Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-21

Portland, Feb. 20.-Mrs. Lottie
Freeman Cote was found not guilty Of
being an accessory in the murder of
her husband, Alphonse Cote, at their
farm in North Gorham. November 2
last, but jury here today. Charles
RI. Fielding, who pleaded guilty to the
murder charge, appeared as the States
chief witness in Mrs. Cote's trial.
The jury reported the verdict after
celebrating two hours and 10 min
utes. Mrs. Cote was placed on trial
Monday, February 1G. Fielding, who
was to have been placed on trial at the
same time, pleaded guilty. Ralph e.
Sanborn, 19-year-old son of Mrs. Cote
through another marriage. is under in
dictment charged with being an acces.
sorry after the fact
ripple Of applause from the 900
men and women in the courtroom
when' George Waterman of New Glou-
cester, foreman, announced the jury's
verdict was hushed by blow from
Judge Lauren NJ. Sanborn's gayel. The
ensuing hush was broken by the crash
of water tumbler on the desk OF
Hirry e. Nixon and Jacob H. Berman.
attorneys for the defense, who were
among the scores who wept. Tears
streamed down Mrs. Cote's face. a.n
Later she shook hands with each
juror. with the words Thank YOU to
each.
The jury took five ballots. All
showed an overwhelming majority for
acquittal, Foreman Waterman de-
clared.
Il am going back to my Gorham
farm with my children" declared Mrs.
Cote after her acquittal.
Il have been confident that I would
be freed ever since I was first taken
to Portland on November Is. I knew
that I was innocent. and I believed
that l could prove it here in this court
room. The presence of my friends
made me especially confident.
Il want to thank my attorneys.
and the newspapers" she concluded.
+ "A splendid verdict" exclaimed
her mother, Mrs. Nellie Camrbell OF
Portland.
"She is my daughter, my child
she added.
The bodyNof Cote was found bur-
I'd in shallow grave, which had
been plowed over, on the Cote farm,
eight days after he had oeen shot
through the head by Fielding, ac-
cording to his own confession. Au-
thorities, investigating the disap-
pearance of Cote, obtained the In
formation which led to the discov-
cry of the body from SanbOrn, they
stated.
According to alleged admissions In
the hands of the police, Sanborn
aided Fielding i'll disposing Of the
body after the crime had been COM
mitted.
Mrs. Cote on the stand in her oyn
behalf, asserted that whatever She
had done toward concealing the
crime was prompted by her desire
to protect her son, Ralph, since. she
alleged. Fielding had threatened to-
throw the entire blame on Ralph.
Her daughter Susie. and Ralph
and Mrs. Cote, all denied knowledge
of a conspiracy to kill Cote as al
legged by Fielding. Counsel for the
defense assailed Fielding's credtpu'
ity.
Fielding. a Portland plumber, '.has
a wife. and child. He Is "a years
old. Mrs Cote's age was given as
10. Prior to her marriage VII cote,
Mrs. Cote had been married TO WILL
liam Sanborn.
Sanborn disappeared in 1910 after
leaving home, according to Mrs.
Cote. to attend circus in Portland.
Fielding will be sentenced ton1or-
row. The crime Of murder automat-
ically carried a sentence of life i'm
prisonment in this state.
Ralph Barton Sanborn. SON Of
Mrs. Cote by her first husband, will
be placed on trial probably next
week, charged with being an acces-
sorry after the fact, according to
County Attorney Ralph NJ. ingalls,.