Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-03
raunty Attorney Confident
win Convict Him if He
Elects to Plead Not Guilty
Grand Jury Expected to Find
True Indictment Today
Former Attorney General
Shaw May Be Counsel

Although persistent rumors are in
.,,.ulation purporting to come from
.,os. who are in position to know.
~ Harry A. Kirby will plead gull
~ vhsn arraigned before the Sep
s.rhsr term Of the superior court for
4. murder Of Aida Haywood in Win
.sroD last May. or that he will plead
Not guilty." 1t has been learned on
sood authority that Kirby is appar-
.utIy undecided as to his course. He
q. maintained in a half-hearted way
at he willaight the case, according
Il the informant. but from his appear
.nca and general attitude it is prob
l.matcal whether he will do so.
NJ course, as yet, Kirby is not Off
.asilv charged with the murder, as the
md Jury is still sitting, and until
SsSsv arise. which will probably be late
M afternoon, there is always a
/ shsnes. although in this case very
vsmote one. that he will not come to
rial County Attorney Frank Z.
ssnmthard. who is familiar with every
srrI. 81 the case, is apparently very
eonfdent that Kirby will be indicted
IA that he will be given life term
q Thomaston, whether he pleads gull
Y /, ~ not. 1t is understood that last
luna when Kirby had decided to give
m his newspaper" confession he so
;rfermed the county attorney, who
IA him that 1t made absolutely no
s,ference whether he confessed or not
/. I. there was an abundance of evidence
sb.t would surely lead to conviction.
II Kirby fights the case it Will
mean 4 trial of considerable length
and 4 great additional expense to
ia county. He has apparently made
q move toward securing counsel.
: md Il il thought that this is due TO
ths fact that he is practically PEN
riless Ransford w. Shaw, former
attorney general, has been secured to
act az his counsel, according to re-
mort, but advice received by this OIL
acs last night was to the effect that
unless action along that line had
been taken within a very few hours.
and that by wire, no definite move in
fiat direction had been made. 1t
was thought very probable. however.
\ that II the court We're called upon TO
provide counsel for Kirby, the for
fler attorney general would be the
man called upon to protect the
rights Of the respondent.
Interest Is steadily increasing in
this case as the time approaches for
final disposition. The September
term Of the Kennebec county SUPER
iur court was opened Tuesday morn
ING by Judge William H. Fisher.
The civil cases which will be heard
before the criminal matters are taken
up we're assigned at that time anG
this morning the traverse jurors will
report and the first case will be in
order.
Il ID customary to call the criminal
docket and assign the cases for trial
as soon as some idea Of the length OK
the civil trial list can be had. The
calling of this docket will probably
Ake place the last of this week or
lne hrst Of next. At that time the
iespondents make their plea, and
men Il will become evident whether
- any SdSe Will DC a TOutluc iIldt-
Nr Of pronouncing sentence, or a
sensational murder trial with it's
hosts Of witnesses, it's array of legal
Menf and experts, and its multitude
newspapermen.
y Harry Kirby decides to plead
nol guilty" an approximate date for
me nearing of the case will be set.
Ah impossible to predict at this time
Mhen that would be as it is not
ssOwn whether Judge William II.
snner would set the case for. hear
s oeiore the other criminal matters
~ laken care of, or if he would mold
~ VA OF Kirby and Manner B.
scraiian, of Waterville, charged
wna ss5 murder of fellow Syrian,
s.sl tile cases of less importance
rsse peen disposed of. 1t seems
GoOaDie' however, that the two muir
NJ u,als will be taken up after all
",sI business has been completed.
ans Grand Jury at the Kennebec
TSun.y superior court was kept busy
suay listening to the evidence
Wontinued on Pace -CoI. ~