Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-15
COURT ROOM Scene
OF DEAFEN|NC UPR0AR
After Acquitta| Of Hattie lie Blanc from
Charge of Murder Of the Wahham
laundryman--jury Was Out But
One Hour and a Half,

Cambridge. Mass, Dec. 14-Hattie
LIE Blanc's pathetic plea that she be
allowed to go back to her old home
in West Arichat. c. B. with her father
was granted today when a jury, afte,
deliberating an hour and a half, de.
cided that she was not guilty of the
murder Of Clarence F. Glover at Wal
on the night of Nov. 20, 1909. The
verdict was a popular one-So popular
in fact, that the traditional decorun
of Massachusetts court was sweep:
aside, While men and women cheered
shouted ard wept.. The demonstration
continued for Is or 20 minutes and
the court officers were utterly power
less to stem the tide of unbridled en-
thusiasm. The crowd in the corridors
took up the cheers of the thrOng thai
was packed in the court room, and
there came answering cheers from a
company of more than 1000 men and
women who had assembled on the
quadrangle in front of the court house
East Cambridge.
Immediately after the verdict had
been announced, and the diminutive
fair haired French Canadian girl had
been discharged from custody, As
sistant District Attorney Wier en-
deavored 20 persuade Judge Daniel
w. Bond. the presiding justice ut tho
trial, 10 hold Hattie as Il witness to
give evidence before the grand jury
that wolfe warrant the Indictment
of Mrs. Lillian NJ. Glover, the widow
of the nlur lered man, who had been
accused by counsel for the defence
of being the real clllprit in the case.
Judge Bond declined to grant the re-
quest of the assistant district at
torney, saying that the evidence pre-
scented against Mrs. Glover in the
present trial was insufficient to con-
should convict on such evidence, the
Judge would set aside the verdict.
Last spring Mrs. Glover was acquitted
of a charge of being an accessory afte"
the fact.
District Attorney Higgins issued a
statement after the trial in which h
referred to Judge Bonds refusal to
hold the lie Blanc girl as q witness
before the grand jury. the state
ment also said that the ruling of tn
judge to exclude from the case all
reference to the allegation that Glov-
err said before his death that Hattie
had shot him had weakened the gov
ernment's case against the girl The
district attorney said that if he could
have justified himself he should have
ended the case then and there, but he
thought his duty demanded that he
see it through.
Mrs. Glover was not in court when
the verdict of the jury was returned
When informed at her Waltham home
of the result she received the news
coldly.
Does it surprise you?" she was
asked.
.sWell. no" she replied. 81 can't
say that it does. This has been a
very funny trial right through; Hat
tie was accused Of the crime, but If
reality I was tried for it"
4 MANY famous criminal cases nave
been tried in the Middlesex county
courthouse, but it is doubtful II there
has ever been a case heard there II
which there was more interest mani
fested than in the trial which ended II
the acouittal of Hattie lie Blanc Inc
mystery surrounding Glover's death,
the humble origin, the youth and tho
ignorance of the little prisoner, the
sensational testimony. the surprises II
the way of evidence, and the brliilan
oratory of clashing counsel all com
bined to arouse popular interest to lev
err heat.
When Hattie lie Blanc was brough
into court this morning. she was pan
and trembling, and she showed pam!
the strain under which she was LABOR
ing. After Judge Bond had concluded
his charge to the jury, the prlsole
was Informed by the clerk of the cour
that if she desired to make any state
ment to the jury, the opportuhl'.
would be given her.
Nervously the child rose to her 1ee'
faced the Jury box and in voice s.
faint that it could be heard but a feH
feet away said. with pronounced
French accent Il did not do II. wan
to go home with my father
| A few moments later. at 9.4o a. NJ
the Jury retired. At 11.15, the Del
rang. indicating that the jury wa
about to return to the courtroom. Ha'
tie, seated beside the matroii vi IN
Cambridge Jail, who has been the prs
loner's constant attendant since TN
trial began, shuddered as the juror
fled into the box. Then, overcome .
her feeling of fear, uncertainty an
lhope, she rested her head OH u.
matron's shoulder and began 10 Weei
The matron was overcome viii ei',o
ton. and the tears of the prisoner "'
her guardian mingled. 11a.
After the jury had been poileu' 10.
tie was directed to rise WINE 'hs ~, ~
Imam was asked if a verdic. haa
agreed upon Answering IN Tue am, ,,,,s
Tive the foreman was theh as .,. ,,as
tho verdict was and before the ques
IT, voc ended the foreman sal
Iauickly mot guilty" Hattie pea ''''
lbeen answered. .;or,es