Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-27
VERDICT GUILTY
Returned by Jury in
Bellows Case

~ =
Bellows Of WinsIow, indicted for
Rape - Judge Heane Will Pass
Sentence Today - Divorces Today
and Friday
Guilty" was the verdict returned
In the case Of State vs.. James E. Bel
lows Of Winslow. indicted for rape on
Elsie A. Haroison at winslow on June
20. 1913. The jury was just so min
utes in reaching its decision at the
wednesday afternoon session of the
kennebec superior court. bringing to a
close one OF the longest criminal trials
that has been heard in this county for
some time. The case was opened last
Friday afternoon.
AS 1t was near the time OF adjourn-
ment when the jury announced its YER
dict, Judge Beane deferred the mat
ter OF the sentence Of Bellows until
the opening Of court this morning.
For the first time during the hear
ing or the case all the witnesses, both
for the State and for the defense, were
allowed in the courtroom yesterday
afternoon when the counsel's argu-
gave the charge to the jury. The case
was ably argued by Attorney Ellsworth
e. Peacock of Waterville for the re-
spondent and County Attorney Walter
NJ. Sanborn of Augusta for the State,
both Of whom called attention to the
seriousness of the charges.
Among the matters that Judge Beane
called to the attention of the jury in
his charge was the fact that in the
trial Of criminal cases the jury has
no right to consider the punishment
that might be melted out in any GRIM
inal case. that that burden rests en-
tirely with the court. He gave the
rules for the weighing of evidence,
pointing out the difference between
positive and negative testimony in any
case. He pointed out that it is not
necessary that the State prove that
the date alleged was the actual time
of the alleged crime, but otherwise
that the State to prove it's case must
prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
He spoke of the gravity of the crime
of rape. characterizing it as one of
the most brutal crimes that can be
committed by any person. He reviewed
the testimony and told the jurors
that from the. testimony that was
given on the witness stand they were
TO draw their conclusions in the mat
ter.
This was the last criminal case for
trial at this term of the court. A
number of criminal cases will come
up for sentence this morning and the
remainder Of today's session and the
Friday session will be devoted to the
hearing of divorce cases and other
court matters.
Testimony in the Bellows case was
continued at the opening of Wednes-
days session of the court.
Resuming her testimony at the open
ing of the days session, Miss Harriet
Simpson of Waterville, who was clerk
in the Office of Attorney A. H. Bridges,
testified on REORGANIZATION that the
group including Mr.. and Mrs Bellows
and the two Harrison girls came to
the Office late in the afternoon and re-
manned until about o'clock in the eve
ming. That was May 10. 1920. Neither
of the Harrison girls were crying
when they came to the Office. She had
taken none of the conversation in
shorthand, only the statements which
she afterwards typewrote. She thought
Elsie was crying before she left the
office.
She did not recall making the re-
marks 10 Mrs. Prentiss that she pitied
the girls, that it was one of the sad
dest of cases. She did not mention the
;,,1A ,ty- tal GoIn ut oN 10 Il
ma Harrison when she had told this
girl that she did not think the girl
would have to go there. The only time
she left the private office when she
typewrote the statements and answered
telephone calls. She assumed that it
was EIsies voluntary wish to change
her first statement which involved Mr..
Bellows. Elsie Harrison had said her
first statement was not true.
Mr.. Brown, a witness in the case,
had told her how to testify, Miss Simp-
son testified. but she had told him that
she should tell only the truth.
Attorney Bridges Testifies .
BY permission of the court, Attorney
A. II. Bridges. counsel in the case. tes-
titled. He told of the conversation at
his Office at the time the affidavits
were made by the Harrison girls. He
had been kind and courteous to the
girls and had told them to tell the
whole truth. Elsie had made her first
statement which involved Mr.. Bellows
This was typewritten and she took oath
to. Shortly afterwards voluntarily the
girl said she had not understood what
she had signed and she made another
statement and signed it to the effect
that Mr. Bellows never had improper
! relations with her. Edna Harrison then
, took oath to a similar statement.