Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-15

beyond a reasonable UOuDt. ne EeleIIcu
to the sore on the finger of the defend
i ant, which, he said, the prosecution
claimed was made by the backfire from
the revolver.
The district attorney then corrected
the judge. saying that he government
claimed that the sore was made by the
fash from the muzzle.
DO you mean that she shot her
self?" asked Judge Bond.
District Attorney Higgins did not
reply.
The court called attention to the fact
| that no experiments had been made
with the revolver to show that such
a sore as has been described on the
defendants finger could be made with
the revolver. although the police have
had the weapon for more than year.
The Judge read several rulings that cir
| cumstantal evidence must establish
| facts bevond q reasonable doubt, that
| it must be legal and competent and
| that it must be equal to direct testl-
monv Its proof must be absolute. or
| the jury should acquit.
| You will be safer" Judge Bond said.
so err in acquitting than to err IN
there was anything about the evidence
or his charge that they did not under
stand fully, they should come into
court and have the matter explained.
| He said that the jury had the right
to infer what interests influenced tes-
, timony on either side. He referred to
Attorney Samuel D. Gilmore receiving
S4153 from Mrs. Glover. and said that
if fillmore was interested in collect
ing evidence 20 use in the case to make
il clear that Mrs. Glover was not i'm
plicated, then both witnesses were In
terested. You are to decide whether
or rot they are interested" he said,
land you must make allowance for it
in your verdict"
The two counts in the indictment
were explained by Judge Bond. who
instructed the jury that one verdict
would be sufficient. If the jury acquit-
ted the defendant he case was ended.
If it should find her guilty the jury
must specify whether guilty of muir
er in the first degree, murder in the
, second degree or manslaughter.
Take time enough" said Judge
Bond. 'SDo not be in hurry. Consid-
er everything in the case, compare
your conclusions and views with each
other. so that when you agree you will
be satisfied, not only for now, but for
the future
Judge Bond ended his charge at 9.3o
ham. turning toward the dimunitive
' prisoner said:
Hattie lie Blanc. you now have the
opportunity to say anything that you
desire"
Pale and looking frightened. the girl
rose, folded her arms across her breast.
and turned towards the jury. Her
voice vas so faint that her words
could be heard only a short distance.
she spoke with pronounced French
accent as she said:
I Il did not do it. want to go home
with my father"
| The jury was unable to hear her be-
cause she spoke so family. and her
chief counsel. Melvin NJ. Johnson. re-
| peated her statement for the benefit of
| the jurEmen.
Mr.. Johnson then requested the court
+ to explain the rulings on reasonable
doubt and the rights of the defendant
in refraining from tostfying, which
| was done by the Judge and the case
] was then given to the jury. The Of
| iicers attending the Jury We're sworn
to the faithful performance. of their
duties and the jury retired at ".45 y. NJ.
| The verdict was returned at ll.2n
o'clock this forenoon after the jury
had been ont an hour and 35 minutes.
| During the tedious wait Hattie sat
quietly beside the iai! matron. Occa
si"nally her father, Abram lie Blanc
( If West Archat. &. r.. spoke to her,
nut for the greater part of the time
the girl was l.. alone with her
, thoughts. In an ante-room. her sister
Lillian lie Blanc. sobbed violently.
| At 11.15 o'clock word was passed
around that the jury was coming in
Hattie braced herself for the ordeal
'but as the jurymen filed into their
! seats the girl shuddered and leaned her
head on Mrs Warnock's shoulder. Both
the prisoner and her guardian began
to cry. Tn" Jury was poled in the Gus
tomary manner and then Clerk Dilling-
ham called upon the girl to rise.
Trembling and weeping. Hattie rose
To her feet.
Jurors" said Clerk Dillingham;
look upon the prisoner.
Hattie Re Blame, look upon tho
jury"
The girl steeled herself for the eff
fort. and the clerk, addressing Fore
man Fairbanks Of the jury, said:
Mr.. Foreman. have YOU agreed upor
a verdict"
l. We have was the reply
What is your verdict" continued
the clerk.
Not guilty" answered the foreman
| \ wild cheer burst from the Grove
in the courtroom. Hattie dropped
back into her seat and began to weeI
on the matron'S shoulder. The de-
monstration continued, for the courr
officers were powerless to check it.
When quiet was finally restored Hat
tie was led to the private Office o.
Sheriff Fairbairn in the Cambridg.
jail AS the girl crossed the stree,
that separates the Jail from the court
house, she was cheered by the crowd
Everyone wanted to shake her hand
rs were thrown in the air and erie:
of Three cheers for Hattie LIE Blanc,
were repeated until the doors of tn,