Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-12-21

| hon. THURMAN BROOKINS, , AsSlsttnt
Hon. ISAIAH L. STRONG, : Judges.
| Wednesday, December 2OM, 1871.-The
trial of John A. Ring, of Bristol, for the
murder of Noah @. Thompson at Bristol
April 10th, 1871, was commenced. Ira
W. Clark. States Attorney, and E. r.
Hard. for the State. Henry Ballard and
E. J. Phelps for respondent.
The following jury was duly empanel-
cd and sworn {:
James Gregory, Joseph Hooker, n. N.
Jones, @. Bronson, John Fl. sprs.gue, I. F.
Cotton. II. d. Rascom, Ira s. d oty, A. J.
Benedict, W. A. Warehouse, Alorxo
Boardmsn, o. Lapham.
The case was opened by States Attorney
Clark for the people, follow ed by the
statement of the attorney for respondent,
Mr.. Ballard, claiming justifabls homi-
eide.
The Court ordered the witnesses for
prosecution to retire after the oath was
administered.
Resides at Bristol; was present when
Noah Thompson was killed on Sat urday
between and 8 in the evening OF April
10Th. passed up street heard loud talk
ing and judged there might be a fight
from the noise stood upon the hot,sl steps
but walked towards the drug store, and
saw Ring and Lewis the hostler they
were quarrelinR about wagon Ring
threw Lewis down and put out his light !;
Mr.. ThompsoR GAME up about that time
aud said any enc must be fool
a fool to be drag .ged around ia that style,
and finally tura ed to Ring and said "per-
haps you woub like to drag me around"
Thompson wss "twitting" Ring and GALL
ing him a GOV ard. while this was going
on they thea olenched and fell, and in
short time were struggling it was evil
dent that there was a knifa in the hands
OF Ring. and witness heard noise which
led him and another person to 90 nearer,
and they then saw blood, aud immediate
" gr asped the man Thompson, who said,
"He is not cutting me new, I have got
hi- knife" but we separated them and
'onk Taompsou to the steps where he
gaspad and was dead. I examined the
wound and saw the blood gushing out
from his neck. Thompson was the larger
man of the two Thompson weighed 165
pouads.
Cross ESamsnation Thompson claim
ed TO bs a very strong, small hand and
foot hut all bone and sinew.
The night was cloudy and dark. A
horse and wagon were staucfug near the
drug store, twenty feet from where the
altercstion was going on. Thompson
'a'ked rather rough. and Ring said he
could handle any of the crowd Thomp-
son aid you had better try me- on Noah
stepped toward John and Jobn said keep
away from me l don't want anything to
do with you; ;" Ring said 80 three or four
times; don't want any thing to do with
you. Ring started back toward bis
wagon and Thompson followed him near-
ly TO where the wagon stosd-witbin
about twelve feet; Thompson said 81
know 10" hava got wAarnus and sf you |
will put them away I'll knocs-out of
you. Saw no knife till after they were
on the ground. They clencihed at the
same moment and soon fell. CANT tell
how they fell, but in the end Ring was
on top; Thompson called Ring all sorts
of names and kept walking towards him,
tnunting him with cowardics, etc, and |
challenged him to go to spot nearer the
main road this was before the elench.
When John was taken off, Thompson was
taken to the steps of the drug store and
died Immediately.
Michael Callahan was next examined
resides In Bristol; was present at time
of homicide; heard n ose as I was going
to the store, and went towards the noise,
when Ring said can whip any SON OF
in the crowd; Thompson came for
ward and said, perhaps 20 NIL like to try
me Ring turned as If be was taking
from his pocket, and by the
light of q lamp in the sto re window
which was beyond Ring, saw the glim-
4
Thompson not to go near him,
he said she is a coward, etc., bat if he
will put away his weapons I'll whip hin"
They clenohed aud fell. and rushed to-
wards them because l though l saw the
blood ; the men were both very furious
In a moment sliced ONE of them and we
separated them and took Thompson to ,
the steps; this was near Rings team, and 1
Ring said if you come to this spot I'll put I
4 hole through you; this was within two c
leet of the wagon. but after clenohing
hey fell about six feet from where Ring f
irst stood Ring was the largest man. G
Cross Erdn1Red. -Tbompson was call T
ID fighting man. although I shouldn't {
rave considered him 80 from his appear I
'noe. Ring told Thompson to keep away {
rom him three or four times and walked \
owsrds his wagon. The frat time they -
net, it was more than rod, but Thomp-
on got pesrer; Thompson struck Ring
nd knocked him on bis knees, and then
hey clenohed Ring wss under first, but II
fter a struggle Ring got on top; asked P
HON pson If Ring wssn't cutting him and 81
g said mot now, as have got the knife" nj
John Msnsfeld testifisd-Now resides
q Vergennes; lived in Bristol when the
omioide occurred. The first I heard of OF
be quarrel, Thompson came towards ~ ~
.ing, who was talking with another man. u
nd said, "Perhaps you would like to pick IL
'e mp After further words Ring struck OF
thompson and then Thompson knocked n'
ing upon his knees, when they got to- 80
sther in some way, aud after a soufie -.
'mebody sung out. ale is knitting him" "
sliced Ring and helped to pull him off. y"
i'd asked Thompson if he had got cut,
ha 10