Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-07
Of Charge Of Procuring
Buildings to Be Burned.
Defendant and Family Overcome
And Weep at Verdict.
Reed Strongly Denounced by
Attorney Goodwin.

-
Not guilty" was the verdict returned,
at 80 O'Clock, this afternoon, in the
case of the State against Capola May
Hoyt, charged with procuring one Otis
A. Reed to set fire to her hotel in West
New Portland, last June, that she
might defraud the insurance company.
The jury was out just half an hour.
The forenoon session was occupied
by the two attorneys making their
pleas and in the charge of Judge Spear.
Both Mr.. Goodwin for the defendant,
and Mr.. Merrill for the State, were al
lowed but one hour each. The latter
finished at 1L30 o'clock and after Il
shorter recess than usual. Judge Spear
delivered his charge TO the jury.
He had spoken but n few minutes be-
fore 1t was evident that he leaned
more in favor of the responder. than
toward the side OF the State. Seldom is
witness scored by an attorney as was
Reed by Mr.. Goodwin. In tine attempt
made by him to throw the burden Of
his guilt in setting the fire on that
moonlight night last June, on to Mrs.
Hoyt Mr.. Goodwin compared him to a
hyena digging his bloody fangS into
the body of his victim. Speaking Of his
protested love for the respondent. Mr..
Goodwin asked if an Indian would
strike his tomahawk into the woman he
loved and stated that Reed, although
protesting 20 love the respondent, was
trying to drag her by the hair of the
head into a prison cell that he might
save his own miserable, worthless life
from being passed behind prison bars.
which his elf-confessed crime so just
~ mcrited.
From an oratorical standpoint Mr..
Goodwins plea was admitted to be n
masterpiece. During it the respondent
frequently burst into tears, while her
husband, his mother and her sister
were almost overwhelmed with emo
ton Many of the women of the audi
ence were moved to tears.
For the State, Mr. Merrill was I'M
sparing Of the defence. He was ironical
and sarcastic by turns and stated that
the question was not one of breaking
hearts or of separating the woman
from her husband of only few months.
but that the question for the jury to
decide was one of justice. He denied
The presence in the case of the inSur-
anCe company.
After {: recess Judge Spear began his
charge. He occupied nearly an hour. He
explained the meaning of the term be
You'd a reasonabl doubt and said that
the burden OF proof rested with the
State that the State must prove, be-
ycnd a reasonable doubt the guilt of
person charged with a crime, before
verdict Of guilty could be returned and
the defendant must raise only red-
Snnablc doubt in order that a verdict
OF lot guilty should be brought in. AS
to the confession made by Reed. the
nudge stated that a confession made
without inducement was valuable. but
that it's value depended upon how 1t
Was obtained.
The jury was out only about half an
hour. When Foreman Gould spoke the
words mot guilty" Mrs. Hoyt fell into
u chair and across the railing which
separated her from the bar inclosure.
Her sister rushed to her and kissed
her. Her husband and other relatives
burst into tears. Her aged mother was
not in court No one expected that the
jury would arrive at d decision 50
quickly and but few spectators were in
the court room.
The interested parties went at once
to their hotels where a very pleasant
family reunion took place. The quick
ness with which a verdict was reached
came as a surprise to great many
who had closely followed the trial. al
though all bets were off as to a con-
viction when court adjourned for din
ncr
1t was taken for granted. this noon.
that the best the State could expect
vas disagreement. Opinions Of the
verdict differ.