Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-08-24
Is Coroner's Jury Verdict
in the Hackett Murder.
No Arrest Made and No De-
ve|opments in the Case.
Another Theory Arises in Mysterious Stranger
Who Has Disappeared.

There have been no Developments in
the Hackett murder case since yester-
day, although there have been many
rumors on the street that certain sus-
pected parties would be arrested. and
at one time the report was current that
two arrests had been made. Such was
rot the case. No arrests have been
made. and at the present time it is eX-
tremely doubtful if any arrests will be
made within the next few days.
Shortly after o'clock, this morning,
Coroner II. T. Morse and the county
officials arrived from Augusta, accom-
panied by F. w. Lee, official stenogra-
take the minutes Of the testimony.
The inquest was appointed at 10
o'clock, in the Town hail. but it was
1915 before the examination began. All
the jurors were present. the panel con-
sisting of the following men: w. B.
Hunton, foreman, George Jacobs, John
l.. Davis. w. X. Atkinson. c. w. Cros-
by and Frank A. Dow. The first four
are prosperous farmers; Mr. Crosby
is a storekeeper and Mr.. Dow is a liv-
cry stable keeper at Kent's Hill.
Quite large company Of people had
gathered 20 listen to the inquest with
the expectation that something sensa-
tional would be developed, but in this
they were disappointed. Only three wit
nesses were called: l.. l.. Hackett, the
father of the murdered girl. DR.. a. H.
Sturtevant of Augusta, and DR.. ]. 5.
Miliken Of Readfield, who performed
the autopsy.
Mr.. Hackett was the first witness and
his testimony was simply repetition
of the events Of the night of the muir
der. that have already been told in the
Journal.
Mr.. Hackett made an admirable wit
ness. giving testimony very clearly on
all points, except when obliged to men
ton the name of his daughter, Matte.
Then he would break down consider
ably and would require two or three
ininues to recover his sclf-possession-
There is no question but what Mr..
Hackett WAS proud of his daughter,
and the girls death is a severe blow
to him.
Dr. Milliken WAS the next witness
called. His testimony was somewhat
of 4 technical naurc, and dealt almost
wholly with the autopsy. He stated
that, on the night of the murder. when
he was called to see the girl, he en-
deavnred to bring her to life by means
of artiGcial respiration. But all his Ell
forts we're unavailinG. and he believed
the girl was dead when he arrived on
the scene, as there was no pulse and
TO heart action.
He stated that most thorough cX-
animation was made of the body and
its different organs. ana that with the
execution of the vermform appendix
and the lungs, tn" organs were all IN
their normal condition. The appendix
showed unmistakable signs that at
co,,,a tiroe Miss Hackptt had suffered
acute appendicitis. The lungs were con-
gested as a result Of strangulation. The
ger marks on each arm. near the shoul-
der. From the appearance of these
marks it would appear that Miss Hack
cit had been grasped from behind. al
though of this he could not be abso
lutely sure.
Dr. Sturtevant was next called and
his testimony was merely corrobOra-
ton of that given by DIR. Milliken.
This concluded the testimony. and
the jury retired to the selectmens
room for a conference After brief
consultation, they rendered the follow
ing verdict:
I'VE find that Matte Hackett came
to her death by strangulation. caused
by a rope about the neck. at the hand
of some party or parties to this jury
unknown"