Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-04
CHAPMAN TRIAL
Continued from Page One)

send you to your beds" he said. as
that agreeable to you?"
Samuel s. Chamberlain, Hartford
merchant, who had been elected fore
man, replied that it was, and the order
was issued.
No intimation of the juryroom pro-
ceedingS was obtained, with the eX-
ception of the clues furnished by the
Jury's two-time appearance for In
structions. In each case they sought
additional light on tke aibili phase of
the case. Chief Defense Attorney
Frederick ]. Groehl said he saw in
the long deliheration a good omen for
his client. The state prosecutor, Hugh
Nj. AlCorn. made no comment.
Chapman awaited his doom in the
courthouse basement seemingly COM
posed. But he was by no means in
different to his fate, for on one oc-
casion when q bell near him rang,
as signal that the jury was about
TO enter court he started violently
and a flush spread over his face.
Up to 12.59 o'clock when the pic
turcsque prisoners case was given
to the jury it was n day of vivid Or
atory in which Chief Defense Coun-
sci Frederick j. Groehl and States
Attorney Hugh NJ. Alcorn made their
oilnal pleas to the jury. the one for
acquittal and the other for a first
degree murder conviction.
Groehl centered his attack on
Shean who he characterized a weak
ling" This angel. Shean,' "Piker."
"Lobbygow." Rascal and associate
of crooks. He cautioned the jury to
withstand a possible appeal by AL
corn, who was to have the last word,
to vote to hang because Chapman
was known dangerous criminal. He
reminded the jurors that freedom for
Chapman in the Connecticut courts
merely meant that the spectacular
mail looter would return to a federal
prison to spend the rest of his %
year term.
Let him live TO repent" was his
eloquent conclusion, for he is vir-
tually a dead man as he is. He will
die in prison. lie is not strong phys
ically. and cannot live long"
Groehls closing plea was an open
ing for Prosecutor Alcorns summary
He construed the plea that Chapman
be "let live to repent as virtual
confession of guilt" Speaking in a
high voice that at times threatened
to crack under his seeming emotion,
the states attorney dashed out at
Chapman. characteriZing his as a
panther "a criminal who pillages
and murders UP and down the land
and as man who with his crook
friends had established "a crime
center in the heart of one of our New
England hamlets. within ten miles Of
1ladley, Mass, house purchased by
the humble home of our president
This was in reference to the South
Chapman as a Bookkeeping rendez-
vous. South Hadley is about ten
miles from Northampton.
Groehl, the state attorney told the
jury, had made two bids for dis
agreement" This was his chief
hope, he asserted. and this hope was
a sman one. indeed. lie resented
rather bitterly the defense attorneys
limitations that the prosecution Of
Cha pman was due to the state attor-
ney's desire to get q big man, to
satisfy his ambition.
Judge Jennings over-rued defense
motions to withdraw the case from
the jury because of some of Alcorn' s
statements in summation, statements
considered prejudicial to the prison.
ers legal rights. Then Judge Jen-
nings presented his charge to the
jury, an imposing figure as he stood
in his black robes and read his an
alySis of the case as it stood on the
records