The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-06
Alleged to Have Murdered
Harvey Peltier.
Claims Thatthe Shooting was
Done in Self Defense.
Both Parties Had Been Drinking.
The Aylsw0rth Will Contest.

This morning before Judge Wilbur ana
Jury was begun the trial of Frank Williams
for the murder OF Harvey Peltier on October
Goth last, az LIMERICK, in the town of Lin
coin. IN defendant is a colored man, and is
not very intelligent looking person. All
the participants i'm the row which resulted in
the killing had been drinking considerably
previous 10 the trouble.
Without much delay tho following jury was
selected to try the case: Nelson ~. Gibbs,
foreman Henry w. Banding, Samuel II.
Bailey, Arthur Scattergood, John IL. Allen,
Henry A. Atkins. Harrison Hallett of Provi-
dence, hugh Cummings of East Providence,
Gray Butts Of East Providence, Crawford X.
Williams, Cranston. Henry &. Davis of Johns.
ton and Henry +. Sweetland Of Providence.
Attorney General Dubois. in his opening
address TO the jury, stated that no intended
60 prove that the deceased, with a man named
Thomas IL. Wilbur. went to tho house OF the
defendant at o'clock Sunday afternoon. on
the alth of October. to get his team. and tho
three went out for rice returning about @
p. m. having during the afternoon drunk con-
siderable LIQUOR. That while Wilbur and
Williams were embarrassing the horse after
the return home. Peltier went into tho Will.
<iams home and found woman lying on a
lounge whom be insulted. and that the insult
ing words were heard by Williams. who re.
monstrated with the deceased. That there
upon Peltier took up stove litter and threw
IL at the defendant, and then started TO run
away. whereupon Williams picked up "A loaded
gun and fred at Petier, wounding him in the
hoad so badly that be died at tho Rhode
Island Hospital three days afterward.
Thomas II. Wilbur was the first witness
called for the state He testified as to the
doings Of himself. the deceased and Williams
on the day Of the alleged murder. He did
not the disturbance as a result Of which
Peltier was killed.
In cross-examination, TO MIR. Littlefeld.
witness said he knew defendant had with.
cred hand, and that the deceased was a vigor-
ous young man. He also gave the names OF
liquor saloons where the parties bought liquor
Bridget Lynch, the bousekeeper for Will
iams testified that she was lying on lounge
in the latter's home when the parties returned
from the drive. that Poltier struck her in
the nose and then kicked hor. and when her
cries brought Williams into the house. after
some words, Pcltior threw stick OF wood and
a heavy stove litter at Williams. The latter
.ired a gun at him, Peltier standing with his
back toward the door, and when the shot was
fired Peltier foil backward out of Che door,
ON cross-examination, 10 Mr.. LittIefold, she
said Pelter proposed the ride the men went
on. Did not think Peltisr was any mo.
quarrelsome than other men when drunk.
Peltier had used her very roughly, and was
afraid he was going 10 kin her. Peltier
Threatened to kin Williams. Did not know
whether or not the deceased had anything in
his hands when Williams fired the gun.
Jesse S. Paine testified the Lynch woman
told him she had got the worst of the row.
He had heard Peliier was a hard fellow TO
handle when drunk. Saw blood spots ON the
inside of the door az which Peltier was shot.
Edgar II. Briggs OF LIMERICK, after testi-
flying to the finding of Pelter after the shoot.
ing, said be asked Williams what he had dono
it for and the latter replied that he would
shoot anyone who would come disturbing his
home.
George A. Littlefeld was appointed by the
court to defend the prisoner
THE AYIswoRTH Will CASE.
There was dolay-i In the opening OF tho
Aylsworth will case trial today. owing TO the
temporary absence OF juror. Mrs. Margaret
NJ. Aylsworth, widow OF Hiram b. Ayls.
worth. was the first witness. She testified in
the same manner as several other Witnesses
a. TO Judge Avlsworth's falling bodily and
mentally in health.
Or. Keene, in answer to questions by Mr..
Brown described the mental condition of
Larty in the same condition as il is claimed
Judge Aylsworth was and was cross-examined
at length by MIR. Bassett.
APPELLATE DIVISION
The following matters were heard by Chief
,Sstice Matteson and Justices Stiness and
Tillinehast today:
decree was entered in the case Of William
r. Johnson OF al. VS.. John W. Atwood ct al.
orderoing that the complsinants receive i'm.
forest at the rate OF per cont. ON the sum
OF Sqi99o paid by them for masters and
stenographers fees from october IL. 1891. and
no interest upon other costs.
In.tho case OF George q. EontleY vs.. Henry
i. Root & Sons, a final decree was entered.
dismissing the complainants bill without
costs.
Phila V. Cady. sheriff, VS.. Charles e. Smith
and others. Judgement for the defendants
for costs.