The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-11-21
TOM CONSIDINE E
TELLS THE STORY OF THE KILL.
ING OF MEREDITH.
Gave : Graphic Recital Of the nappeninss on
the Day Of the Murder - Testimony In
Behalf Of His Brother Also the Story he
win Tell IN Ills Own Behalf When His
Trial Comes on.

~~S-y S0AS ~uu6C xIiuOAy duu tAAC
Jury yesterday afternoon. 1t was a
graphic, and at times dramatic, recital.
The witness, brother of John w. Con-
sidine, the defendant in the present hear
ing, is also charged with the same crime
the murder of William L. Meredith.
His story of Yesterday is st once testi-
mony in behalf of his brother and testi-
mony which he must offer when himself
brought to trial.
Tom Considine was brought to the
stand rather late in the afternoon. After
few preliminary questions by Mr.. Nc
Elroy, he was stated on his story. His
manner on the stand was quiet and dig
nified, his answers prompt and positive.
At only one point in his recital did his
manner change. Telling of the firing OF
the first shot by Meredith, which car
ried John Considine's hat into the air,
the witness voice broke with sob and
tears rolled down his cheeks as he said
that for the moment he thought his
brothers head had been blown off. John
Considine was visibly affected by his
brothers. emotion; his father and wife
were both moved to tears. Although GO
ing on with his story, it was q minute
or more before Toms voice was steadied.
Considine first told in detail of his
movements up to the time of his and his
brothers arrival al. Guys store, where
he said John had gone for some medicine
for his throat.
The two brothers had arrived just in
side the doorway of Guys, beyond the
screen doors toward the interior, when
they were met by Policeman Mefford,
who was coming out. Meford and John
joined hands to shake, John facing the
interior of the store, partly toward the
east, with Tom at his left shoulder, Mef-
ford facing toward the west. At this
instant something was thrown across
Toms right shoulder, he heard stun
ming explosion and thought he saw part
of his brothers head fly off. John
reeled, and ran crouchlng to the rear.
Meredith, rushing after him, showed Tom
farther into the store. Tom saw John
huddled in the corner at the rear; he
saw Meredith bearing down on him with
the shotgun; he heard the second dis
charge, saw Meredith throw the gun
down, and at the next instant saw him
with revolver in his hands and John
rushing into the clinch. They grappled
and worked their way toward the front
of the store.
All this Tom saw, but from the first
discharge of the shotgun was without
power of motion; his feet, he said,
seemed rooted to the spot were he had
been showed in Meredith's inward rush.
he c< nf fho or a y,
he said, 81 heard John cry out in kind
of wall, Tom! Toni That reused
me and ran down and seized the gun in
Meredith's hands, which John was try
ing to hold in the air. After several
wrenehes 1 got it from him and as it
left his grasp heard him say, I've got
another At that l struck him on the
head struck several blows; l don't
know how many, and struck as hard as
could. Then some one ran into us and
pulled me to one side. saw John and
Meredith still struggling and cried to the
men holding me, Let me go: let me 60 ;
he's got another gum
"Tney would not let 60 of me. My
eyes were on Meredith and my brother
all the time. Twas watching every move.
They kept on struggling together, and
suddenly / saw Meredith pull his right
arm free and reach to his right-hand
pocket. i then heard three shots in
quick succession and Meredith fell"
In answer to Mr.. McElroy's questions,
Tom said that the first report of the
shotgun, within foot of his head, deaf
ened him, and the horror of the suppo-
sition that Johns head had been blown
off paralyzed his every muscle. He could
not recall having made any movement
whatever after being showed into the
store by Meredith until he heard John
| call his name. When he took the revolver
from Meredith the latter made a quick
effort to wrest his right arm from Johns
grasp. The whole affray passed very
"a v,sdIv