The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-20

hAliDh VI NnN NOuluE1 Nllt lGeulN vi Nut
autopsy upon the skull, and the causes
aud effects producing death, as follow.
ing the assault. The medical opinions
were most interesting and scientific.
The last and only other witness of the
day beside the surgeons was the widow
of the victim Of the affray,
Mrs. Valdez. She told substantially the
same story as on Friday, and after a
short cross questioning was discharged.
On reassembling to-day the State pre-
sented as the first witness Mr.. Amos Al.
drich, whose testimony was almost
wholly upon minor points In connection
with the preceding events up to the time
of the tragedy.
Mrs. Valdez was then recalled and
was subjected to rigid and close exam
inaiion, but without eliciting any new
material information. This closed the
testimony for the State and shortly be-
fore noon the defence opened their side
of the case with the testimony of Drs.
Goodall and Bennett. Mr.. Bent took
the stand in the afternoon in his own
defence and recited the words of the
quarrel, the causes leading to it, his &C.
tions at the time and afterward, the
main point being that he did not strike
Valdez, and that the latter made an eff
fort to hit Roberts with an ak, where
upon Roberts struck him Waldorf twice
with a club or sled stake. Mr.. Bent's
story was clear, straightforward and
could not be broken by cross-examiua-
ton. He described the whole affair in
detail and at length.
Mr.. Smith, a resident of the vicinity
was called and made several statements,
but they were of an unimportant nature.
| Five witnesses were duly question dur
ing the remainder of the afternoon, the
prominent feature being to show that
Bent did not strike Valdez, and that
Valdez threatened and endeavored to
hit young Roberts with an ak, thus try
ing to prove that the statements made
under oath by August Valdez in his ties.
timOny were untrue. The substance OF
the evidence OF the witnesses in the or
der named is as follows
Mr.. Beckwith, farmer, general ques-
tioning as to age, place of residence and
his conversation with August Walder,
son of the deceased, described converse.
ton with the boy.
Albert Briggs of Glastonbury met Au-
gust Valdez and talked with him about
the affray. Asked him if his father
struck at Bent with an axe: he said he
did, came about six inches from his
head. Did not say anything about Bent
Asked him if Mr.. Bont struck his father
and he answered that that he did not
think he did.
Mrs. Sarah Smith of Woodford said
she had heard the conversation OF Au.
gust Valdez; described the talk. Said
August, on being asked II his father
struck at Roberts, replied that he did
and came within some six inches. She
then described a second conversation
with young Valdez, in which he repeat
ed that his father did strike at Roberts,
but he did not see Bent strike bis father
though he had stick in his hand at the
time. She was cross examined as to hel
conversation in thorough manner bu
without effect.
Mrs. Harbour of WoOdford heard oil
the ARRAY soon after it occurred; heard
conversation between a Mr.. Teunet and
August Valdez. Stated the CONVERSE
ton as follows Mr.. Tennet asked
Valdez if Bent struck his father; he re-
piled that he did not see him; repeated
the question twice, and received same
answer. This was all the conversation
Cross-examined az to the conversation
between Tennet and Valdez. On re
cross-exsmnation SAID DENTS wife is 6
cousin to my husband"
Mr. Milton Knapp called and admit
ted that recently he had a talk with Au
gust Walder. Much the same story a:
others told.
Court then adjourned until tomorrow
morning
MANCHESTER, June lS.-The trial Of
Bent and Roberts was resumed thi:
morning.
The defence called as the first witness
Bert Roberts, who e examination and
cross examination occupied nearly the
entire morning. He told of the circum
stances of the affray and those leading
to it, and of his actions then and since
substantially corroborating what Bent
told, with the exception he said he felt
the wind from the axe when Valdez
struck at him. He denied that Bent
struck Valdez, and admitted that he
struck Walder two or three times, but
claimed that 1t was in self-defence. The
State endeavored to mix up the witness,
claiming that he could not feel the wind
from the axe. This created quite a
breeze; and in the end the State yielded.
In rebuttal the State called Drs. Rog-
ers and Jennings, to show If it was not
probable that man with the injury in
flicted upon Valdez could walk 80 feet
after the blows were struck.
The State sought chiefly in its rebuttal
to prove that the son, Angus Valdez,
bad been bribed by the prisoners and
their friends, the inducement being in
the form Of several fly hooks for fishing.
If the stories of the defence are truthful
it looks as il August had been either a
little forgetful in his testimony, or had
/ talked indiscreetly with neighbors. Au-
gust himself stOutly adheres to his evil
dence under oath.
The next witness was put on by the
defence in the person of Sears Smith,
who testified to the condition of the
ground at the scene Of the affray. Mark
Harbour was also questioned on the
same subject.
This ended the submission of evidence;
and the arguments were begun.
On the Eth, Will Trimbull of Cohoes,
N. Y, and Elmer Clough of the same
place, were arraigned, plead Not
guilty" and their cases were continued
to the December term. These parties
are charged with the burglary Of VIM.
P. Madison & Co. g store at South Shafts
bury, last year.
Editor Smonds of the Journal, sum-
ma rizes the boy August, and Bent's and
Roberts testimony in these words
The boy seemed to tell straight for
ward story and though subjected to a
rigid and lengthy cross examination his
testimony was not much shaken by this
means, His testimony was substan.
TALLY as follows His father had worked
for the respondents. in pay for which
they promised to draw some poles for
Valdez, but for some reason had not
done so. Valdez on the day of the
affray sent word by tine boy that if they
would not draw the poles they must pay
the money. There was also some dis
pute about the amount due, Valdez
claimed $l.25, and the respondents
claimed il should be less because he did
not work full day, After dinner Wal
der went down beside the road about
thirty rods from the house, splitting
wood, and soon after Bent and Roberts
came down with load of wood on
dray, and commenced loading II from
the dray to a wagon, being at work
across the road and nearly opposite to
Valdez. After the load bad been most
ly transferred, August came down from
the house on the way to store below,
and his father requested him to stop as
they were having trouble, They were
having words back and forth, the re-
spOndents also accusing Valdez of steal
ing "a wrench which they had left beside
the road. which he denied. After quar-
relIing" 10 this manner a short time
Bent handed Roberts dray sake or
stick of wood about four feet long, and
told him to strike Valdez, which he did
twice on the left shoulder, the last blow