Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-25
TUCKER TO DIE.
Convicted in the First De. gree for Killing Miss
 Page in Her Home.

'' 'SSAMoASADHG, hdSS., Jdll. Sp'--tAlt ter the jury in the Tucker murder trial had come into court and asked for in- formation regarding the exact legal meaning of the word malice" in the expression malice aforethought'' and for information concerning the differ ent degrees of murder and what con stitutod manslaughter, which was ex- plained by Judge Sheldon, they retired and in short time returned with a verdict of guilty of murder in the first fegree against the prisoner, Charles L. Tucker.
 The announcement of the finding of the jury, which was made at 1O:10 o'clock last night, was followed by one of the most remarkable scenes that has been witnessed in Massachusetts courtroom for many years. Tucker col lapsed utterly ill the prisoners cage when the foreman uttered the fatal words. being completely overcome by verdict which had apparently seemed to him to be an impossibility. He was led from the courtroom across the street to the jail in an exhausted con- dition.
 But perhaps the most remarkable feature was the effect of the announce ment of the verdict upon the attorneys not only for the prisoner, but for the commonwealth. James II. Vahey, the senior counsel for the prisoner, was greatly affected, and when he left the courtroom he met Attorney General Herbert Parker in the corridor. The leading counsel for the commonwealth showed the result of the strain to such a degree that he threw his arms around Mir. Vahey's neck, and both men wept on each others shoulders, the attorney general expressing in broken words his sympathy for his brother attorney.
 These two men were not the only ones moved to tears. Philip Mansfield. one of the associate counsel for the youthful prisoner. became hysterical and fell into the arms of a reporter.
 The day was long one and to many in the courtroom very trying one. Attorney General Parker closed his ar gument about an hour and a half after court opened. Then came one of the most dramatic incidents in the trial, for most unexpectedly the young prisoner accepted his constitutional privilege of addressing the jury in his own behalf. Rising in his cage, he asserted at first. trembling, but later with considerable confidence, his innocence of the crime. He spoke about ten minutes. and when he concluded Judge sheldon began his charge. ,-4
 The penalty for murder in the first ! degree in this state is death in the electric chair at the state prison in Charlestown, about mile from the scene of the trial. Tucker will be sen venced later.
 The murder of Miss Mabel Page at Weston, Mass, on March 31. 1904. for the commission of which Charles l., Tucker was tried, attracted wide at tention because of the unusual and mystifying circumstances surrounding the case. Miss Page, who was II years of age lived in a small country dwelling house with her father, Edward Page. former. ly q prosperous Boston merchant. and her brother. Harold. She was stabbed to death with q knife. Easing his eA. animation upon the appearance of the wound found ill the neck, the only wound at first visible. the medical eA, aminer reported that Miss Page had committed suicide and it was not until an undertaken had discovered other wounds that it was established the woman had met death at the hands ot an assassin. Near the woman's body was found note apparently in Miss Pages handwriting. saying tba, her brother Harold had been injured and that she was going to the hospital ill Boston to see him. The fact tha, her brother had not been injured added much to the mystery.
 The evidence against Tucker was en tirely circumstantial.