Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-02

rected to the spot Dy Fred Bean, a
veteran guide.
They took away with them clock
whose hands had stopped at 1890, and
the lock to the back door. with the KEY
in it. The lock showed that the rear en-.
trance TO the house had been fastene
at the time the murder was committed a.
inhabitants of this village lined the sin
ole street Saturday morning and. openH
mouthed gazed upon Small as he walkedf
to Chamberlain's hall. where the INQUEST
was being held He was guarded by H.An
Sheriff Arthur Chandler of CcSH
ty and his deputy.
Death "by strsns,
After a number o.. Xst7
testimony, Medical i
that the woman 1ha.s
strangulation, caused by = CO. .SO
abont her neck. &c.
Farm hands and "follss" Of the town,
among them many women. filed the lit
tie hall. There were many outside unable
to enter. From the ceiling hung two
blackened old oil lamps At the farther
end of the hall is tiny stage and about
it are hung curtains, dull and faded. On
the walls are few old prints. the colors
fading away.
Small wore a black frock coat. aer-
vously his hands fumbied light cap He
kent in hiA hands. too-first in one and
then in the cther-his handkerchief. He'
sobbed repeatedly and tears flower
freely.
DR.. E.. w. Hodson testified to the find
ing of the wifes body. Everyone In the
room listened with breathless interest as
he talked. The body was partially cloth
en-. he said. About the head was mass
al white cloth, five or six thtcknesses.
bfackened and charred by the flames.
ne cloth was pulledssSry tight. 20 tight
,ss(at the fta&5 of the womans face
sj,oa,ed I - It and gave it the appear
III, eight terrible wounds on
thSat ese were at the back: The
huikt H. L said. began a. the right
1S of M lend came out uAder the
NM cheek I'D, Hodson sstd tina,
dasM in his opiilo n. was Caused by
strts; .sation, a. dechsoh made as re-
sultS lis autopsy made shortly after the
fdiscovery of the body -
!. Small Winees
The physician identified the revolver
which he discovered in the ruins OF the
bungalow. AS it was held up TOR the
witness to see, the prisoner, Small
WINGED and turned his head away.
. Fred f. Bean of Ossipee, farm hand.
said he found a diamond ring, wed
ding ring and a gold guard the day fol-
lowing the fire, in the ruins. These
l,,,t
the engagement ring sparkling. were
held up for him to view. He found also'
the said. the gold watch. 1t had stop
ped at 1910 o'clock. 80
Smalrs eyes fastened on, the biksA.of-
jewelry as they were brought to view.
For a short period he had been quieter,
but then his sobbing broke out anew
and he held his handkerchief to hiss
face. n
Sheriff Chandler, 60 whom Bean tur
ed over the rings, said Small told hfM1
his wife had been wearing her we'd
ding ring and the gold guard" when
he left her. SmalIs attorney said he
desired Small not to testify. as he
knew the warrant was to be served
later.
"Not Guilty"
With the inquest at an end. Medical
Referee Horne left the little table,
which became a judicial bench when
Judge Mills took his place and called
the court session, shortly after noon
Small was ordered to stand up and.
after the charge of murder inlithe FIRST
degree had been read to him. / was
asked:
Are you guilty or not guilty?"
The only sound in the little room was
the tapping of curtain, famed by the
wind. ~
Not guilty" Small answered
When William s. Matthews Ct Mat
thews & Stevens was asked If he wish
ed his client to make any statement, he
said he did not. E.s4