Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-18

"A.
Varney, a nurse of West Upton, was
found not guilty of the murder of Mrs.
Pauline Keyes, the 10 months bride
Of George II. Reyes. a Boston real es-
tate man, by jury Of Norfolk county
superior court here early today. The
jury deliberated more than four hours
Miss Narney burst into tears when
She heard the verdict. She recoveret
herself quickly. however, and before
the jury was dismissed she arose III
Ter seat and turning to the jurymen
said.
Il want to thank the jury for all
they have done for me Everybod has
Lccn 50 Kind to me"
Then she began to cry again and the
jury filed out of the court room.
Recalled to Court Room
Miss Narney who had retired to aer
cell in the Jail near the court house
at midnight was recalled to the court
room when the jury sent word they
were ready to report
1t was almost quarter of one when
Clerk of Courts Cook arose and ad :
dressed the jurymen
Gentlemen have YOU agreed on a
NcrdiCt?' asked the clerk.
We have" replied James +. Kinna.
the foreman
More than % spectators remained in
plete silence.
What have YOU to say" began the
clerk:
Before he could finish the sentence
Foreman Kinna exclaimed Not
guilty"
Miss Narnoy gave a slight cry
Then tn" clerk said: What have YOU
70 say. gentlemen Of the jury. IS the
defendant guilty or not guilty."
Not guilty" the foreman repeated.
Judge O'Connell then thanked and
dismissed the jury. 1t was a this point
that Miss Varney addressed the jury
men.
Miss Narrey decided to pass the re-
mainder of the night at the Jail where
quarters were arranged for her. To-
morrow she will go to the home of Aer
sister in West Upton to begin life
anew.
Claim Abb Proven
Her counsel, in his closing argu-
ments maintained that an alibi had
been proved for his client and that
when the curtain rises on the second
act of this drama another face will be
there"
The state maintained that Miss Var
ney killed Mrs I<eyes because of ieal-
ousy. IN the closing arguments for
both sides there were criticisms of
keyes who, according to his own ad-
mission as the states chief witness
against Miss Narney. had lived with
the nurse as man and wife for long,
period
Judge O'ConnelI who presided, fin
ished his charge to the jury at SIS.
Counsel Attacks Reyes
When the curtain rises on the sec
ond act of this drama. another face
will he there" shouted counsel for the
defence, in summing up toGay. in the
trial Of Miss Harriet NarneN. a nurse.
for having murdered the wife Of the
man She ! we'd. Mrs. Pauline A. Reyes.
Later coming to the part which the
husband, George II. keyes, had taken
in the prosecution of his former COM
panion. Attorney David OConnell de
manded to know why the state had
taken the trouble to attempt defence
Of Keyes. oh. God" he added, IAN
alibi for that man
The concluding plea added another
unusual scene to an extraordinary
case. keyes and Miss Varney had
been intimately associated and appar-
emily were friendly up to the time
that her trial began. Then Reyes be-
came the chief witness for the state
and the defence made its greatest eff
fort to show that the defendant had
been wholly under his influence
The defence claimed that Mrs. Keyes
might have shot herself and the note
alleged to have been written BY her
was not shown to be in the hand
writing of anyone else. The attorney
asserted that the evidence that Miss
Narney had purchased 4 revolver had
failed completely, the defence having
established that the weapon was
bought in Boston by former employe
Of keyes Mr.. OConnell spoke for
nearly three hours. The greater part
OF the time the defendant was compos-