The Newtown bee., 1895-04-05
THE JURY DISAGREE
IN THE BRADLEY-RYAN ASSAULT oI

or the now famous Gray's Plain district came of in the Court of Common Pleas, criminal term, at Bridgeport on Wednes- day of this week. Charles Fl. Northrop and William B. Glover of Fairfield were counsel for the prosecution. Beecher & Cantield were assisted in the defense by Hon k. E. DeForest. Miss Agnes Ryan was the first witness called by the prose- cution. She testified to being in the schoolhouse on the 2lst of November, 1894. That John J. Northrop and Will. Ham J. Brew put her in possession, that she went there at 9 o'clock but did not open the school house, stayed about 15 minutes, then went home, then back again about 10 o'clock with her sister John Shea was the first one to come to the school house. He went in, spoke about the school, thought 1t was a pretty nice building, looked around and then went out. Father came after Mir Shea did.
 HE BROUGHT AN AK
 and went to cutting wood ln the hallway. He was not splitting kindlings but was chopping large wood. He said he was employed by Brew and NoTthrop to cut wood. first saw Munson Clark in the entry as l opened the door leading into the school room. Father, the two Clarks, Bradley and Whit had hold of the ax. l did not see Shea have hold of it. did not hear father say anything. They got the AK away from father and threw it out the window. Homer Clark threw it out. heard father say, give me the ax. 1 did not hear father say he would brain anyone who tried to come into the school house. l did hear him say "give me the ax." After father was put out l went into the school room. Mir Winton told mo l must go out of the schoolhouse, that had been discharged by him and by the district several times and that had bet ter go out peacefully and take my things along too. Brew and Nerthrop had told me to stay and that is why did not go. Winton threw my things out of the win dow and threw the register out too. Bradley also requested me to go out. I told him l would not till l was obliged to. l meant to stay until I was forced out. Bradley and Winton then took hold of me, one on each side, and forced me out of the school room. Before Winton put my things out Bradley struck me on my face, not with his fist, but with his hand he slapped me. Thst was in the school room. He slapped me again in the entry. When they were struggling over the ax I said, Father don't strike anybody" Afterward I went over to Shea's and did not go back to school that day.
 Akucs slsJtTs mhthie, lz years OI age. testified she saw George W. Bradley strike her sister in the face. then ran out d oors. When I first went to the schoolhouSe papa wanted me to go and ask Mir Shea to come down. l did not know what for. MT Shea came down. 1t was half an hour after when saw Bradley, Winton and the two Clarks coming down the road, and into the out side door. Father stood on the doorstep,
 I SAW BRADLEY STRIKE SISTER when she was in the entry and saw him strike her when she was in the school room. 1 was not in the school room but out doors and l could see through the windows. 1 heard sister say to papa, "Don't papa, don't strike anybody" II saw Bradley and Winton take hold of my sister and lead her out. | was not in the room when Bradley and Winton were in there with my sister. I have never said anything to anybody about this since the 2lst of November. Have not spoken to my father or mother, or Mir Corbett, or Mir Northrop, or to anybody.
 John Shea was the next witness called He said Ryan sent for him to go down to the schoolhouse. He did not know what he wanted. He got thece before Ryan did, and when he saw the three men com ing down the road, then he did guess
 
 thought 1t might be to help from getting into fuss, He did see Bradley give Miss Ryan clip of his hand on her jaw. He was sure of It. He did tell Charles War ner he did not see Bradley strike her, but he did not mean 1t when he told him so. It was in the school building he struck her. Continuing his testimony, Mir Shea said Was in the inside of the main door, in the entry as you go in. Can't say what Bradley said to Ryan. Ryan did not tell them he would brain them, nor anything like lt. When the men first came was helping Ryan cut wood. I held the stick on the door sill while he eawed off the end of it. Ryan said he was going to keep possession till o'clock. l saw Ryan when he had the ax raised over his shoulder, but was so troubled about 1t 1 didn't notice at all what was said, can't remember. Only did hear Ryan say something. He stood in the door and kept good hold of the ax. l told him to let the ax go. I saw him have q stone in his hand. l don't know what he said. He did put his hands on the door and try to push It in, but I don't think he battered 1t with stones. I was not in the school room. Did not have hold of the ax. Didn't want any fuss.
 Martin Ryan, the father of the girl, who was there and saw all the row,
 WAS NOT PUT ON THE STAND
 for wonder, and the State rested the case.
 Charles Warner was the first witness callep for the defense and testified that John Shea told him he never saw Brad ley strike Agnes Ryan. He told John to tell the truth and 1t would all come out right.
 George winton testified that Bradley and the Clarks were at the school house with him by his request, to help get pos session of the district property. That when they got there Ryan stood in the door with the ax raised over his should ST and said "The frst one who comes in here I'll brain him. We all took hold of him and grabbed the ax. We had quite a scuffie. Agnes had hold of the handle too. l saw her hand hold of the ax. We got 1t away from him. I saw blood on Bradley's hand and on Munson Clark's hand, supposed It was & scratch from the AK blade. 1 told Miss Ryan che would have to go out She said, s'I shant go out till they put me out" I then took hold of her and without much force helped her to the door and as she went out Bradley laid his hand on the other shoulder or arm and said to her: "Please go out peaceably if you will" Ryan was outside pounding the door, and with stones in his hands and tried to push in the door from the outside. When got out Ryan wanted the ax, I said, sIt isn't safe to let you have 1t, you might kill somebody He said he would not do any harm with 1t, and let him have it. [ did not throw 1t out. I did put some of Agnes things out the wins dow. q cape think and school register. Agnes never said a word that l heard that Bradley had struck her. was there all through. Bradley was In the entry when put Miss Ryan out and did not come Into the schoolroom at all. am positive he did not go into the school room. am sure Bradley did not strike hsv, for would have seen him if he had.