Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1900-12-13
Bellows Falls News
A VIGOROUS DEFENSE MADE.
John Cray Says He Did Not Rob NC
Neirney-Other Witnesses Justice Ky.
der Sends the Case to the Grand Jury.

l
Last Friday afternoon at o'clock the
adj our ned hearing of John Cray, who was
charged with the assault upon and robbery
of j ohm McNeirney on Thanksgiving day,
was continued in c. H. Williams ofhce'
before Justice H. D. Ryder. A largo mass
OF testimony wa, presented at that time by
the defense, and an earnest appeal was
made by Attorney Bodies in behalf OF the
respondent. The court, however, decided
that there was sufficient evidence to war
rant holding the case over until the county
court convenes in March. Bail was fixed
at $500. ..%
Witnesses for the defense appeared and
testified as follows: Patsy B,ldesaro, fruit
dealer, said: 81 occupy ban on the
island for the purpose OF keeping horse,
pigs, etc. There is slide door to the
barn fastened by paddock. l wpnt to the
barn Thanksgiving day about As in the
afternoon and left there about To- Every
thing was in its usual condition at that
time "
H. c Rowley, employed as signal ten
der at the depot, said that he was at work
a. the depot till 6.45 P. M. Thanksgiving
day, employed during the half hour after
six getting out the Rutland engine which
take, up the evening train. He saw sew
eral men pass while doing this, and noticed
one in particular, and described him as
being OF medium height, with noticeable
stoop, wearing light overcoat dark trous-
ers and dark hat. He did not know John
Cray, but on looking him over thought that
he re.embled the man, though he would not
swear he was the man, The man he saw was
alone, and seemed to have been drinking
although he walked straight.
John Connors, who resides in North
Wal pole and is employed by the Electric
Light Co., testifi d as follows: "Th4nks-
giving day I left the mill at 6 o'clock P. M
to go home to supper, went up through the
square and down by the barns to the long
bridge. At the Rutland engine house I
met James Cray and had some talk with
him. He was alone, and / left him and
went right home, noticing no one else in
particular"
William Finn, who lives in the same
family with John Cray, that OF Mrs. Mary
Walsh, the latter's sister, testified that on
Thanksgiving day he arrived home from
his work at 6.05 M. and at 20 John
Cray came in and ate his supper, and about
half an hour later went out.
Mrs Mary Walsh, the respondents sis
ter, with whom he boards, agreed exactly
with Mr.. Finn, giving the time Of Johns
arrival at home at 2OP M
John Cray, the respondent was then
sworn in and testif I'd as follows: "Thurs-
day afternoon 1 went over to North
Walpole about 4 10 P. M. alone. When l
got to Brennan's sal bon saw James Cray
there. After we had been there about
three-quarters of an hour John McNIerney
came in with the German Ulitsch. After
staying there about an hour longer / left
with Men ierney to 60 home. We were
alone, and stopped only once, at the end
OF the long bridge, the occasion being that
McNierney was going by the depot and /
the short cut by the barns. Af.er talking
minute or so I left him and wlnt the
short cut directly home, gettingI there
about 20 minutes past six.
Where McNisrney went after we sepa-
rated at the round house do not know;
took no watch, chain or money from him,
and was not present at and know nothing
about airy such LOIS"
! The hearing wa, adjourned at this point,
as the defense had other witnesses who
could not appear at that time.
AT g o'clock Saturday morning the hear
ing was continued. M. H. Ray, lumber
dealer, testified that he occupies one of the
buildings near the Rutland water tank as
lumber shed, and that it has slide door
which is k 'pt locked, that he thought it
was locked on Thanksgiving day, that it
is filled with lumber as high as mans
head to within foot of the door.
Michael Moynihan was then put on the
stand and testif ID as follows: "Ireside in
North Walpole, am employed as bartender
for Brennan. | remember that | saw
John Gray, James Cray, John McNierny,
and an other fellow at the saloon on Thanks
giving day in the afternoon. Whether or
not all came in together could not say,
but think that John and James Cray came
in together about three-quarters of an
J hour before the other two How many
time, the Cray boys drank b4fore the
others came IN, l do not know, nor do l
know what they were doing during that
time. When McNierney came in he asked
the other fellows to have a drink. The
four drinks came to % cents, and Nc.
Nerney, who was quite little .jiygered, ;
pulled out his pc ket book to pay it. He
gave me IS bill, and l made char ge and
n