Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-28
$4,000 BAIL
Allowed in the Case Of
Mrs. Elsie Raymond,
Charged by Indictment with
killing Matte Hackett.
She Appears Deeply Moved and
Grateful TO All aiding Her.

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Grateful to All aiding Her.
Mrs Elsie Hobbs Raymond of Tur-
ner, who was indicted by the Kennebec
county grand jury at the April term of
/, the superior court for the killing of
Matte Hackett at Readfield, Aug. II,
1905, by strangulation, and who has
been prisoner in the Kennebec coun-
ty jail since April of the present
year, was admitted to bail, Thursday
afternoon. The amount fixed by Asso-
ciate Justice Leslie c. Cornish, before
whom the hearing was held, was 0,000.
The hondsmen We're her father, Ed
mund A. Hobbs and her uncle, James
c. Hobbs of Turner, and James II.
Pinkham of Winthrop.
The giving of bail in murder cases
is not usual in Maine, although the
Constitution of the State provides for
it in negative way. Section 10 of Ar
ticle deelaring NO person before
conviction shall be bailable for any of
the crimes, which now are or have
been denominated capital offences since
the adoption of the Constitution, where
tic GiOOI 10 tNiubfll OI the
great, whatever the punishment of
the crime may be-" The only other in
stance in this county of bail being Civ
en- in murder case was in the cele-
brated Cooper case, where the respon-
dent, Mrs. Alice F. Cooper of Windsor.
who was charged With the murder of
Charles Northey, Jr., and afterwards
acquitted, was admitted to bail in the
sum of $4,000 by the late Judge An
drews of the Augusta municipal court.
But single other similar case is
known in the State.
Soon after Mrs. Raymond's commit
meat to Jail an attempt was made for
a change of venue to Franklin county,
whore Chief Justice Whitehouse, who
WAS to sit in Kennebec county in Oe-
tober. at which time the Raymond case
would naturally be tried, presided in
May. So many legal obstacles were
found TO the change of venu that it
was not granted.
First Attempt Fails.
Failing in this motion, the first at
tempt to secure bail was made, early
last month. At the time the proposition
of securing bail was opposed by the
State on the ground that the provis-
ion of the Constitution for bail in such
cases would handicap the prosecution
by implying that the proof was not
evident nor the presumption great.
Chief Justice Whitehouse ruled that
he should not grant bail contrary to
the wishes Of the prosecution.
County Attorney Williamson stated,
Thursday afternoon. to a Journal re-
porter that the State had withdrawn
its opposition to the securing of bail
but beyond that would make no state
ment. The report is current in this city
that strong opposition to the keeping
of Mrs. Raymond in custody during the
summer months has developed in
Readfield and Monmouth, it being ar
sued that If the woman made no at
tempt to escape from the State in the
seven years following the tragedy she
coulf be relied upon to remain within
reach of the officers during the inter-
vening time to the trial. The sugges-
ton has been made in certain quarters
that this may have had something to
do with the reversal of the States pc
sition in the matter of admitting the
prisoner to bail.
The examination of bail before
Justice Cornish was begun in the
forenoon and it was at first thought
that her father and uncle would be
able to give the full amount of the
bail required. Examination however,
disclosed that the two men did not
have $4,000 worth of property, ahso-
lutely unencumbered and it was deeid-
ed that $1,000 additional bail must be
forthcoming to make the required
$4,000.
Hon. Frank A. Morey of Lewiston,
counsel for Mrs. Raymond, succeeded
in obtaining as the additional bonds
man, James II. Pinkham of winthrop.
He was examined before Justice
Cornish at p. NJ. and it took but
a few minutes to satisfy the presid-
ing justice and County Attorney Will
hanson that the bail was now ade-
quate.
Mrs. Raymond was at once conduct
ed to the attorneys room at the
courthouse, in which the hearing was
held, by Sheriff Charles M. Richard
son. She wore a light blue house
dress and appeared to be in perfect
health. Notwithstanding her long con-
finemept. Her checks were slightly
flushed with excitement as she took
seat between her father and her
uncle.
Before being seated she grasped
her uncle's hand warmly and then
passing to her father. shook his hand
still more warmly and kissed him. All
three were visibly moved.
Grateful for Her Liberty.
Clerk of Courts Charles w Jones
formally admitted the respondent to
bail Mrs. Raymond hesitated mo-
ment after bail had been given. as if
uncertain whether she was at liberty
to go at that moment or whether there
were certain other formalities to be
gone through with.
You are now at liberty to go, Mrs.
Raymond said Atty. Morey.
Thank you very much, replied
Mrs. Raymond, bowling to the court
oh he f,,r he,