The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-03
HELD WITHOUT BAIL.
Kepeg,ian, the Alleged
Fitchburg, Murder
er, Examined.
SEVERAL WITNESSES TESTIFY.
Fitchburg Sports viii Back
Remington to the
Limit.
SEVERAL WITNESSES TESTIFY.

Fitchburg, Sept. 2-There was an ex-
animation before Judge Thomas F.
Gallagher in police court this morning
of Karope Kepegian, the alleged MUIR
derer of Nshan Harootunian.
Arthur K. Yoosuf of Worcester act
ed as official interpreter for the Ar
menians, who could not speak English.
The government was represented by
Assistant Dist. Atty. Taft of Worcester,
]. H. Mcmahon and F. B. Phelan rep
resented the prisoner. All witnesses
except the medical examiner and Off
GERS were excluded from the court
room.
The complaint was not read, but it
alleges that on Aug. II, 1899, the de-
PENDANT did assault and beat the dead
man with intent to kill, by striking him
over the head with a club and by such
assault and beating did kill the man.
A brother of the alleged murderer,
Serop, was the first witness, and testi-
fled that his brother came to this coun-
try eight months ago, and that his
brother was one of the owners of the
farm with Harootunian and four 9TH
ers, and after he sold out his interest in
the farm he resided on Highland street,
where he was arrested. Witness ex-
planned the selling out of his brothers
interest by saying that the defendant
had said that the dead man should
work on the farm after he came home
from his work in the mill, and that the
reply had been that man who worked
in the mill should not be expected to
work on the farm. The reply to this is
alleged to have been: "Well, 1 will do
what KNOW" meaning 81 will sell my
part" He said that Karope never
came to the farm after he left.
DR.. F. H. Thompson, medical exam
lner, testified to going to the scene of
the tragedy, and showed a sketch and
described in detail the condition of af-
fairs and the position of the body when
found. He said that the principal
wounds were over the right eyebrow,
the bridge of the nose, the bones being
broken and the bones driven in by the
foree OF the blows. On the right side of
the head was a bruise. There were Is
fractures all over the skull; and in one
place the fragments of the skull were
driven into the brain. He said that the
wounds were made with an instrument
with rounded edge. He thought that
death occurred about II hours before
the body was found.
He said that ne saw the defendant at
the police station and that his under
clothing was clean, but the next day
suit of clothes he had on was seen,
and on the lapel ard coattails there
were spots that the witness thought
were blood, but he was not positive. He
had sent the clothing to Prof Wood of
Harvard College. but had not received
any report on the matter.
In cross examination, the witness ex-
pressed the opinion that the body was
dragged into the bushes head first, and
that the immediate cause of death was
the injury to the brain by the compound
fractures.
Jacob Iscadarian was the next witness
and said that Karope's wife was his
sister. He saw. the body of Nshan in the
bushes and found club with blood on
it about two feet away from the body.
He knew that there was trouble be-
tween Karope and Nshan, and said that
he had heard Karope say he would lick
two of them brot1 ars and break their
heads. He said that Karope was neither
his friend nor enemy Jacobs wife had
heard Karope threaten Nshan saying
he was going to lick him.
Henry D. Palmer, a resident of the
lOCdIiIy WIeTe the IuurQST lOOh place.
testified that he was we'll acquainted
with Nshan, and that his folks usual
ly went to meet him on his return home
from the mill at night. On the night
of the alleged murder witness was sit
ting upon his piazza about $50 and saw
Karope and Nshan pass, walking. Ka-
rope was in advance of Nshan about 10
minutes, and he frequently looked back
Then he say Nshan pass, and he
seemed to be hanging back little
About a half-hour later he saw a. man
who apparently saw him, and he went
into the bushes, which caused the wit
ness to remark about 1t to his wife. He
saw him sneak along and come onto the
road below the house of the witness
and, seeing Mr. Jefts coming along,
ran back into the bushes and jumped
over stone wall. He sent his boy to
see where he had gone to, but he could
not find him. He did not hear of the
murder until noon the next day.
In cross examination witness swore
positively that the party who passed
his house was the defendant, but he
could not swear that he was the one
he saw coming back later
Sergt. Coombs, who arrested the pris-
oner, testified to being notified at the
central station of the murder by Serop
Kopegian and his brother, and from
the information received from one of
them made the arrest. After the ar
rest he went to the scene of the murder.
At this point Mr.. Taft said he had
no more evidence to offer.
The prisoner was held for the grand
jury for the October sitting without
bail.
This city will be sportively inclined
Monday, and it is safe to say that the
variety of events to be furnished by
various organizations will please many
people. In the morning, there will be
a game of base ball at the park between
two church teams. In the afternoon,
the Y. NJ. c. l.. will hold its athletic
meet and the Fitchburg Driving Club
a series OF horse trots.
At the athletic meet, there will be
some Of the fastest men in the country
and 6 large number of Worcester
cracks vii! come over for a friendly
contest with Fitchburg athletes.
There will be a good deal of money
wagered Oh the result of the Moynihan-
Remington race, and Of course, Fitch
burg will back her man TO the limit.
A special train left here for the G.
A. r. encampment at Philadelphia this
morning, and about 40 went from this
city. Those from other parts of the
county are as follows; Calvin Childs