Pawtucket Tribune

"Freed," Says his Lawyer.

NEW EVIDENCE OBTAINED

July 15 Fixed as the Date For Filing Exceptions For Another Trial.

It now looks favorable for Lawrence C. Keegan to have a new trial.

Within five days of the completion of the famous trial last winter counsel for the defence gave notice that it should file what in legal phraseology is a "statement of the evidence;" that is to say, a type-written copy of the testimony taken during the trial.

This step was the first toward securing a new trial for the convicted murderer.

The law demanded that a statement of the evidence must be filed on or before July 15 if the defence desired a new trial. The time limit expires in two weeks, and it can now be stated positively that the initial legal requirement will be accomplished by that time.

Edwin C. Pierce, one of Keegan's counsel, was interviewed yesterday by a reporter and he learned some facts new and of general interest. In the first place, if such a thing is possible, Lawrence C. Keegan will again be tried for the murder of Emily Chambers. No stones will be left unturned in the attempt by his counsel to attain this end. Lawyer Pierce is of the opinion that the man now making shoes in the Cranston prison will eventually be liberated by due legal process.

"Mark my words, young man," said Mr. Pierce to the reporter, "Keegan will never be sentenced by the courts of the State. The man is no more guilty of the crime of which the government has convicted him than I am. I thoroughly believe in his innocence, and I'm going to vindicate him unless something unforeseen happens."

"How do you expect to accomplish this?" inquired the reporter.

"By new evidence. We have it: we have some of the most important evidence imaginable—evidence that it was impossible to secure before the last trial. This evidence of which I speak is not in the air. I have the affidavits of several new witnesses in my desk now, and it is with these newly discovered witnesses that I expect to prove, and I thoroughly believe as a professional man that I can do so, the innocence of that poor, unfortunate man, Keegan."

"What is the nature of the new evidence?" "Oh, I couldn't tell you that. It wouldn't do to disclose my case now, but it will all come out in due time. When it does, the people who now believe in Keegan's guilt will be simply amazed, and the feeling against the man will undergo a great change."

On the 15th of the month, according to his attorney, the statement of evidence will be filed in the court. The next legal step to be taken is the petition for a new trial, which Lawyer Pierce will make within 15 days after the statement is filed. Then comes the hearing on the petition which will occur in the Appellate division of the Supreme Court, not earlier, Mr. Pierce says, than the 1st of October. At this time the alleged important new evidence will be ventilated, and, if it is of sufficient importance to warrant a second trial, of course the petition will be granted.

In the meantime interest in the celebrated murder case will very likely be revived, and the country cousins of Scituate may be excused if they neglect now and then to perform their usual vocations of cow milking and hay gathering in order to listen with open-mouthed wonder to the recital of the details by the village oracles at the village grocery store, that centre of gossip and news and life.