Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-18
Cote Murder Trial
Continued from PAGE One

Mrs. Cote shook her head at this
accusation.
mo, no, no." her lips whispered to
her attorney. who sat beside her. 1t
was the only sign she had displayed
during the trial.
she offered home as long as |
wanted, for my wife, for my family
and for myself. She offered to buy
me a nice car and said we would
have a nice time together" Fielding
continued.
she offered to build me a nice cot
tage on any lake | wished. She spoke
about these things many times be-
fore and after l killed Alphonse
Cote"
why did you plead guilty?" asked
Attorney General Fellows.
Because I am guilty. and the only
one who can help me Is my Lord"
the witness replied.
She Rugged and kissed me after
killed her husband" continued Field
ing. land said she was slad of it."
Referring to writing on a piece of
ruled white paper, an inch wide and
six inches long. offered by the state
as an exhibit. Fielding said that this
was a note handed to him in the
county Jail by another prisoner and
bearing Mrs. Cote's handwriting.
IF things come out all right. there
will be a good surprise awaiting you
later on" was scrawled on the paper.
Fielding. before this note was intro
duced. had identified a sheet of paper
on which were printed many symbols.
He said that this was code used by
him and by Mrs. Cote in their secret
correspondence with each other often
ir the presence of his wife.
DIR. Forrest C. Tyson, superinten-
dent of the Augusta state hospital.
was present as witness for the de-
fence. Whether DR.. Tyson, who is
known as an expert in mental di
orders, is to make observations and
testify as to the rental capabilities
of Fielding was not known. His ap-
pearance as q witness was uneXpect-
ed.
Edgar ]. Burnham of North Cor
ham testified that he viewed the
digging for the body of Cote on the
night OF Nov. Is in the cornfield of
the Cote farm. lie said he saw the
dead mans step-son. Ralph 3. San
born, who is awaiting tIial as an al
legged accessory after the fact, point
to the spot where the body was buri-
ed. He also saw the body lifted from
the grave, and identified it as that
OF Cote.
Deputy Sheriff Eugene f. Norton
testified that Mrs. Cote had admit
ted she had not notified her hus-
bands mother, who lives in Bidde-
ford, that he had disappeared.
Assistant County Attorney Franz
U. Burkett testified to statements
made by Mrs. Cote about the disap-
pearance of her first husband, Will
liam 3. Sanborn, in 1910. from whom
she later obtained a divorce on de-
sertion grounds.
Assistant County Attorney Burkett
testified that Ralph Sanborn. 10 year
old son Of the accused woman. point
ed out the place of burial about three
feet from the spot where Cote's body
was eXhumed. He said a gun and
some sticks which apparently had
been used to carry the body were
found in the shallow grave.
Physicians testified that the bullet
entered the back of Cotes head, with
the point of exit through the left eye.
and that he had been dead about
week. Henry Cote, who had been
with Eugene Cote, testified for the
state, told Of a quarrel between their
brother and Fielding. On cross-ex-
animation. he admitted that. as far
as he knew, there was harmony and
affection in the lives of Mrs. Cote
and her husband