The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-11-25

The chain winds around John
Burke and no one else a chain with
no weak links. The chain. when II
fastens m1st have d connecting link
that is as strong and convincing That
connecting LINK is that burn on John
Burke leg There isn't any way *
could have been put there except
holding The revolver up close
IF John Burke IS innocent. aeqult
him When you take and weigh all
ftese Witnesses. you'll ind, | believe.
gentlemen. beyond q reasonable doubt
HAT those Two men went up there. the
mta who HOT off The heads of pa
ffiages with Mauser shot the ofh"r
nHH in tn head twice. There ne va
aIth BARLEY gone. Chances "ere n
1Idua know who had seen him. &9".
eeutlelnen. It i for yOu 10 say ghIl'5
or innocent Tho court viii instruct
you in the law. I9u viii do your duty
We have done our dty. Remember
Tho obligations you have. Within YOU
ICES The safety of You and yours II he
is guilty. say so; if not. say 50.
The Charge by Judge Wilson
Judge Scott Wilson in charge that
lasted approximately one hour and
fifteen minutes reviewed the case
Saturday morning. beginning at ;
O'Clock when he assumed the bench.
Very carefully and clearly be out
lined. not only the story Of the case.
but the facts of law to the u men
with whom rested the fate Of John
Burke. Fairly and impartially, Judge
Wilson COPIED with the situation as
the duty which developed upon him
after listening to trial which had
lasted since November 4 Neither At
torney General Sturgis nor v. r.
Pattangall. leading counsel for the
State and Defense were present Sat
urdav forenoon. After dwelling upon
the points of law he instructed the
Jurors that a man charged with Of
Tense is supposed To be innocent un-
til the jury is satisfied beyond reason
able doubt that he is not Al matters
dependent upon human testimony are
possible to some doubt lie spoke es-
peciallv upon the matter Of rcasona-
bic doubt as d substantial doubt 10
he sustained BY tha reasonable weigh
ing of testimony as 10 the guilt OF
the accused. such doubt as You
can give a reason Tor and intelligent
lv discuss it The Judge then touch
ed upon the varying signs OF evi-
denee with reference to circumstan-
tial evidence and defined the Law OF
circumstantial evidence. The State Is
not obliged to satisfy the jury as to
what the motives were. adding al
most do you never find a motive for
crime that reasonable men would
consider adequate" said the justice,
in discussing the question of ade-
quate motives.
THE Indictment charges the re-
spondent with the crime of murder
said Judge Wilson. and he then de-
/ fined the law relative to murder and
its various elements which he ex-
planned fully.
Not All Killing Unlawful
The presiding justice then ex-
plianed that all killing Of human be-
ings was not unlawful as it was law
full to take life. first in places where
capital punishment exists and second
the taking of life in war. He then
explained the difference between muir
der and manslaughter, the former be-
ing where malice of a forethought was
either expressed or implied as evil
dence by preparation and the latter
killing without deliberation suddenly
in a heat of passion. Judge Wilson
explained the difference in these two
crimes very carefully. Since 1t IS
possible said the justice, that a
conviction of manslaughter might be
returned in this case He directed
the Jurors how to weigh the evidence
including that of the accused and the
relatives. saying ait is only right
that their testimony should be given
careful consideration
Judge Wilson did not analy2e all OF
the testimony in the case but attend
ed we'll To his duties Of assisting the
| jurors. as far as lay in his power, re-
lating the main facts that were in dis
pute and the issue. There are Sey-
eral outstanding features in the evil
denee which has been presented"
said the Judge. He then mentioned
briefly the states evidence relating
how the relations were strained be-