The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-05
MURDER TRIAL AB.
RUPTLY CLOSED
Sickness of Witness
Made it Necessary
Case Had Nearly Cl0sed-Many TX
pert Witnesses Introduced on Both
Sides.

Sides.
DR.. H. S. Brown of Brighton was
placed on trial before a drawn jury
In the Somerset Supreme Court, be-
fore Justice l.. C. Cornish OF Augusta,
Monday morning, for the murder of
Rena Elaine Spiller, wife OF Victor
II. Spiller, in Athens, on July Goth
The respondent, who has been out
| under bond, was arraigned and at his
arraignment pleaded not guilty. He
was represented by Forrest j. Mar
tin of Bangor, one of the best known
criminal lawyers in the state, and by
w. H. Hawes of Skowhegan. who
figured prominently as attorney for
the respondent in the famous Nc
Clusky trial few months ago. The
state is represented by County At
torney j. H. Haley of Hartland and
George W. Cover, this county's lead
ing criminal lawyer. Several expert
witnesses were introduced on both
sides, among those for the respond
ent being DR.. Simmons of Bangor, Dr.
l.. A. Dascombe OF Skowhegan. The
respondents brother, DR.. Brown of
Bangor, was present at the trial.
1t was necessary to draw ten new
special jurymen to choose from for
trial, they being: B. F. Baker, Nor
ridgewock; A. E. Bosworth, Corn
Vile; Arthur Brown, Fairfield; c. w.
Dav. Skowhegan (excused) A H.
Ellis, Fairfield; Fred Hayden. Madi-
son; Leland S. Merrill, Norridge-
wock; Ruel Reed, Madison; A B.
Smith, Cornyille; Archie Weston,
Skowhegan. Thirty men were called
and examined before the complete
Jury was formed. Following were
the jury serving on the case: E. S.
Austin, Cambridge, foreman; A. II.
Ellis, Fairfield; Perley F. Noble.
Pittsfield; Samuel Furbush, Hartland :;
Oliver w. Kimball, Skowhegan; Ar
thur A. Brown, Fairfield; Archie L.
this trial, they being B. F. Baker, Nor
Weston. Skowhegan; B. F.. Baker
! Norridgewock; Ralph p. Clifford
Detroit; George Emery. ST Albans
A. b. Smith, Cornvlle; A. X. Atwood
Fairfield.
County Attorney Haley opened the
case. and which was in substance as
follows; On May 81, 1911, Victor
/ Spiller and his wife, Rena Spiller
came to Skowhegan to make their
home, Mr. Spiller having a position
in a dry goods store here. On May
9th. in the evening. Mr.. and Mrs
Spiller went to West Athens to the
home of Mrs. Spiller's sister, Mrs.
Cecil Jewett They arrived there
about nine O'Clock. They found DR..
Brown there After little time Mr..
End Mrs Spiller went to bed The
neyt morning Mrs Spiller did not
get m She sent word by her hus-
band to DR. Brown to come upstairs.
He went ND and performed an opera
ton on Mrs Spillcr. Mr.. Spillcr went
hack to Skowheean the next day and
Mrs. Spiller came a few DAYS later
On July 4th Mr. and Mrs Spillcr went
aeain to the home of her sister and
the following day went to Mayfield
and stonped on their way at the
home Of DR.. Brown in Brighton The
doctor made an examination on Mrs.
Spiller and told her she would be
relieved; If not within a short time
she would have TO undergo another
operation.
On July Goth, late in the evening
Mr. and Mrs. Spiller drove to West
Athens, arriving there about
o'clock. DR. Brown was at the
house, Spiller having written to him
to meet him there The next morning
about O'Clock Dr. Brown performed
an operation on Mrs. Spiller and she
came ont apparently all right from
the ether At $50 O'Clock in the af-
ternoon she began to grow cold and
at 4.15 she died
The chief Witnesses for the state
was Victor Spiller and Medical Fy-
aminars Drs. W s Stnchfeld Of
Skowhegan and s F. Green Of Solon.
For the defence. Mr.. and Mrs Cecil
Jewett. The jury was under the
charge Of Deputies c. f. Folsom and
F. D. Stevens
Victor H. Spiller. of Beverly,
Mass, husband of the deceased, and
formerly OF Skowhegan and Pressure
/ Isle. was the first witness called by
! the prosecution. Under direct exam
/ ination by Attorney Cover he related
the details of those events which eul-
minated in the tragedy at West
Athens, July Goth He told of assist
| ing DR.. Brown at the operation which
was attempted May cath, and the
payment of $40 in cash and s. sub
sequently by P. o. money order DR..
! Browns letter acknowledging the
, latter was put in evidence as exhibit
No l. He testified that when the ex-