Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-30

A Cut of Mrs. Getchel Made in 1896. One
of the First Attempts at Using Half
| tones in a Daily Paper.
| much worse that the doctor was sent
for. The doctor found Getchell in con-
vulsions but did not realize the symp-
| toms of strychnine poisoning. A third
| portion of The gin was given him in the
| presence of neighbors and the physi-
| clan. No evidence was shown that there
| was poison in that gin except that he
| had i'll results Immediately after tax
| irg the gin.
Ths man died about p. NJ. The flu
neral followed In the usual order ana
| a great deal of suspicious talk follow
| ed. An arrangement was made by cor
| oner w. II. Libby with Mrs. Getchcli' :
|fuW consent and the body was eXumed
| and an autopsy performed. More than
| enough Strychnine was found in III
| body to kill a person. Mrs. Getchell
was arrested and indicted and her trial
| followed the following May.
The State claimed that improper re
| lations existed between one Lafores,
| 1rasn and Mrs. Gctchell. thus fur
| nishing the motive for getting rid of
| her husband. Attorney Dutton point
ed out that it would not have been t.
| Mrs. Getchelrs advantage financially
| to get rid of her husband as Trask was
q man of no property. No evidence was
| Offered of Mrs. Getchcll or any of he
| friends purchasing any strychnine. The
| ONLY evidence OF strychnine was the
| finding of it in the body of Mr.. Getch-
| ell
/ .4t 4
| by Mrs. GctcheIl in her story at the
| trial in which she said she was alone
| in tie house for several hours She
| stated. however. that wien she cam"
| back from the carriage house she saw
| LaForr%t Irask on the niaz2a but thai
| he could rot lave had time to Get into
| the pantry. where the medicine was
| This story counSc! stated, Mrs. Getc,r-
| ell Stil ad.lor"S to.
| Attorney button emphasized the facI
| that Mrs. Getchell continued to live ir
| her home after she was suspected and
when summoned by the sheriff of the
| county after being indicted came for
| ward for her trial In closing. he said
| that there was reasonable doubt of
| her guilt and that Mrs. Getchnll had
| been in prison II years He understood
| that there was a division of sentiment
| among the Councillors as to h"r par
| don when the case was brought before
| them seven Years ago.
| EnOch Cliddcn of Beaverton Mich
| a brother of Mrs. Getchell, stated that
he did not think his sister had fair
| trial. He believed that she had told the
| truth and she told him previous to the
| hearing seven years ago that she could
| give nc new evidence in addition to
what she mad already done. His plea
for Executive clemency in behalf of his
| sister was a most eloquent one 'sRe
candid and honest in your decision.
let God and not man be the judge" he
| said in conclusion.
| County Attorney Guy A. Hildreth of
| Gardiner appeared in opposition to the
pardon of Mrs. Getchell. He declared
| that the case which was one Of the
! greatest murder cases of the county,
was fought to the finish and that Mrs
| Getchell had in her behalf one of the
| ablest leaders of the kennebec coun-
| ty bar. Hon Herbert NJ. Heath. No ex-
ceptions were taken to the judges
charge and but very little to the tes-
| timony. He urged as the motive for
| crime on the part of Mrs. Getchell. love
| for Trask and detestation for her hus-
| band. He declared that Mrs. Getchell
| told conflicting stories before the trial
| and the act was one of calculating eff
| fort On the part of Mrs. Getchell He
read letter from Former County At
| torney LEROY r. Carleton, stating that
all who would read the testimony could
see that Mrs. Getchell was guilty and
| that it was calculating, cool blood
ed murder The State could i'll afford
| to turn such a woman loose upon the
community.
M. Glidden informed the Governor
| and Councillors that the petition seven
years ago for his sisters pardon had
been signed by leading citizens of Sid
| ney, Augusta and Belgrade and that
Dr. Croker and others said it would
have been impossible for her to have
obtained strychnine in such quantities
as the autopsy disclosed. He quoted
former members of the jury which con-
victed her as expressing doubts in re-