The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-21
BANKER BILLINGS'S CASE.
ms LAWYERs BEGINNING TO SNOW
THEIR LINE or Defence.
The Lead that was Taken from Mrs.. Bu-
Hinge. Head Given 90 an Expert-The
Events OF the Night OF the Murder HetoId.

BALJsToN, Sept. 20.-lhe morning was
sultry. beiokcning hot day In the court room.
The accused banker sauntercd in without his
chip hat and seated himself near Capt. Butler.
His hair was awry. and this was the only change
in his looks. There were many vacant seats in
tho court room but the fair sex wns we'll repre-
scented. Mrs. Curtis was present. fresh and
smiling. Isaac +. Potter. the ncwly graduated
civil engineer took his station before his large
map spread on the wall lie bore n long wand
in his hand, and tapped the map rs student
might in setting forth Il problem in geometry.
He was exposed to n fiery REORGANIZATION on
tho preyious evening and had been closely ques-
toned concerning Mr.. DillinGs's course while
sailing his cattle on the evening OF the murder.
Hc said that IT was possible. but NOT probable.
that Mr. Billings might have taken the direction
named. across n certain lot at the back of the
farm. II he did take 1t. as alleged. he wont
through morsss md over number Of trees
that had been blown 10 tho ground by the gale.
There was n culyert along the river south of
Billings's house The river Ia damned below.
and Champlain canal boats cross II. The tow
path runs along the highway that passes the
door al Mr.. Biings's house.
Mr.. Moak questioned the surveyor closely
concerning the culvert Persons who row
across tho river tie their boats under this cul-
vert for the purpose Of getting them out OF tho
crosses the culvert by a raised bridge and the
culvcrt itself is the sluceway for n small pond
on the other side Of the road. The witness
swore that when he first visited the cuvert the
water was 80 high that It flooded the tow path.
and he doubted whether a boat could lie under
the culvert. In other visits he boats there.
He thought that you could look into the culvert
from the highway
Mr.. Moak put the witness through a course of
II -. a 4
Angles. but by referring to his books the
graduate stood it very VOL. When the astute
lawyer had entanrled and confused him on
some minor point Judge Lnndon. in a few apt
ly chosen words. straightened things. and give
on firm ground Both defence and prosecution
seemed elated at the results Of the cross-exam-
nation.
John Terhune, a painter. employed by Mr..
Billings since the spring of 1877. took the
stand. He was painting new house. two doors
north of the store. on the day of the murder. He
toCCk supper with Mr., Billings that night, Mr..
sitting room. Mr.. Terhune sat at the table a
minute longer and then went out the hack ass
new building he was painting and started back
some cans Of paint from the Mricalf once to a
ing tho kitchen door he saw Mr.. Bill going
went tDn mo p S%a enc e o. locked e oS two
take over to the shed. he was in the Metc9lf
east door while there. on coming out with the
cans. he saw Mr. Billings crossing his garden
saw him got over the fence short way back Of
the woodhouse. or Meicalf once. but did not
When the % Shot was ' fred Mr. Terhune stood
or the stoop 81 the Union store. This is not
the opposite SIDE 81 the street h paid no at
tention 70 the shot until he heard women
house and saw Jennie under an Elm in front ~
the house. She said that she had seen man in
light clothes run out q the, yard, across the
siterward heard her say that the man had ona
black slouch h9'; Not lons silerwaard Mr; Ter,
bullet was sent. Around the hole il WIS con.
sideraty smuttcd. There were large drops OF
water on the pane. Those drops were black.
He saw some on the stile between the two pGnes
and nut his finger on one. 1t leit black mark
more than the other. There were only two
Mr. Terhune slept with Mr.. Billings that
night in his bedroom opening into the sitting
room whore Mrs. Billings sat " len she was
Killed. The witness assisted in taking the body
from the rocking chair. They pia"ed i on the
lounge He went 10 .Mr. 7 Ilng~s bedroom AZ
about lo'5 o'clock. Mr.. lnss had ,iakrn III
the bed with his face - the wall H. was rest
less. and went frequently during The piGnt.
sir. TerGune .thinEs that Mr.. Billings did not
sleep that night. He was very restless As
the witness WAS volunteering further lnlorma-
ton be was cherk.d by tho court. He swore
"a
wagon going north that evening al about
O'Clock, ........, A. ...,.
snd searching examination. Mr.. Bill
lings husled himself by running the point of
small penknife along the interstices Of his law
The witness Acknowledged that he had no
means Of determining the"Nact nm" ne saw Mr..
he went 10 ihe Nj MI ofl for tie ralnt' Tie
cans wore N sheli ami one on lhs il2or ., He
partly facing the window Though which Mrs.
Billings was shot 10 bee uniustenel.. II was
through tie Side Of to door Over he ilamb.
Mr.. T-rhunc was quest oned concerning tho
time taken after supper. II Thought i t1oN him
back. II was then that be- saw Mr.. Billings 40
ing Up ne iane. He spent aosou, IN minutes in
the garden. i took him about thre" minutes 10
20 10 the shed with the ,raini and thenco TO the
The shot was heard. T$e witness Tccoen ed
he was opposite, Mr.. Blilines's store. Shs
Wins ST as' Ia It. 'a a to 'aa s po I@ as
soon ne ne heard Jennie baythnt she saw man
run behind II. Their was stone heap near
the porhern End ~ the timber. He won't over
the heap ami ran half way around tho pile. and
was hidden there, he hnse.i was not safe So
be ran sroTnd ,hr rie epd EIi ,2k TO ,he
on rubber cots when ho saw him going
up the hil. 1t was the fret lime he had ever
seen him wearing such boots Belor" Nr;
Billings went INTO his bedroom he WIS assisted
to his feet 10y Isaac Washburn and another gen
teman; He had been lying on The Moor NJ tho
feet OF his dead wife. They conducted him 10
his room. Mr.. Terhunc went IN an hour later.
Before that he had been summoned ON the
Coronor's jury and sworn in. On the next day
heard part of Mr.. Blllngss testimony before
the Coroner. hut not the part of It that told Of
his making the tracks in the cornfrid. He
heard that Mr. bNlnss admitted thai had
m al IN. hill and crossing flp