Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-18
HARRIET vARNEY NOT GUILTY
is VERDICT RENDERED BY JURY
Counsel Claims Alibi Proven for Nurse Charged
with Killing Mrs. Reyes Severe Criticism of
Husband of Murdered Woman = Case Goes to
Jury at S.23 P. NJ.

ed and followed closely apparently the
argument. At times, however. when
the lawyer spoke Of her earlier life and
the loneliness of her present life. she
Nept.
The attorney. referring To The anonN-
nous note received 10y Keyes. after his
wife had been killed and which init
mated that a woman had done the
murder. said:
'Keyes was back at his old haunts
on massachusetts avenue. He rcceiv-
ed the letter there. II was there that
he claims Miss Narney came and took
possession of his bed and he slept on
the couch Mr.. kingston employed
by the government. is an honest man.
He said the same hand wrote that note
which wrote the letters and postal
cards keNeS sent to Miss Narncy. That
girl has been in Jail since June -. She
was in Jail when the letter was writ
ten. and YOU may he sure every letter
that goes out Of Jail is carefully scru-
tinized
The nearest the state has placed
Miss Narncy ia the scene of the muir
DER was at the Huntington avenue sta
ton. After the murder or suicide she
met keyes and went to lunch with him.
She ate and he did not: who was ncry-
ous?"
After referring To Miss Varncys al
legged attempt at suicide in New Ior!;
after keyes had refused to marry her.
the attorney declared she had never
known that he was married to Pauline
A. Keyes
Neither Motive Nor Opportunity
Concluding his plea. Nj O'Connell
said:
How could Harriet Narney kill Pau
line keyes if she never owned a re
Nolvcr. The state assigns the motive
as jealousy Why should she be ical-
Gus? Motive she had none Opportunl-
tv none, and she Is entitled to protec-
ton"
Later when Mr. O'Conncu referred
to Miss Narney's arrest al the little
home on the hillside ut Tptoi:." the
defendant lost control Of herself and
cried
Commencing on the second idcnti1lca-
ton of the revolver and the statement
of a witness for the defense that it
was purchased in a Boston pawn shop
! by Harold w. Jackson, an employe Of
George II. Reyes. husband of the slain
woman. the attorney declared 1t was
net too late for Jackson to come for
ward and throw som" light upon the
case
II would not have been impossible.
the attorney said, for Mrs Keycs to
have taken her own life rs medical au-
thorities had reported after their first
examination of the body. He called at
tcDtion 10 the note found with tho hody
indicating intention 10 commit suiCid"
and said that ii was in Mrs Kcyes'
own handwriting and written without
trCmor
His clients abb on June n the DAY
Mrs. keNes was shot. he declared. had
! l'een proved l,y respectable witnesses.
The prosecution had not boon able to
place her at the scene Of the cl1mc on
that day for il was impossible for her
to have been there.
Attorney O'Connel1 i'm his argument
for the defense severely arraiGncd one
whom he did not nam, and upon whom
he placed the responsibility for Miss
Narney's downfall declaring that until
She net this man, the defendant was
hey oEd rcproach
To-day she stands here alone" he
said. "aIore, without tho support Of
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