Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-20

! before ne NdSPu Il NeIulGI upon IL. f1t
was challenged by the defence. f. NJ
| Little, farmer of Pittston, was accept.
/ cd Silvio Paggonucci, merchant, OF
! Waterville was challenged by the de-
! fence The state challenged, James
| w. johnson OF Vassalboro farmer
20 years old and single.
James w. Thompson of Chelsea had
! read only the later reports Of the
crime. He was challenged by the
State. Henry +. Rankin of HallowelL
farmer. stated that he had formed an
opinion, but it WAS not such as To
bias or prejudice him against being
convinced by the testimony. He was
challeged by the defence.
NJ. L. Strickland of Oakland, barber
said that he was away at the time Of
the trial." and didn't think he ever
read any newspaper accounts at the
time of the crime. He had heard il
discussed recently at his shop. On be-
ing asked by Attorney General Pattan-
gan What he meant by Eat the trial
said that he supposed there had been
a previous trial. He was challenged
by the defense.
Eugene A. Brown, farmer. Of Chel
sea was challenged by the State. Fred
A. Shepherd of Gardner, grocer, was
accepted as the 18th man on the panel
James MeNally, farmer, of Clinton,
had read the newspaper accounts but
had formed no opinion. He WAS chal-
lenged by the State. stephen Cobb Of
Farmingdale, ieeman, was accepted as
the 18th pan on the panel. Two men
were afterwards challenged from the
array.
The defence challenged at the
rail Eugene C. Weeks. who had
been taken as the second member of
the panel. II. l.. Goldsmith of West
Gardiner was accepted in his place.
The defence also challenged at the
rail aohn Whittemore of Pittston. II.
f. Choate, farmer of Windsor, was
examined but challenged by the State.
Elmer A. Rollins of vassalboro. farmer,
was finally accepted as the 18th man on
the panel and the jury was completed
in one hour and % minutes after the
examination began. In all sc talesmen
were examined. Nathan C. True OF
Litchfield was appointed foreman of
the jury.
The Panel.
The panel was made up as follows:
Nathan C. True, Litchfield, farmer
(foreman); james w. Morrill,. Man
chester, farmer; j. O. Peaslee, Benton
farmer; w. j. Lowell. Farmingdale
farmer; w l.. Mace, Winthrop, cleo
trician; G. w. Eastman, Randolph
clerk; Erwin d. Cram, Litchfield
blacksmith; F. vi. Little. Pittston,
| farmer; Fred A Shepherd Gardiner
| Tsa in 10 10
| iceman: L. Goldsmith, West Gardiner
farmer; Elmer A. Rollins, Vassalboro
! farmer. ,ts1
Mrs. Raym6nd's lips We're compress
ed tightly asfthe indictment was reaf
| for the second time. County Attorney
Williamson began his opening at LA
| A. Nj. Mrs. Raymond followed his ar
gument with the closest attention ant
at the point where he stated that Mrs
| Raymond had threatened To kill Mat
tie Racket if she ever crossed he
| path" she turned to Attorney More,
| with an expression of indignant denial
The States Opening.
County Attorney Joseph Williamson
/ in opening said:
J May it please your Honor, MIR. Fore.
4 man ana 6eHtiefleH.
, Seven years ago last August a young
! woman named Matte Hackett livins
, in Readfield was strangled in the high
way a few hundred feet from hel
J fathers house,
/ The murder was discovered almos
| before the girl was dead, the authori'
| ties took prompt action, and from thai
| time to this investigation as to tho
/ murder has never ceased. From timt
| to time, evidence relating to it ha:
| been discovered, parties upon whom
| suspicion has rested have been cleared
| from such suspicion in one way or an
| other until finally, at the last term Of
| the superior court, the Grand Jury pre-
/ scented indictment, charging Mrs. Elsie
| Hobbs RAYMOND with the commission
| of the crime
| No one saw Matte Hackett stranglet
| and the evidence tending to Show who
| killed her must of necessity be circum-
| stantial. 1t viii be necessary for YOU
| therefore, to weigh with the same care
| full attention not only the main Tea
| lures of the case, but all the circum
| stances, even though some of then
may seem unimportant.
| ON Aug. II, 1905, Matte Hackett liv
4 ed with her parents and her brothers
/ and sisters two miles outside the vii
| lage of Readfeld in this county. He
| fathers house was upon the west sid,
| of the road leading southerly from
| Kent's Hill and about mile distan
| from that village. Their nearest neigh
Dor, Mr.. Cole, lived on the opposit
| side of the road about three hundred
| feet north
| On the evening of that day, Mr.
| Hackett, the father, hao been worlSin;
| with his horses near Readfieid Depot
and arrived home quite late. Upon hi
| arrival, none OF his family was Il
home except his daughter Matte, VIII
| had remained to get his supper. Hi
| wife and two sons had gone to tn
| Coles, across the way, to assist then
| in some work and his two younge
daughters to the postoffce~ at Kent
| Hill, after the mail.
johnson Asks Lodging.
| After MIR. Hackett had eaten his sup
| per and while doing his chores in tn,
| barn. young stranger named John
| son, came into the barn and aske;
/ lodging. After talking with him SOM