Evening journal., 1899-06-16
KILLING OF Balm WEBSTER,
HA5EAS CORPUS FOR CAPTAIN
lNSLEY AND MATE CANNON.


SHOOTING WAS DONE by CAPTAIN
INsIEY.
Cambridge Nd. June 16.-Hearing in
the habeas corpus proceedings Of J. ed
ward Insley and Milbourne Cannon
against Samuel e. Lecompte. sherin Of
Dorchestep county. was begun before
Judge Lloyd yesterday afternoon.
states Attorney s. Gordon Tull. Of
Somerset county. assisted by States At
torney James Higgins. OF Dorchester APP
peared for sheriff I.ecompte. John r..
Pattson and W. T.. West appeared for
Insley and Cannon.
Arthur Webster was the first witness.
He said he lived at Deals Island, somer-
set county. and was a brother Of Balm
webster. on the morning Of June 1 he
wac out Grabbing with his brother, when
they saw the police boat coming. Cap
tain Insley and Mate Cannon each fired
rifle shot. which passed over their heads
and through the SAIL Insley then called
to them 10 take In their jib and heave TO.
Balm webster asked the officers why
they wan4ed him, and asked them why
they did not take someone closer 10 the
line, meaning the Somerset shore Some
boats came around that OF the officer,
who told them to get out OF the way. as
he only wanted TO XIII one man that day.
He also testified that Insley told his bro
ther he had him spotted" He described
the struggle between 1nsley and Web
ster Insley caught his brother by the
collar with his left hand. holding his pls-
tol In his right He testified that the
boom Of the SAIL which was Aetween
them. turned around and Insley and
webster fell into the officers boat, near
the middle OF q. Cannon was standing
with his rife IN his hand IN the stern and
he remained there throughout the scuf-
ne. He further testified that the fatal
shot was fired by 1nsley and he saw tho
smoke coming from Insieys pistol. HeI
described the manner IN which webster's
body was carried away by the Dorches-
ter officers. his last words. etc
on cross-examination, Arthur Webster
said that earlier in the morning he and
his brother had drfted over to Dorehes-
ter waters while asleep Al the time thel
officers came up they were making their
way to meet buy boat (which they saw
coming. When asked II his brother obey
ed the signal to heave TO, he replied I'M
the negative. and said that they kept on
their way to the buy boat. He said Cap
tain Insley told Bain Webster that ne had
him Spotted" and that he knew him by
the new piece IN his jlb. Arrived at the
wharf he said. they found some twelve
men on the wharf. two Of whom came
on board their boat and asked Balm Web
ster TO come ashore, which the latter re-
fused 20 do. When Captain Insley came
on board, his brother was sitting on the
BOOM preparing TO take on his overals.
Gle said that Insley did not speak to his
brother but caught him by the collar
without saying a word. Captain Insley
pulled Balm, who weighed 200 pounds. on
tho officers beat The Nebsters' boat Ia
this part was about six and a quarter
feet WIDE lie described Insley's fan in
his boat with Balm on top. Insley. he
said. fell IN space about thres feet
wide. between the we'll and side Of his
bout He himself stood on his boat dur
ing the scuffle. and when the shot was
fred ne walked over and looked down at
his brother, who asked 1nsley 20 straight
en- out his legs. He CArthur) said TO Ins-
ley: "You have shot him." but Insley
made no reply. He said that his brother
offered no resistance beyond pulling
back. He said that Insley caught al his
brother three TIMES before getting a hold
sufficient 20 pull him on board his boat
William Dashiell testified that Insley
fred few shsts across the stern o.
Wcbster's boat and then, as the boats
noared each other called to Webster 10
haul in his jib; later he fired again, the
balls going through the sail He further
stated that Webster barred his breast. and
called to Insley that ne did not have
blood enough to shoot him. at which ms
ley replied that he would show him. Ills
testimony as 10 what took place on Web
sters boat was a practical corroboration
Of Arthur Webster's description. He
stated that ne did not see Balm Webster
have anything IN his hand. on cross
examination he stated that Webster paid
no especial attention 10 Insiey's shots
and admitted that when Insley said that
he did not want to kin more than one
man the words were spoken 10 warn on
the crowd which was gathering around
He also testified that he did not see Web.
ster attempt 70 do anything to Insley. or
further examination by Mr.. Tull. he said
that he saw the smoke when the revolver
was fired and heard the report. which
was munled and not louder than a fire
cracker.
Charles Daniel william Mister. J
Edward Webster. James s0mers an,
George GLADDEN. testified substantially al
did Webster and DashieI. the only dif
ference being that the most OF them az
not get as near view Of me tragedy
and their testimony was not as complete
Dr. N. Rowe. Of Deals Island, who per
formed the post-mortem examination
testified that the bullet struck four an
a-half inches above the left nipple and Z
the left o. g. passed through the lei
lung. severed an important artery an
lodged a. a point one and three-quarte
Inches 20 the right Of the spinal coiuEm
and considerably lower than Ct entere,
This testimony would seem 10 rebut ths
o. the other witnesses FOR the prosecl
ton. ar d appears that the ball was fire
from point above rather than from
point below Webstcrs breast.
court adjourned until o'clock t0-da
when Mr. Layiicld. the last witness Il
the prosecution. was called. Witness
for the defense Will then be examined.