Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-31
Preliminary Hearing


Falls was held in Petteng1lrs hall. a
long, low-ceinnged room with white
washed walls and a stage two feet
high and IL feet deep. This is the vii
lage theater, where real show people
appear. The last attraction was Uncle
Toms Cabin, on Nov. 6.
And the proceedings we're conduct
ed with a certain congenial intimacy,
q freedom from stiffness and oppres-
sive formality, that proved most
agreeable. County Attorney Archibald
and Hon. Bertram L. Smith, for the
defense, obngingiy stopped now and
again to answer questions by two To-
cal reporters and an attractive and
modest stenographer. Discreet, auip
and modest Jest gave added flavor to
the testimony. The crowd had the time
Of it's life, and 1t laughed approvingiy
or applauded with vigor at proper in
teq-yals. Rebuke was furthest from
anybcdy's mind-although a glance OF
Individual who shouted ''go to it, boy.'
as Trial Justice Sanborn took his seat.
Families Attend
Whole families lflccked TO the thea
ser--or rather the CORTLAND Tor hours
waited patiently for the proceedings
to begin. Every seat was taken, the
aisies were damned. small boys chung
like flies along the front of the bal
cony, and scores squatted in SOLID
comfort on the floor OF the stage. New
er was such a crowd; the one at I'm
Gle Toms Cabin hadn't been cir
cuinstance to it. And in the throng, at
the forenoon session, were five babies.
one of them was a bit inclined to be
ipeevish and at times drowned even
Attorney Smith; but applications OF
the nursing bottle usually proved effi-
cacious.
Earnest Efforts
Unusual though the court scenes
may have appeared to some OF the
visitors, 1t was, nevertheless evtoens
that every effort was made to reacn
the truth through the tangie OF con-
f,icting testimony. Trial Justice San
born presided well, any n .aore earn
est effort to obtain Justice for al
hands could have been made in the
most gilded courtroom in the world.
Justice Sanborn, the two. attorneys
the few reporters and prisoner Nadeau
formed a little group before the stage
Nadeau chewed gum and looked
stupidity Indifferent: but he wasn't
This was shown by the crisp, sharp
answers to his attorneys questions
answers that shot from between MS
white teeth like bullets. And he had
a remarkably comprehensive grasp OF
every detail Of his case.
Attempt Aiibi
There was a great deal OF tesu-
,mony, much of it purely speculative
One important question standing ou'
at the hearing, is this: Where die
Nadeau take supper on the night II
question?
On the Shinn Pond road, in or neal
Patten village, is the boarding house
of Nathaniel Pomeroy. One of tho
boarders testified on Monday tha'
Nadeau ate supper there between tnS
hour of s and $50; and on TUESDAY
Pomeroy and another boarder tesu'
fed that he hadn't been there at all
Nadeau's own story is that he dion
90 near the Pomeroy place, as NJ
skirted Patten village by log roa.
ON his way to the home OF Walter
stone. near Crystal station. where M
arrived at about 10 and passed the
rest of the night
The Pomeroy place is 10 miles wes'
of Island Falls; and the defence ar
gues that, even though Nadeau wa!
there between the hours OF and o.S'
it would have been impossible for MN
to have reached Island Falls by lSo
the time Hillman presumably disap.
peared. The state argues that 1t wouie
have been possible with the aid OF
speedy horse.
In his direct testimony. Nadeau oe'
CONTINUED on Page 10-Col. 81