The Republican journal., 1913-03-20
Evidence insufficient to sustain the charge
of mansIaughter.

of manslaughter.
Brief mention was made last week of tho
death, March llth, at her home in Troy, of
Mrs. Abbie L. Daggett. Deputy Sheriff Will
mot l. Gray having found evidence which he
regarded sufficient to warrant him in call
ing coroner, summoned Coroner Charles R
Coombs of Belfast, who on arriving at the
scene Wednesday forenoon and hearing the
stories in circulation decided to hold an in
quest and impanelied the following jury: Or
rim j. Dickey of Belfast foreman; Alec Knowl
ton, William A Jewell, W. B. Ferguson. ]. N.
heald and A. D. Wingate, all of Troy After
a number of witnesses had been heard the
jury returned the following verdict:
Said Abbie L. Daggett came to her death at
her home in Troy on March 11th from pneu-
monla, said death having been aggravated and
partially due to cruel treatment and neglect
ing to furnish care and the necessities of life "
A physician who was called in Sunday testi
he'd that Mrs. Daggett had well developed
case of pneumonia. Other witnesses testified
to alleged conditions in the Daggett home. They
said that there was little if any food in the
house; that the sick woman did not have suffici-
ent bed clothing to protect her from the in
clement weather, and that she had not receiy-
ed proper care and watching during her ILL.,
ness.
AS result of the investigation into the
death of Mrs. Daggett. James Daggett, hus-
band of the dead woman, was arrested in Troy
Friday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff Wilmot L.
Gray on warrant issued by Judge Wayland
Knowlton of the Belfast municipal court. The
warrant charged manslaughter in connection
with the death OF Mrs. Daggett as the result
of alleged cruelty and neglect
The funeral services of Mrs. Daggett were
held Friday afternoon and the remains have
been taken to Glenburn, Penobscot county, for
interment The three children accompanied
the remains of their mother and will make
their home in Gienburn with relatives of Mrs.
Daggett
Daggett was brought to Belfast last Satur-
day morning and lodged in the Waldo county
Jail to await hearing before the Municipal
court Monday. At this hearing Daggett was
represented by Hon. F. Dunton and COUNTY
Attorney E. F. Littlefeld appeared for the
State. The accused pleaded not guilty, The
witnesses called were those who had testified
at the inquest. They were Ruby Daggett, the
fifteen years old daughter Mrs Lillian Hous
ton, Mrs, Ora Knowlton, Mrs Jennie James.
neighbors, Mrs. Annette E. Daggett Of Troy,
wife of brother of the respondent, Alfred
and Aaron J. Daggettn nephews of the respond.
ent, and Deputy Sheriff W. L. Gray.
Hon. r. F. Dunton. who represented Dag
gett did not call witnesses but spoke in his
clients behalf. calling attention to the fact
that it was in evidence that Mrs Daggett died
OF pneumonia and stating that there was no
evidence to show that Daggett was response
BILE for his wife's death. He moved that the
respondent be discharged. County Attorney
LlttietieId stated that the evidence showed
that Daggett had neglected his wife, and that
she had not had the necessares of life, but
the family was in very poor circums tances
and he saw no evidence which would justify
holding the spondent on a charge Of man
slaughter.
The respondent was then discharged