Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-11-06
THE SURRY MURDER.
GOODWIN BOY PLEADS GUILTY
70 CHARGE.
q, ntps,T CALCULATE TO KILL HIM."
WAS ills ONLY ADDITIONAL
STATEMENT.
d sI,ppose I'm guilty. /"

seventeen year-oid Surry boy, cleared up
the last doubt as to the manner in which
Can't, Harry G. Young, of surry, met his
death.
II vas his response to Judge Hall when
arraigned in warrant charging him with
murder, in the terms OF the statute, at
s1 o'clock last Thursday afternoon.
The complaint was made by sheriff Jel-
Iisou. Goodwin was brought from his
cell where ne had been detained since
wednesday forenoon, arrsigned in the
little room used as the Jail office. There
we're only half dozen persons present
Judge Hall, Sheriff Jellison, Deputy
sheriff Stuart, County Attorney Graham,
n. II. Harden, OF Surry, and a repre-
sentative OF THE AMERICAN.
Goodwin. seated in chair facing Judge
Hall and the little circle OF spectators,
crossed first one foot and then the OF her
above his knee, and played nervousiy with
his low button shoes and his ankles.
This, and a slight paiior, were the out
ward signs OF the nervous strain he was
under.
Judge Hall explained to him the nature
otthe arraignment-that there was to be
no trial at this time, and with the excep-
tion OF pleading he had a right to keep
silent. He was then told to stand, and
Judge Hall asked In the usual form: "Are
you guilty, or not guilty."
81 suppose I'm guilty"
The reply was . complete surprise. 1t
was a dramatic moment, the tragedy Of
which was felt by all present. There was
q deathly silence, broken In q moment by
Goodwin himself, who added, more hesi
tatingiy:
That is, don't know as it's murder;
didn't calculate to kill him"
There was nothing OF bravado, yet
nothing OF abject fear in his manner. It
was the simple admission of boy caught
doing wrong, and who seemed to realize
something OF the enormity OF that wrong.
There was a note OF regret, almost OF
pleading in his final words: al didn't cal
cula.e to kill him."
Those in the room forgot for moment
the brutality OF the crime In feeling OF
pity for this boy, standing before them
and quietly admitting the deed which has
cut of his own young life almost as COM
pIetely as II has that OF his victim.
The words OF Judge Hall, remsnding
him to jail to await the action OF the grand
jury next April, broke the stiffness, but
not until the boy was led away was the
tension which held all present relieved.
PLEA SURPRISE.
The plea OF guilty came as surprise to
the officers and county-sttorney. No
pressure had been brought to bear upon
the boy TO confess, and he had been
allowed to maintain silence during his de-
tention. While the county-attorney had
pieced together q web Of circumstantial
evidence which he felt sure was sufficient
to convict the young man, he was natur-
ally relieved at the confession OF guilt.
II is a record achievement for Hancock
county, il not for Maine, in murder in
vestigation. starting with case that was
not at the first clearly recognized as
murder. Deputy-sherin Stuart, who de-
tanned Goodwin on suspicion, deserves no
small share OF the credit.
Officer Stuart, who was in charge at the
jail in the temporary absence OF Sheriff
Jellison, went to Surry early Wednesday
morning following the finding OF Capt.
Young's body. His suspicious at once
fastened upon the Goodwin boy, who,
dressed in his best clothes, was preparing
to leave town, and did leave for Ellis
worth on the Bluebill stage.
With little more than his suspicion to
act upon, Deputy-Sherif Stuart raced
after the boy in an automobile, and headed
him off a, the Ellsworth railroad station
lust after he had bought ticket for Ban
gor. A search OF the boy disclosing ga,
most of " hich was hidden in his stoc kings,
strengthened the suspicion against him.
All this was done even before the
autopsy and coroner's inquest had de-
declared Capt. Young victim OF murder.
Sheriff Jellison, who hurried from a
hunting trip at Otis, and Couuty- Attorney
Graham began work on the case Wednes-
day afternoon, and soon wove about the
suspected young man a chain OF circum-
stantial evidence that justified his arrest
Immediately after the finding OF the
coroner's jury.
Goodwin is a stout young fellow, who
looks fully his age OF seventeen years. He
has been brought mp in the family of
Luther Goodwin, of Surry, though not
related, and has always gone by the name
of Goodwin.
THE AUTOPSY.
Medical Examiner Elmer j. Morrison
conducted the autopsy on the body OF
Capt. Young Wednesday afternoon. The
examination disclosed double fracture
OF the skull beneath the slight scalp
wound. One fracture ran from an inch or
two above the forehead backward about
three inches, and another fracture about
four inches long crossed this. There was
no water in the lungs. The autopsy
strengthened the murder theory.