The Republican journal., 1910-05-12
Ira S. Grady "Not Guilty."
Sidney E. Bennett Held for the Septem-
Der Term of Court Charged With Man.
slaughter.

! When The Journal went to press last week
James S. Hartman, Esq, had opened the case
for the defence. He declared his belief in the
innocence of Grady and severely criticised
newspaper reports based on personal opinions
and prejudicial to his client, who was entitled
to fair trial. He said that the defence hoped
to produce witness (Beecher KendalD, then
out of town, who would testify that he saw
Grady enter the Commercial House at 20 minu-
tes of 9 O'Clock. while Bennett had testified
that Grady was in the Thomas house at 10
minutes of 10. Mr.. Hartman also explained
the difference between murder and manslaugh-
ter as relating to this case
The accused, Ira s. Grady then took the
stand IN his own behalf and in answer to ques-
tlons from his senior counsel Forrest Martin,
! ESQ.,, of Bangor, told of his movements after
arriving in Belfast from Islesboro on the morn
ing of February 2lst until few minutes after
he had left the Thomas house that evening on
his way to the Commercial House. He admit
ted that he had been drinking and that he had
bought liquor several times during the day,
but denied all knowledge of the crime of which
he accused. He said he had no trouble
with Mrs. Thomas. Everything was pleasant
between them and he had left Bennett there
He did not remember of reaching the Com
mercial House and had but dim recollection
of being arrested.
In the cross examination by Asst Atty Cen
era Barnes he was asked to explain how he
remembered what happened in the house and
forgot what happened after he went out He
I tl,a a.
got out and tried to walk. 1t always affected
him that way. He said that he used to room
at Mrs. Thomas house. He declared that the
conversation at the Jail with Mr. Hartman, as
stated by Bennett on the stand, did not take
place Court adjourned at 545.
When the court convened THURSDAY morning
Grady was again called to the stand and the
cross examination by Mr.. Barnes was resumed.
Grady recognized the knife in the case as his,
but had no knowledge of how blood came upon
the blade. Had bought two pints of liquor in
all and was very sure he did not buy liquor
after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. He reiterat-
ed that he and Mrs. Thomas were drinking the
second time he was at her house. Grady did
not become ratified under the searching
dNNSsiN''S "a
consistent testimony. He again stated that he
remembered leaving the Thomas house, but
remembered nothing that occurred shortly
after.
Grady left the stand at 1880 and the follow
ing witnesses were then sworn for the defence:
Roland c. Patterson, Amos F. Colcord, Fred
Herrick, Edward B. Lunt, Adolphus J. Noyes.
Orlo D. Mudgett. John W. Jones, Gardner ".
Lane, Edgar Harding Walter S. Packard, True
Hayford c. NJ Smalley, Horace Smalley. Their
testimony related mainly to Grady's move
ments in Belfast on the day of the murder
Nora c. Bennett, wife of Sidney Bennett.
testified that her husband was at home on the
night the officers came to arrest him. She said
| he had not had time to say much about what
had happened at the Thomas house before the
officers came except to tell her that the Thomas
woman was killed and that he did not have any
thing to do with it. She had no idea what time
her husband got home and denied that she had
testified at the inquest that he arrived at the
house at l.05 a. m.
James S. Hartman of counsel for the defence
denied that such conversation at the jail con-
corning the knife between himself and Grady,
as testified to by Bennett, had taken place. He
had previously told Grady that the knife would
probably be eliminated from the case on ac-
count of City Marshal Hammons getting the
blood spots on it in fitting it to the wound
The door was closed leading to the corridor so
that if Bennett had passed by he could not
have heard what was said in the cell
Elbridge A Thomas, husband of Harriet
French Thomas testified that on February 2lst
he fishing between Islesboro and Camden.
He did not learn of his wife's death until he
was notified from Belfast. Witness testified
in regard to knife with blade an inch and
half long, which he said was in drawer of the
kitchen table when he and City Marshal Ham
mons searched the house. Witness cautioned
the city marshal not to get cut on the knife
Sheriff Amos F. Carleton testified in regard
to the location of the cells in the Jail and said
that it possible to hear in the corridor con-
versaton in the poor debtors cell, as the door
did not close tightly.
At 3.15 p. m. the evidence was all in and At
tcrney Martin began his argument for the de-
fence, and for three hours held the close at
tention of the jury and crowded court room
with an eloquent, logical and skillful plea for
the acquttal of Grady. He reviewed the evil
dence, Strengthening the weak points in the
| testimony for the defence and pointing out the
weak places in that for the prosecution He
believed in the innocence of his client, and in
the presentation of the case carried conviction
to the minds of many and added to his laurels
criminal lawyer. At the close of his plea
court adjourned.
At 915 Friday morning Assistant Attorney
General Barnes began his address to the jury
on behalf of the State. In his opening he
spoke of the loss to the State by the absence
of County Attorney Buzzell, who called
away at the opening by the serious illness of
his father and again called to Monroe Thurs
day night by his death. He talked rapidly for
an hour and half, presenting his facts in
logical sequence and in simple language. He
said he did not want to convict innocent
man but should present every item of evidence
the State could obtain to punish the murderer
of one of its citizens as the law demands. He
discussed at some length the expert testimony
of Prof. Whittier of Bowdoin College concern
/ ing the blood on the knife, and criticised the
testimony of DR.. Wilson, who said on the