The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-27

which gives to the affair much more than
local significance.
The killing occurred on the afternoon
of Sunday, May "a, in grove in the town
of Attleboro just over the State line from
Rhode island.
The members of the East Side Checker
Club of Pawtr cket werc there on picnic
and Mountain and Connors were two OF
the most prominent men of the party.
John II. Nerney In company with other
Massachusetts, officers, visited the place
in their official capscity claiming that
the picnicers were disturbing the peace.
FIRED FOUR SHOTS.
free fight ensued in which Nerpey
Grew his revolver and fired four shots, all
of which took effect, and Mountain and
Conners were killed and the officer re-
ceived an ugly wound on his head. An
autopsy was performed on the follow
ing day on both bodies by Medical Ex-
aminer Holden Of Attleboro and then
Nerney was arrested on complaint OF
manslaughter issued by district Attorney
Jennings.
On one side 1t was called courageous
murder" and on the other shooting in
both parties declared that bad blood had
for a long time existed between the officer
ana the victims OF his bullets.
District Attorney Jennings represents
the State and Attorney George A. Adams
is counsel for the defense. lhs prisoner
shows no marks from his bloody en-
counter in the woods of five weeks ago
tomorrow and in court appeared like
man who was as sure of acquittal as he
was of his dinner.
WITNESSES NOT ALLOWED TO LISTEN.
At the outset of the trial Attorney
Adams requested that all the witnesses,
81 ~
perts, leave the court room until they
should be called upon, one at n time, to
testify. Ii was so ordered by the court,
and a crowd of disappointed men were
led out by Deputy Sheriff Brown.
DIR. Charles :. Holden, medical exam
iner of the district. was the first witness,
and gave the technical testimony which
was brought out at he time of the au-
topsy, and the substance OF his testi-
mony was that both Mountain and Con-
nors died from the effects of the pistol
wounds, inflicted by officer Nerney.
A PIECE OF coNNoRs' SKULL.
In the course OF his testimony and
exhibition OF hattened bullets and bits
OF trousers legs, Dr. Holden pulled Sec
tion of Connors' skull out of his grip to
show where the bullet had entered, end
there was a chorus of "Oh's,f which IN
dicated the first feature OF the trial .hst
repaid the morbid for sitting and swelter-
ing in n hall where the mercury regis
tered 80.
DIR. Edward T.. Hale of Attleboro, who
assisted Dr. Holden in the autopsy, was
the second witness and corroborated the
previous testimony. But ne made one
new statement TO the effect that on Con-
nors' head was a wound that might have
been made by a blow in addition to the
bullet wound.
MAIN POINT OF THE DEFENCE.
In cross-examination OF both the physi-
clans, Attorney Adams sought to bring
out he fact that the course OF the bullets
found IN the two bodies would Indicate
that Connors and Mountain were both in
n STOPPING posture when they were shot
In other words. Nerney was on his back
as he claims, aud his two victims were on
top and attack ing him.
DIR. George Mgckic, who wore n bunch
OF flowers ss large as woman's corsage
bouquet. said that no had practiced In
Attleboro for 22 years. lie testified that
there was enc wound or fracture on
CUunU7s- frrpc-wfftet- t-ssaust-haxn- been
caused by a club. The rest OF his testI-
mony, i'm direct and cross examination,
was the same as that of the otter doctors.
llo stated that Connors was powerful
man and from the animsl point OF view,
practically perfect.
George &. Parker, a yourg farmer tes-
TILED that he gave permission TO the
Checker Club TO use the krounds; that
he was about 10 yards away from the