The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-19

!, has two windows fronting Maple street
We had light burning-leave it burn
p ing after we go to bed heard a noise
e at about 4 O'Clock, at the side piaZZq
s door. The next thing heard was stones
z striking the house; my windows were
b shut and there are no blinds on them
d l next heard stones coming through the
= window down stairs under my room.
g | got up and looked out of the north
window, but did not raise it. / saw my
father coming out of the front door, and
James GunshaunOn was in the yard and
John Keenan, was sitting on the grass
across the way Burns yard). James
walked down the walk toward the street
and my father after him, and overlook
him in the middle of the road My
father took hold of him and James Gun
shannon turned around and l heard
him say Now is your time |" These
p were all the words heard. John Keen
an walked along on the road toward
/, Gage street, when father came out and
, l lost sight of him; hat IS, could not
see him (Keenan) when father took hold
of him (James GunshannOn). My father
took hold of Jim Gunshannon in the
middle Of the street they took hold of
each other and went toward Burns side
walk. They both went nearly down and
Jim went clear down. Father had hold
of Jlm's arm, as could see his hands
THIS scuflie was done very quickly; my
father was shaking hun and | did not
see my father strike Jim, ] went
back and blew out the light, and when
went my father was standing up.
When | returned to the window my
father was bending over James Gun.
shannon, and had hold of him, shaking
him, taking him by the arm. While
my father was STOPPING oyer jim, | saw
Keenan, come from toward Gage Street
up to my father-coming up to him
partially from behind and partially at
his side-when Keenan, got up to my
father Keenan, raised his crutch up over
his head and struck my father two or
three times, raising his crutch as high
as his head He had hold of the crutch
near the shoulder end in the right hand
lie struck him over the back and on his
head--l think two or thee blows on the
head-then my father fell. The blows
on the head were struck quick. When
my father fell, Jim got up and walked a
few PAGES away Keenan, ran out toward
Gage street until hid by the bushes from
our sight. Miss Gunshannon is not well
and was laboring under great excite
ment, but she saw her father killed by
Keenan,, and is .corroborlted, as will be
seen, by all who were near. When she
and her mother came out of the house
Condor was standing beside the body.
Keenan, came up from toward Gage
street,sald: 81 did not touch him." and
passed along, probably home, as he was
arrested in home shortly afterward.
There was more or less talk as the quar-
rel progressed, but Miss Gunshannon
recalls but little of it.
The hearing WAS resumed this morn.
ing and evidence taken corroborative of |
the circumstances attending the murder, |
the position of the body, who was there |
etc, the details of which are contained |
in the statements above.
Upon the coming in of Court this
afternoon, James Condor was arraign-
ed and charged with the murder of j ohm
GunshannOn; plea of not guilty was
entered. W. b. Sheldon appeared for
Condor. Also the same charge against
James Gunshannon, Jr., plea of not
guilty entered.
State VS. Keenan,, Gunshannon, and
Condor.
Mrs. Annie Slocum testified that she
lives in the house next South of John
Gunshannon, that she was awakened
about o'clock on the morning of July
10, by loud talking in the street, that
she arose. went to the window, saw
Keenan, and heard him say to someone
Come away, for when the son of a
bitch wakes up he will lay you OUT"
that she dressed and went out doors and
was the first to reach the body of John
Gunshannon, except the wife and daugh-
ter of John. That she saw John Keen
an, James Gunshannon and James Con-
don standing near the body of John
Gunshannon.
Mrs, John Gunshannon testified that
John Keenan,, James Gunshannon and
James Condor neither helped or offered
to assist her in the care of her husband
James Gunshannon, brother of the de-
ceased, testified that he was called about
A O'Clock Monday morning. went to
my brothers and assisted in removing
the body to the house. | saw James
Gunshannon, Jr., John Keenan,, and
James Condor, near the body. | went
with the Sheriff to arrest the re5pon-
dents. Keenan, did not seem to be in
toxicated. said to his family, my
brother was dead. Keenan, replied: is
he dead? You might as well kill me-"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Gunshannon's
testimony the State rested. ;
The evening was occupied with argu
menls in the case Of Condor, represent
ed by Counsellor Sheldon. States At
lorney Bates opened the argument and b
stated the evidence. Mr. Sheldon re-
pied at length and the closing wa made
by y. Nj. Barber. who should be compli
mented on his splendid plea in which he
scored several points against his older
brother.
The Court decided that the respln- [
dents should be held for appearance
before the Grand Jury. of which 1t is ,
probable there will be a special session !
at the December term of 1888.
THE COURTS DECISION.
Judge Darling in summing up, stated |
that this being IA court of inquiry, two {
courses remained, one was to acuult and ,
the other to commit to await the action
Of the County Court. The evidence {
showed that these three respondents !
were on the ground in front Of John =
house at about three
o'clock a. m. In my opinion, the malice l.
OF the affair began at the time of the !,
throwing OF the stones. The throwing !
of these stones, weighing from y pound !
to pound, through the windows, upon =
the roof and piazzLs of a house contain
ing the murdered man with his family
Of nine little children at an hour of the !
mig ut when he had right to be un q
in his rest from the labors of u
the day. is in itself an offence calling i
Tor the strongest condemnation of the Q
INV. And when he comes out in the .
protection of his house and family, o
be comes purely in self.defense. And Il
further, when in that self. defense he Is Y
set upon by these respondents with I
weapons sufficiently deadly to deal two =
fatal blows within three minutes, and y
within that time all three respondents =
appear upon the scene. nothing would y
Justify Inc in separating or dlscharging =
either or dealing otherwise than by .
passing them up to await the action Of y y
he Grand Jury. a a
Pears Soap secures fine complexion. (
Village Fathers,
An adjourned meeting was held at a