The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-24
Stood Up and Addressed the
Jury This Forenoon
DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE
Says That the Reason He Broke the
Knife Was Because He Was
Frightened by the Reporters
and the Police.

Boston, Jan. o4.--Attorney General
Paker finished the argument for the
commonwealth in the Tucker trial this
morning, and the prisoner addressed the
jury from bis pen, saying that when he
broke the knife be was frightened by
the reporters and the police, and deny
ing all knowledge Of the crime.
Judge Sheldon began his charge to
the jury as 1926 this morning.
Judge Sheldon finished his charge to
the jury at 12:4S. The jury win retire
after dinner.
Counsel James H. Vahey finished his
final effort in behalf Of the prisoner
shortly after 3 p, m. yesterday, having
spoken four and one-half hours.
Attorney General Herbert Parker then
began his final summing up, but had not
concluded when court adjourned at 4:40
o'clock.
| In the court room was seated nearly
every person who has in any way been
connected with the case Mrs. Tucker,
the prisoners mother, accompanied by
her son, Walter, was in court early, as
was Edward Page, father of the MUIR
dered girl
Mr.. Valleys contentious were that no
motive had been established; that the
Z blood on fuckers overcoat was from the
defendants finger; that the prisoner had
neither opportunity nor time to visit
the Page house on March 81; that the
Canadian stiekpin, alleged TO have been
stolen from the murdered woman, was
the property of the prisoner, and that
the breaking of the hunting knife was
the act Of foolish boy trying to avert
suspicion wrongfully directed toward
him.
Attorney General Parker laid great
stress upon falsehoods with which he
charged the prisoner when the latter was
questioned in connection with the MUIR
der, and asked the jury II it could be-
lieve that person seeking the protee-
tion Of the truth would divert it by
telling falsehoods.
He asked why Tucker, if innocent,
should destroy his knife and hide his
pin. OF all the persons in Weston ques
toned in connection with the murder,
only one had lied and destroyed property
to divert suspicion, and that one, he
lsaid, was Charles L. Tucker.
When court came in yesterday after
noon every available bit OF space in the
room was occupied. A crowd had gath
cred again outside, and several hundred
were turned away from the doors. Mr.
Vahey at once resumed his argument
He pointed out again the lack of blood
on fuckers clothing, knife and knife
sheath, and said there was no evidence
to show that the knife had been cleaned
either at the Page house or at fuckers
own home.
Mr. Valley said there was no evidence
to show that Tucker knew Miss Page,
except that he may have spoken to
her when he went to see Harold Page.
Passing to the question Of time, which
he said was very important, he declared
that the murderer, whoever it was, must
have been in the Page house at least
ten minutes. He said Tucker could not
have gone from Cutters Corner, where
he was seen between 1920 and 1925,
TO the Page house, remained there even
two minutes and have got to the Boston
& Albany power house between 12:40
and 12:45, when witnesses placed him
there
In conclusion, Mr.. yahey drew pic-
ture Of the Tucker home, of ssthe manly
brother, the kind father who on the
stand had d smile for his boy, the
mother to whom the defendant is still
but her baby and who has been over
whelmed by this accusation against
him.
MIR. Parker addressed the jury in a
deep voice, with words slowly and delib-
efately uttered. He was followed with
the closest attention by every person
in the court room. Mr.. Parker said
Il shall not speak of the accused as
one who is guilty, and no one shall
assert that he is guilty until he has
been found so BY our verdict. A pure,
faithful and devoted woman was struck
down and the defence says that no
motive for such a crime has appeared.
III the crime was done no motive need
be sought for no adequate motive can
ever be found The question for You
to solve, gentlemen, is whether the ac-
cused committed this crime. / know OF
no safer method than to adopt q line
of inquiry that first suggests who could
have done it, and when you have ascer-
tanned that fact, then search further and
ascertain whether he who is accused re-
! spends to that analysis. Inquire flT-
ther until you are satisfied chat he is
: guilty. The person who committed this
crime escaped from the observation Of
, all men, and no person saw the young
woman pass from this world"
did you ever know, he asked, "any-
one who was seeking the protection Of
the truth TO divert it by falsehood. He
] who tries it reveals his guilt. Ask
yourselves whether child or man would
tell a falsehood TO prove his Innocence.
eTucker, upon his own statement, was
near the scene Of the crime when it must
Continued on Fourth Page.