Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-06
THE pIrrsFiELD MURDER TRIAL.
Examination of the Witnesses for the
Defence-The Prisoner on the
stand.

CONCORD, n. H., MAY 5.
In the Pittsfleld murder trial this after
noon tine defence continued the introduction
of evidence
Harold L. Mason, the prisoner, took the
stand, and testified: He had been friendly
with Tilton, and went to the house often. He
first thought to get pistol two weeks before
the shooting He had not had one before
then for two years. He gave detailed ac-
count of his endeavors to obtain a pistol un-
til he purchased the one the day before the
shooting which he used on Tilton. The day
before the shooting he saw his sister at his
brothers, when she showed him a bruise on
the side of her head which was made by Til
ton. She told her brother that her husband
knocked her down and chased her out of the
house and threatened to kill her and again
knocked her down on a wood pile in the yard
and kicked her. She was then enceinte. 1t
was decided to have her leave her husband
early in the forenoon. She was afraid of
him.
The witness then detailed particularly the
calls made in the search for boarding
house for Ms. Tilton, her maid AMI child.
He went t. Til'ons the afternoon she left,
and salutations were exchanged pleasantly
with her husband, who returned TO see TiltOn
and talk.
The witness continued: Triton was in
the sink room. | said: Il suppose you know
by this time that Ida (his wife) has left you 2
He said, Yes, am glad the Cd d-nd -
has gone said, Let that 60 Rams. |
came over to talk about the matter He
stepped one foot back and then moved for
ward slightly, saying, You came over here
to talk with me, Cd d-n you? l will
make one more Mason less and started for
me saying, You've got to dis,' accompanying
the remark with a torrent of Oaths. thought
he meant what he said, and commenced to
back for the door, keeping my eye on him.
When he commenced to advance on me his
boy Frank ran out of the room and closed
the door | continued to retreat, and as
did so said in reply to his threat to kill me,
Rams don't you do it, When got near the
door as l thought, turned partly round to
see Titon seized me by the throat with his
left hand and pulled me against the wood
box. / had revolver in my coat pocket,
and pulled it and fired.
"Tilton said, 1T is no use you've got to die
all the same. He released his hold on my
throat he grabbed it again with his right
hand and tried to seize the revolver, the same
time pushing my head against the wall;
succeeded in working the revolver round and
then fred again His right hand dropped
from nv throat end he said, I'm shot. go for
the DOCTOR said / would if he would let
me. After the struggle laid the revolver
on the mantle and escaped through the door.
He tried to get into my carriage, but was too
weak, and asked me to go for the doctor. |
replied, L will as quick as God will let me,
and started for Mr.. Kinney and then for Drs.
Wheeler and Ladd; / deemed it necessary
for my own protection to use the revolver as
| thought he meant to kill me-"
The testimony created much excitement in
court Attorney General Tappan cross-ex.
amined Mason at some length, but ELECTED
nothing material.