Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-31
Miss Croker Is Held on
Mans|aughter Charge.
Bond Is Furnished Pending Act.
ion Of the Grand Jury.
Physicians and Coroner Tell Full
Story Of the Case in Court.


a hearing which took up nearly all
yesterday, Miss Nellie Croker, aged
% ard unmarried, was ordered held
for the February grand jury on 4
charge of manslaughter and was re-
leased from custody under $4,000 bail.
The decision was reached by Judge
Smith, after which much expert tes-
timony had been heard and the grue-
some details of the case were rehears-
ed several times. The accused girl
sobbed convulsive!y when the court
announced its decision yet recovered
herself quickly and was soon encased
in big fur coat and was riding i'll a
sleigh toward her home in Parkman.
The case attracted much interest and
the new library where the hearing was
held was well filled with morbid and
curious spectators. The hearing CON-
menced soon after 10 o'clock in the
morning and lasted till well into the
afternoon. There was much craning of
necks when the Crocher girl was
brought into court by Deputy Sheriff
John H. Weymouth. She was accom-
panied by her sister Alma several
years her Junior and at first appeared
ill at ease. After she had listened to
the reading of the warrant charging,
her with wilful murder and had enter
| ed a plea of not guilty in clear tones.
she appeared more contentcd and at
| times a smile played about her face.
In short she did rot seem to feel her
serious position.
The case was opened by County At
tOrney Martin l.. Durgin, who. in q
| few words, told the history Of the case
as he understood it about as follows:
| Coroner Clarence Drew of Guilford
was called to Parkman four Corners
on the night Of Oct. p as a result of
notification from DR.. William Cowic
Of Guilford that all was not right at
| the Crockcr home. The coroner found
the respondent i'll in he'd and behind a
| trunk and on the floor was the body
| of Il newborn female child with its
| throat cut nearly from car to ear. The
coroner had some little conversation
with the woman and she made quite
| Il complete statement of what had TAX
en- place.
| The story told the coroner by the
| respondent was about as follows. She
had been taken severely i'll a short time
| before dark and suffered throughout
| the evening. Tha ply stefan was sen:
for but before his arrival = baby was
| porn. soon after the birth of the
child the accused sent her sister Alma
| who was with her from the room for a
pair of shears. Alma brought in the
scissors and laid them on the bed and
| soon after left the room second time
| According to the statement made by
| Miss Croker to the coroner it was
| durii. her sisters second ;.bScncr she
| plunged the Sa"arS into the neck OF The
| chile. scverng the jugular veins and
cutting everything back of the spinal
cord. Iron tho rcttlrn Of her sister she
asked her to take the body and place
| il behind the trunk. where it was later
| found She also told the coroner that
| She thought the infant was breathing
when she cut its throat. After stating
| the cas-" County Attorney DurSin call
Cd ~ witnesses. Or. William c"Wic
Dr. Z; u. Marsh. Gulf"rd. d.. W. l.
Il. Hathaway. Milo: Coroner Clarence
| Drew. Guilford and Miss Alma Croker
| sister Of the respondent.
Clarence NJ. Drew of Cuilf"rd. The
coroner was asked to take the stand
He told practically the sam" story as
IS told III the above except that ho was
accompanied on his visit oy y. =. Mer.
rill and +. s. Murray. tw" ncighbors
The Crockers lv.. over til" genera
store of :. \. BuZzcll. On cross OK
CONTINUED on Page Ten.)