Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-07

dtSISI u COAHSTNlIle, WHO, the Stdle
alleged killed her husband, Fred T.
Hisler, on the evening of Feb. :, was
moi pressed this morning and Mrs.
Hisler pleaded nolo contendere to the
charge of -manslaughter. She was SEN
fenced by Judge Bird to from five to
10 years in State prison with a term
Of five years recommended. A large
crowd. which had assembled at the
court house expecting that Mrs His
Ter would go on the stand in her own
defense and deny the truth Of confes-
sions made to the Somerville town Of
ficials, was surprised and possibly dis
appointed by the sudden shift in the
aspect of the case,
Remarks made by members Of the
jury who, for the first time in two
days were given their liberty and al
lowed TO talk with other people, midi
Gated the proba bility that the verdict
would have been manslaughter rather
than murder.
Age Questioned
II the course Of the proceedings, the
question was raised about Mrs. His
ler's age Size declared that she was
40. but nevertheless she said she was
four wears old when her father was
killed in battle in 1865. After she had
been sentenced and left the court room
she seemed much more disturbed about
the suspicion Of the court that she was
more than 40, than she was by the SEN
fence imposed or by consideration OF
the crime.
When court came in this morning
for the opening OF the third day OF
Mrs. Hislers trial with one more wit
ness Mrs. Eisler herself, still 10 testi-
fy for the defense. the sudden change
in the aspect OF the case was indicat-
ed when Attorney General Pattangal
said that the State was willing 10 no
pross that part Of the indictment al
leginS murder and to accept plea OF
guilty Of manslaughter. He SAID tina,
counsel for the defense had been very
kind and courteous and had told him
things that couldn't be put in evidence
that would indicate, if all the facts
could be brought out, the element o1
manslaushter rather than of murder
would be shown.
Judge Bird said he thought the State
was warranted in taking this position
and that it met with the approval 0.
the court
Attorney Andrew c. Halpen of Coop
ers Mills, counsel for the defendant re
turned the compliment paid by Attorne.
General fattangall, when he sad IN
States attorneys had been ve-3 kind an
courteous to him. He said he wanted Il
be fair TO everyone, to the State and L
the public, and that everything consid
cred. ne believed q plea of guilty O
manslaushter would be the best solution
of the case.
The altered indictment alleging man
slaughter was read to Mrs. Hisler ant
she stood UP and with considerable
prompting from her attorney to the pro
nunciation of the word, pleaded nolt
contendere.
Woman Questioned
In order to secure more facts TO guld'
him in imposing sentence. Judge birt
then directed the States attorneys Il
question Mrs. Hisler about her fanil,
and life history.
In response to questions by Attorney
General PattanEall, Mrs Hisler said sh'
was 4a years old, q native of South CHM
and had lived in Somerville for 10 years
going there from Newcastle. Asked /
she had home of her own, one tina
belonged TO her, she said that she or
have one in Newcastle which was occu
pied by man named Pinkham and hi
family 1t developed afterwards tina
this property was left by relative Q
Mrs Hisler and that she thought j
should have been left to her but as !
matter of fact it was not.
In answer to further questions sh'
said she had two married children living
in East Pittston and that the Oldest Ii
% years of age. She said she could rea'
and write q very little and that she stop
ped going to school when she was L.
Asked If she had any means of sup
porting herself, if she could work at an.
trade, she replied that she could not.
In answer to further questions Mrs
the Civil War and was killed in battle
She said she remembered of his dealt
and that she was four years old al tn
time. That was in 1866, she said.
Then you were born in 1861 and tina
would make you 81. wouldn't it, asked
MIR. Pattangau.
y don't think So replied Mrs. His
Ter.
In explanation she said she was hui
small child at the time of her ia
theirs death and couldn't remember
much about it. Her mother dies
when she was IT but after her ia
theirs death she made her home witt
her uncle Albert.
Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis OF Somerville
one Of the witnesses in the case, sal.
that Mrs. Hisler told her only shor!
time ago that she was Sc years old.
imposes Sentence
In imposing sentence Judge Bire
said he assumed that the homicide
must have occurred differently thar
| the respondent stated either immedi-
ately after the death of her HUSBAND
or later in the alleged confession. He
unprecedented from things which haf
come out, that if she had told tn.
whole truth, the elements Of man
slaughter would have been shown. Hi