, with boyish
Imagination, to fear that the possession of such
a weapon might cause him to be suspected in
. connection with the murder, and consequently
his act of breaking it and his denial at first
that he ever had such knife were easily ac-
counted for.
District Attorney Sanderson in closing for the
government contended that evidence had
been introduced to show that Tucker was not
AT the Page house at the time the murder was
3 h,za haa Oh hat