The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-13

the depot, but were still on the platform.
When he struck me he did not say
anything, but asked Mr.. HOuran: IF
he wanted anything of him2' Hoursn
said; mo, | havn't said anything"
Mccarthy said: HE was good mind
to slap him (Houran) about the face"
Then we started towards the Centen-
pial House. Miss Norton, Mccarthy
and Chaplin was disputing about some
thing, and Houran said: 1--WE will go
back and see what is the matter" and
we went back. We did not get quite to
them for Mcclure met us about half
way, and jumped right up and struck
Mr.. Houran in the chest with both fists.
This was on the platform near the south
window of the ladies' waiting room.
Mr., Houran ran towards the Centennial
House into the road. l did not hear
Mcclure say anything when he struck
Houran. After Houran ran Mcclure
came and tried to keep me from follow
ing Houran. He had his hands up in
front of me TO keep me from passing,
and | think he put his hand on me.
am not sure of this. He spoke some,
thing but cannot say what he said.
Mcclure did not at this time make any
indecent or insulting remarks to me
personally or at any other time during
this occurrance, other than as |
have stated. Mcclure did no. put his
hand upon me during the time. Mr..
Houran came back to me, and Just as
Houran got his foot upon the platform
Mcclure left me and. went for Houran.
Mr.. Houran went backwards little
way and Mcclure jumped after him,
jumping off the platform Il am pretty
sure). then Mr.. Houran fired the re-
volver. At the time Houran fired Nc
CURE was within about one and one
half yards of him (Houran). l thought
Houran fired towards Mcclure. Nc
CURE might have said something but
If he did | did not notice it. l don't
know whether Houran sail anything to
Mcclure at the time, just before he
fired, or not. l thought Houran shot
Mcclure in the breast-it looked that
way, Then Mcclure jumped and ran
after Houran and ran almost to him
and turned on to the platform, and that
was the last saw of him. There was
an electric light at the Centennial House
that igh ed up the depot ground. live
on Adams street, l did not notice
what time it was when | got home.
When Mcclure put up his hand to pre-
vent me passing | told him: do not
dare touch. me-" | did not make any
cutlery nor call for assistance, and
HOuran made no cutlery or call.
Cross E,rdmiRed.-I was very much
startled by what occurred. What
frightened me first was when MCGUIRE
first struck Houran, and think Houran
was much frightened. Alter we got to
the Elm Tree House looked back and
saw man following us. l could not
learn who it was, but thought it was
Mccarthy. After the firing l did not
notice anything that indicated that Nc.
CURE was seriously injured. The last l
saw OF Mccarthy he was trying to
get cane away from Mr.. Chaplin. Nc
| earthly broke the cane and threw it
away.
Charles D. Andrews, sworn. am
conductor on The B. &. R. R'y, and
came in on the train at 80 a. IN. While
| was registering heard pistol shot
ran out and around tn where man Law
near the southeast corner of the depot,
| did not see Mcclure before he Law
dead before me, saw man running
away-turned over the body and looking
at my watch found the time to be five
minutes of two o'clock, | mean to say
that all this occurred within five min
utes after the train arriv, d. had heard
no loud words or talking, He was ia
all Appearances dead There were len
passengers-this is my recollection.
Outside these four persons were C. A.
Pierce, John Ii. Ayres, one of the cleo.
trio light men, on my train, and four
train men. The train had backed down
before the shooting. The passengers
hurried away. The electric lights went
out that night few minutes past two
. o'clock. This witness noted the time as
the train stopped and before passengers
alighted.
Frank Chaplin sworn. Lives in Hoo.
sick Falls, N. Y. He corroborated the
testimony of Miss Norton and said he
went home to his fathers house. Houran
came afterward and they slept together
that night. He also testified to using q
cane to keep Mccarthy off and it was
broken.
Thomas Mccarthy sworn. know
William Mcclure. Met him about 11:15
p, m in front of Centennial House; cor.
uer opposite. We stood there talking
and reached the depot about quarter t.
twelve. Mcclure, | and Easton, who
was going away to Lowell. went to SEE
this friend of mine go off. He left on
the 1910 train, then we went down the
street. Mcclure proposed to wait until
the other train came in. We were on
the opposite side of the street from the
depot when the train came in. We
crossed, Mcclure started on the run Ia
the depot, and got upon the platform
and ran against two couples there. did
| NOT know who they were. The couples
split up--one couple going one way and
the other couple weht the other. Nc.
CURE went to Ginning with the tall
man with the other Il lent ies. Houran
and Chaplin /. don't know what Nc
CURE said. Houran and lady walked
toward the Centennial House, and Cha.
pin and lady walked up the track to.
ward the south. l next heard pistol
shot. turned and cane down the
platform toward the depot. Mcclure
had started t. run (he was facing the
Centennial House and walking on the
platform running east, tn ned and
walked around the depot toward the
track. As | went NJ, CURE fell and
some one sii | he was shot. ! saw HIM
first as he lay on his back and did not
gee him fall. The conductor was there
when got to Mcclure and he told me
| he was shot.
Cross e,rdmindtiOn-Denies that he
had II quarrel, but admits there was an
alteration vita Chaplin about a cane,
Mcclure and HOuran were talking and
| followed Chaplin to prevent their get
ting into fight. mean that did not
intend To let Chaplin follow Mcclure,
Admitted he saw nothing to lead desire
on the part Of Chaplin to get into fight
Mcclure vas ticking pretty loud and
thought | would keep Chaplin from
helping HOuran. did not intend to let
| him jump on to HOuran and lick him
bead loud talk from Mcclure but can t
tell what he said. Pulled the cane from
Chaplin. Words had been passed.
was sober; had drank but one drink, t
was whiskey and out of bottle Drank
it at the depot. Mcclure and Eistpn
drank with me. Mcclure carried the
bottle, it was half-pint bottle. The
words heard from Mcclure we're in the
nature of a quarrel, Mcclure drank
with US at about Il gu lrter to TIVE We.
don't think he was full. Have known
Mcclure four or five months. We both
worked on the monument and quit as
usual. Was talking with McGuIre about
running the engine Elston had run and
different things, He bad asked Mcclure
to quit and go home when the train
came in and not get into any trouble
there, The cross examination showed
that witness expected quarrel and fol-
lowed Chaplin to let Mcclure have full
swing at H,u an and the girl.
Sheriff Mccall sworn. After arrest