Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-08
Mrs. Patterson Remand ed
Awaiting Court Orders
Charged at New York With Kill
ing Wealthy Bookmaker.
rrv;no TO Weave Net on Woman
pr;.oner-Was Il Murder or Suicide?
She Asserts Her Innocence.

,romha prison in connection with the
mysterious death of Caesar Young. the
bookmaker, who was shot to death
while riding in a cab with the young
woman, last Saturday, today, was taxi
On before Justice Clarke of the supreme
court, on a writ Of habeas corpus. So
great was the crowd which thronged
the court room that special detail OF
notice was distributed through the
building to preserve order. Mrs. Pat
terson appeared in court dressed in
black wearing a heavy black veil. She
appeared cool and collected.
Assistant District Attorney Sanford
was not ready to proceed and asked
the court for an adjournment until.
Wednesday,. Henry w. Unger, Mrs
Pattcrson's attorney, objected on the
ground that his client was restrained
Of her liberty without any cause and
that such an adjournment would be
most unjust. He said no legal proof OF
the guilt Of the prisoner was before
the coroner and argued for substan-
tial reason for the adjournment.
1.-The prisoner does not suffer more
than a few hours" said Justice Clarke.
But even a few moments is an un-
Justice" responded the lawyer.
In reply to n question from the court
as to why he wanted more time. Mr..
SANFORD said it was necessary to
make the return He was then directed
to make his return by. this afternoon.
Mr.. Unger did not oppose this and
Mrs. Patterson was taken back to the
TOmbs.
Another great crowd had gathered IN
was brought before Judge Clarke
again. this afternoon. The prisoner
was accompanied only by the warden
OF the Tombs prison. When the pro-
ceedings were begun Coroner Brown
produced n copy of the affidavit on
which the woman is held by the coro-
ner.
Attorney Unger for Mrs. Patterson, re-
ferring to the affidavit, said that they
were confronted with n paper which
purported to be n return. but was in
such shape that he doubted that the
district attorneys Office was RESPONSE
BILE He then demurred formally to the
return.
"This loose paper IL for n dilatory
purpose" declared Mr.. Unger. He then
went into the law as to coroner's In
quests and said coroner had no pow
or to imprison a person accused of
crime before the inquest. unless the per-
son was not in custody.
In order to enable the coroner to act
there must be information laid before
him that murder has been committed,
said Mr.. Unger.
Or suicide" interposed Justice
Clarke.
Mrs. Patterson never took her eyes
from her counsel's face as he was maxi
ing the argument, but she gave not the
slightest indication of nervousness or
anxiety over the outcome.
Assistant District Attorney Sanford
said 1t would be a great pleasure to the
coroner II he could discharge the
women. but he could not under the law.
Information had been laid before him
that crime had been committed. The
assistant district attorney went on to
describe the wound and said that the
woman was the only one who was near
the dead man.
1.-The pistol shot was held SO close to
the coat that 1t could not have been
held by anybody. but the defendant or
the dead man, and from the nature of
the wound the dead man coul not have
returned the pistol to his pocket" said
Mr.. Sanford. as he asked the court to
dismiss tn, writ.
From what can read in the code. "
said Justice Clarke, "the coroner only
has Jurisdiction after a jury has been
impanelled. There has been no inQui-
sition."
NO" replied Mr.. Sandford." but n
Jury has been summoned. The coroner
Is acting as n magistrate"
II shall have to examine these pa
pers." said Justice Clarke. Il do not
know Just how she is held"
Nor nobody else" said Lawyer I'm
ger.
The question of bail was then raised.
Counsel said: "She is held in $4,000.
Five thousand dollars?" asked the
court in surprise. Why what is she
charged with? II she Is charged with
murder in the first degree that is not
bailable. Is she held as a witness?"
II don't know" replied Mr.. Unger.
"That is just what we are trying to
find. out"
rs she is not charged with any
thing how can she be heidi" asked
Justice Clarke. and he added. II think
she had better be remanded and will
give my decision at the earliest pos
sible hour"
After Justice. Clarke had announced
that he would take the papers and an
nounce his decision later, the crowd
was hustled out Of the court room and
Mrs. Patterson taken through the jus
tees chamber to the street. The
I crowd which rushed from the building
reached the street just in time to see
the carriage with the prisoner and her
guard whirl around a corner on the
way to the Tombs.
John b. Patterson of Washington.
father of the prisoner, visited her soon
after she was taken back to the
Tombs prison. They sat together in
the reception room and conversed in
low tones for 10 minutes. There con-
versation was earnest and several
times the young woman wept convul-
eively. Her father was plainly affect
ed by the plight of Mrs. Patterson and
40 ho roco IN ho xva roor1 70