Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-05-29


theirs, he was to pay me six cents
a bushel for threshing the oats /;
when l got through we called it
square, Offsetting my work with
board.
am not in the habit OF running
round after women ; had no bust
ness at Pier,nont did not go up on
business ; l went up visiting; the
l0ul talk | heard on the morning of
the 29nd of Jan. was after Emerson
and his wife had got up; on that
morning should Judge got up by
seven o'clock rs u general thing
John went to tho barn before
breakfast think he did not go to
the barn Friday morning before
breakfast ; don't think John shov-
eled u path out from the back door.
did not see him the back door was
open that morning when John
aud l went out together about y o.
clock, Mrs. Emerson was sitting ny
the stove when John came in at
the back door that morning l sup
pose he shut the door after we
went Outi,ogether John stood with
me by the wood pile few minutes
and then said he guessed he would
go to the barn it was u half hour
or more after we went out that l
saw something going m the north
side OF JhA house, from the 10Y
where | was chopping l could see a
part of the north side of the house /;
when l heard the gun l didn't
think John WAS Mt the barn I; have
no recollection of saying John was
at the barn to any one; said to
several that John said when he left
me at the wood pile that he was go
ing to the barn when l went into
the honse the gun lay upon the
floor, the muzzle pointing towards
the body the blood was flowing up !;
felt as bad as any body when l saw
Mrs. Emerson with her head shot
of ;; can not tell whether John had
his mittens on when he came out OF
the house after the discharge; at
the first | thought and said it was
suicide. afterwards come to the
conclusion that suicide would Lave
been impossible before l was AZ
rested l heard some talk Of lynching
me don't think the cattle were WA
tered; did not see them watered
that morning.
DR.. THttle recalled by tho defence;
Blood would continue to squirt
some minutes after PERSONS head
was blown off; the time would vary
in different cases.
The defence here rested.
Miss Emma Merrill was recalled
by the counsel for the State, and
stated that Mr.. Sawyer left her sis.
ter's the Thursday afternoon after
coming to Piermont.
Josiah Merrill, Jenness Emerson
and Henry II. Palmer were next call,
ed by the counsel for the State and
testified as to the identity of Emer-
sons clothing worn on the day of
the murder; the evidence on both
sides beng now in, the case was
closed and the court adjourned until
to morrow morning at half past
eight when the closing arguments
will cOm,neace. .''
Sixth Day.
PLYMOUTH, May 22nd.
The court came in at half past
eight o'clock this morning, and Col. |
George commenced his argument in |
behalf of the prisoner; he congratu-
lated the Jury upon the rapid prog
ress and. speedy completion of the
trial he suggested that for the first |
time in tue history of murder trials
in New Hampshire a trial hal been
commenced, IA view had, the evil
'lence put in, the arguments made
aud the trial completed within the
brief space of one week. lie claim.
ed that for the first time in New
Hampshire at least, IA jury was ask
ed to convict II man on trial for his
life, without the slightest evidence,
or even suggestion by the able
counsel for the State, of any proba-
BILE or even possible motive for com
the terrible crime with
which he is charged. For three
an able counsel with a pre-
FessiOnal detective upon the track of
The prisoner had been unable to
show even a murder by any body, or
present any evidence impeaching
,heego0d name and character of the
Kind old man charged before them
with terrible murder~ The evil
lence and every circumstance con.
lected with this sad affair is capable
If explanation in the view of acct
lental homicide, and there was no
Col. George next proceed
ID to review and careful analy sis
It the evidence. At the conclusion
# Col. Georges argument which oc-
upied three hours and a half, court
djonrned to half past one.
On re-asSembling Attorney Gen.
raj Clark proceeded to argue the
ase!in behalf Of thu State, He dis
ussed the circumstances of the ter
lille tragedy in mastery manner I
nd summed up the evidence with d
hat fairness and powerful logic {
'hich are characteristic of the man.
IL occupied about two hours and q |
alf and at the conclusion, Chief $
Justice Gushing delivered the t
barge to the jury with characters l
ic clearness and brevity. at 4.3O l
he case was given to the Jury. 1t /