Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-22

r cord. said to be similar by the witness
around the head of a mallet, in tn
manner in which he said the cord wa:
tied around Matte Hacketts neck
when he cut it away The cord con
tanned a slip moose with two ends hang
ing from the bowlne and the ends were
tied in granny knot and then brought
forward to the Adams apple and tied
in square knot.
1t was about 20 minutes after witness
cut the cord before the doctor arrived.
The doctor made some attempt to re-
| vive the girl after he arrived. Witness
did not notice the moon was up until he
| left the house after cutting the cord.
| Ibid YOU ever see cord like this be-
| fore you saw it on Matties neck?''
| mo sir
"You have practiced on it lately to
see If you could reproduce it,"
| Yes sir
The end was extremely tight about
Mattlc's neck and it would take a great
deal of strength to tie such a knot. The
girls neck was greatly swollen and the
corn was sunk into the flesh.
Arthur Nickerson, brother of the last
witness. lived on the Niekerson place
with his brother at the time of the muir
der. it was between S and $50 when
witness heard of the murder. First thing
he did was to call DIR. Milliken. Pre-
vious to that had talked with a man
named Barrows not more than half an
hour. He answered from his home.
which was between two and three miles
from the Hackett place. Barrows' full
name was \. l. Barrows
Gave Johnson Ride.
Isaac Mace of East Readfeld testified
that he was living in Wayne at the time
of the Hackett murder, was superinten-
dent of the power plant. The mar
johnson was recognized in Jail by wit
ness. who had met him on the afternoon
of the murder this side of North Leeds
in Wayne talking with two Berry boys
who lived there. No one else was with
him. Saw him again half a mile from
that place, invited him to ride, left him
about q miles from the Hackett place.
Left Johnson between and 6 O'Clock.
Johnson told witness he had been away
from his home in Aroostook county and
wanted to get back home. He said he
wasn't Il tramp and that he had 81 in
money in his pocket.
Witness on ss-examination said thai |
he invited Johnson to stop over night |
with him, but johnson did not want to |
and appeared to be anxious TO get a |
train. Johnson said ne had been in Au- |
burn Jail, did not pronounce it ALI |
burn
Dr. MiIIiken Testfies.
DR.. John S. Milliken of Readfield stat
ed that on the night Matte Hackett was
killed he took supper at home. 1t was
about o'clock. Went out on doorstep |
alone after supper, his sister and wife |
followed. Saw Levi Hackett go by few |
moments after. Was called soon after |
TO Walter Smiths. Returned home a |
little after o'clock. Soon after got /
telephone call from the Nickersons', call |
ing him to Hacketts. It was about 20
minutes after s o'clock Hurried TO the |
most all the way.
Matte way lying on the bed when |
witness got there She was partially |
dressed. The cord was removed from ner
neck Witness was told that it was re-
moved just he was driving into the
yard The doctor thought patient was
dead and used artificial respiration but
without avail. Had no doubt the girl |
was dead when he got there. !
There was a little blood on the girls |
face. Witness noticed some black and |
blue spots on her arms. Autopsy was
made on the following day by witness
and DR.. Sturtevant. No marks of vio-
lence were discovered other than the |
finger marks on her arms and the marks
of the cord around her neck
Witness thought he saw Mrs. Ray
mond about supper time on the night
Of the murder. Did not see Bert or Ell
sic after the murder until the next
day.
On cross examination witness said
hat he believed that the marks upon
the girls arms were made by some
one holding the girl from behind.
There We're the thumb marks inside
and two finger marks on the outside
Of one arm and three finger marks on
The outside of the other arm. They
were just above the elbows.
StranguIation Cause of Death.
DIR. A. H. Sturtevant of Augusta
testified in regard to the autopsy per-
formed on Aug. Is, 1905. upon the body
of Matte Hackett. There were no
bruises on the body except what DR..
had testified.
What was the cause of DEATH
without doubt, strangulation."
Such a choking as the girl received
blythe cord around the neck would re-
suit in making her unable very quick
~ to make any resistance or cry out.
1t would produce almost instant
speechlessness and helplessness.
Puerperal Insanity.
Witness stated that women during