The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-03-03
The Thomas Murder.
Bennett and Grady Held for the April Term
Of Court and Remanded to Tail.

Il
Of Court and Remanded to Jail.
The coroner's jury empanelled Tuesday. Feb
ruary 22nd, on the case of the murder Of Mrs.
Einrldge Thomas met Wednesday afternoon to
hear the result of an autopsy and examine wit
nesses and held sessions Thursday. At $50
Friday morning they returned the following
verdict:
Harriet French Thomas of Belfast. in the
county of Waldo was murdered on Monday
evening, February 21, 1910 by being stabbed
IN tne heart by sharp instrument, in the
Kitcnen OF her home on Cross street, by Ira
Grady OF Unity, the murder being committed
In drunken brawl"
The jury reached this conclusion after hear
ing large number of witnesses, including
Sidney Bennett and Grady. who were both at
the home of Mrs. Thomas the night of the
murder. Grady when taken into custody the
night of the murder admitted that he was in
toxicated, but denied any knowledge of what
happened in the house. Bennett, arrested the
same night, told the police that the woman re-
Grady, whose face she had slapped and whom
she had pushed toward the door.
Friday afternoon Bennett was arraigned in
the police court and pleaded not guilty and
later took the stand in his own behalf. The
most damaging evidence against Bennett was
given by Officer Shute, who said he had found
tracks in the snow, leading from the house
where the crime was committed to the rail-
road, up the track to box car and from there
to BENEFITS house, where there was walk
which had been travelled so that it was impos.
sible to follow the tracks to the door. The
tracks at the freight car showed that the man
had looked about, but had not decided to enter
the car, but retraced his steps down the track
and went to Benefits house. The imprint in
the snow was made by rubbers corresponding
to those worn by the accused.
Bennett, on taking the stand in his own be-
half, testified that there had been struggle
on the night in question between Mrs. Thomas
and Grady and that after it was over the wom-
an had shown evidences of being hurt. In re-
sponse to his inquiry if Grady had cut her she
replied, Il guess he did," and soon lapsed into
unconsciousness. He hurried out after aid and
later returned to the house, after summoninp
assistance for the dying woman. He later
went home and after telling his wife what had
happened went to bed. He was aroused about
o'clock in the morning by the officers who
took him into custody. In telling of his move
ments on the night of the murder Benefits
statements as to time varied from those of
other witnesses, about an hour, between and
IN O'Clock, being unaccounted tor by the pris-
cner At the conclusion of the evidence Ben
netts attorney, Ellery Bowden, ESQ.,, moved
that the charge against his client be disn issed.
as no evidences had been submitted to show
that he had committed the crime of which he
was accused or that he had any motive for
committing it. He also argued that his client
had not conducted himself as guilty man
would be expected to do, but on the contrary
had gone tor aid and done all he could to pro-
cure assistance for the murdered woman.
Judge Rogers announced that inasmuch as
Bennett couldtnot account for an hour of his
time on the night of the murder, and in his
testimony had also neglected to mention trip
to and up the railroad to the box car and back,
but had sworn that he went directly home.
while the evidence of States witness showed
that he had made trip to the box car, he felt
impelled to find probable cause and hold the
prisoner for the April grand jury.
Saturday morning Grady was before the
police court charged with the murder of Mrs.
Thomas, and through his counsel, James S. Har-
riman, waived the reading of the complaint and
warrant and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
A large number of witnesses were called, ,includ-
ing those who had testified at the inquest and
at the hearing in the police court on Bennett
the day before. Bennett was put on the stand
as witness for the State and told practically
the same story he had told the day before. No
defense was offered and Judge Rogers found
probable, cause and held Grady for the April
sitting of the grand jury. Bennett and Grady
were remanded to Jail without bail.