Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-06

MURDER
TRIAL

NAL
Continued From Page One)
Trenches didn't come until after dark.
He denied that he told Mrs. Hisler five
or six lawyers would tear her to pieces if
she didn'~ confess and also that she said
Look oHe for that Halpen. He's work
ing against you"
Peter admitted, however, that after the
petition for prosecution had been circu-
lated he said to Mrs. Hisler Il suppose
you know they're going to do something
about this" He couldn't remember, how
ever. whether it was before or after the
confession that he told her they were go
ing to do something about the case.
Peter Hisler testified that he didn't
mention the confession to him, to the
trenches or to anybody else in the fore
noon' then he said she talked with him
In the evening and again asked his adj
vice about making a confession and he
told her If she were guilty she had bet
ter own up because it would be better
for her than to Tess to the lawyers down
| here
Asked why he advised her to send for
the trenches, Peter said: II didn't want
to be mixed up in this. I'd rather keep
out OF 1t. I wanted her to send for the
| frenches because didn't want to be the
only one In it,
Peter said he hadn't talked with the
trenches or with anyone else about a
concession or about his sons death pre-
vious to the time the confession was
made.
he was questioned about the Saturday
evening before Fred Hisler died on Sun
day evening and stated that Fred was
at MS house and that they had gallon
OF reduced 81 alcohol" but he said they
only drank about pint of it. Peter
himself drank it raw but Fred diluted it.
What does reduced alcohol mean?" he
was asked
about half WATER he said, and then add
ed that Fred only took one drink of
| about teaspoonful in water
| Asked why he didn't tell anybody about
the confession the morning it was made,
Peter said: We'll, she and 1 had always
been good friends in family Matters
why did you call the selectmen?"
Because l didn't know anyone else for
her to confess to-"
why didn't you call in someone else
! nearer?"
! Because they were in my mind
Because they had placed her in your
ho
proper persons for you to call, wasn't
it?"
Yes, sir"
Hisler admitted that he had been in
Jail for selling liquor in both the Port
land and the Wiscasset jails, and said
he had also served in the Wiscasset Jail
for whispering in meeting, when you
sent me there"
Il sent you?, Wasn't it a trial JUS
tice?" asked Mr.. lHalpen.
"Well, you handled the case" answered
Peter. uge
Hisler also admitted that within "a
hours he might have testified in court
that he had only one conversation about
his sons death with Mrs. Hisler the day
she confessed
I1OW uOeS IL udppeI YOU HOW Say you
had two conversations with her?''
THAT afternoon 1 told her that if she
made a confession / should have to tell
the authorities. l didn't say anything
about it that night"
| The following day French went to see
Judge Partridge of the municipal court
and the arrest and preliminary trial of
Mrs. Hisler followed.
! Edwin w. French
Edwin W. French of Somerville was
Fred Hisler house on the night of Feb
and seeing Mrs. Hisler at the win
| dow and through the window seeing
| Fred Hisler on the floor. He said he
| looked through the window before he
went in because he didn't care to &C
| in without knowing what was there
Mrs. Hisler told them, he said, him
Byron French and Arthur Dodge, that
| Fred came home from Pete Hislers
| poisoned with alcohol and fell on the
| doorstep and that she picked him uL
and logged him in. 1t developed, how
ever, that that was on Saturday night
the night before.
| Edwin French said he saw bruises
on Fred Hisler's forehead and pointed
them out to his nephew, whereupon
Freds wife said, Il never struck him
/ wouldn't hurt poor Fred
| There was some doubt, he testified
as to whether or not Fred was still
alive and Mrs. Hisler shook his head
and said, Hes dead all right" and
| when 1t was a certainty that he was
dead, French testified it seemed as II
she was relieved.
| The man replied that he got tc
thinking about it last night after he
testified and remembered that he haC
more conversations with her and said
she talked quite a lot about it, He
couldn't remember that he had talked
| about the case or about his testimony
with anyone since last night.
When Mr.. Halpen asked Peter His
Ter what he thought about Mrs. Eu-
genia Hisler's mental condition, At
torney General Pattangal objected tc
his using Peter as an expert on men,
| tai condition and the question was
| withdrawn.
/ Byron French
Byron French, q selectman of Som.
erville, was recalled to the stand and
| told Of the confession Mrs Eugenia