New-York tribune., 1905-01-25
TUCKER FOUND GUILTY.
FIRST DEGREE MURDER.
Prisoner CoILapses-Takes Stand IN
O1cn Defence.

Cambridge Mass. Jan. 24-Guilty of murder
in the first degree was the verdict returned to-
night against Charles L. Tucker, of Auburndale,
who has been on trial since January for stab
hing to death Miss Mabel Page in her fathers
home in Weston on March 81 last. The penalty
is death in the electric chair in the State Prison
in Charlestown. The counsel for the defence
will have thirty days TO file exceptions.
The announcement Of the finding of the jury.
which was made at 1910 o'clock tonight,
followed by one of the most remarkable scenes
that have been witnessed in a Massachusetts
courtroom for many years. Tucker collapsed
utterly in the prisoners cage when the foreman
uttered the fatal words being completely over
come 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 condition, and when he was once
more locked in his cell he broke down entirely
that physician was sent for. Stimulants were
administered and he revived somewhat.
Mrs. Tucker was not in the courtroom at the
time. SO affected were Attorney General Parker
and James H. Vahey. Of the prisoners counsel
that they embraced and wept. -l+-
The last words OF the IrTa5 were spoken at
1850 O'Clock this afternoon when Judge Shell
don closed his charge TO the jury which has
been considering the case since January l.. An
hour later. after eating hearty dinner. the
twelve men began their deliberations They
came back into the courtroom about $50 o'clock
tonight, and asked for more light on the legal
meaning of the word malice" in the express
sion malice aforethought," and also for in
formation concerning the different degrees of
murder and what constitutes manslaughter
Judge Sheldon elaborated somewhat the closing
paragraphs Of his charge, and the jury once
more retired. The jury was in the courtroom
about fifteen minutes, but there not the
will
TO their individual sentiments.
The day was long one and to many in the
court room trying Attorney General
Parker resumed his argument, begun yesterday,
and closed about hour and a half after court
opened this morning. 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 as
serted, at first tremblingly; but later with con-
siderable confidence, his innocence of the crime.
He spoke about ten minutes. and when he fin
ished Judge Sheldon began his charge
The case was actually given to the jurors
about . O'Clock this afternoon. and they imme-
diateIy retired. Nothing heard from them
until Just before o'clock, when they all filed
out 20 the hotel for supper. They returned at
: o'clock. and at Sl5 came the first intima-
ton as to the nature OF their difference of Opin-
ion.
After obtaining the courts explanation, they
once more retired
The murder Of Miss Mabel Page at Weston, Mass,
on March 81 1904 for the COMMISSION of which
Charles l. Tucker was tried. attracted wide at
tention because Of the unusual and mystifying cir
curnstances surrounding the case. Miss Page, who
was Al years old lived in a small country dwelling
house with her father Edward Page, formerly a
prosperous Boston merchant. and her brother,
Harold She was stabbed death with a knife.
Basing his examination the apI earauCe Of the
wound found in the neck, the only wound at first
visible the medical examiner reported that Miss
an undertaken had discovered other wounds that ii
was established that the woman had met death at
the hands of assassin.
Near the woman's body was found note appar-
brother Harold had been injured and that she
going TO the hospital in Boston him. The
fact that her brother had not been injured added
much 10 the mystery On the evening of April l
Thicker was taken 10 the Newton police station
and examined the strength of the report that
he had been seen within third of a mile OF the
Page house. After the questioning. Tucker
released having satisfied the police his
About week later. az a result of a
frTther inquiry by detectives, the lines which
mad been suggested by Attorney General Herbert
Parker. Tucker was formally charged with the
Tbe governments case against Tucker included
the that slip OF paper containing the ad-
dress 81. Ia Morton. Charlestown. Mass" found
TrtIns OF the defendant; that stckpin found in
I,is Docket had been stolen by him from the Page
home and that broken pieces of blade found In |
49, home were parts Of the knife with which he |
nv ~ Netabbed Miss Page The evidence against
Tucker was entirely circumstantiaL
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