The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-08
IN HIS OWN BEHALF
CHARLES II. EASTMAN TEsTIFIES AT
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
His story of the Shooting of Grogan,
with Whose Murder He Is Charged
Wife Also n Witness.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, May THE climax
in the Eastman murder trial was reached
to-day when the defendant himself took
the stand TO tell his own story. He went
into no elaborate details and answered only
the questions put to him by his lawyer.
For two hours he was lon the stand. giving
his testimony as to his relations with Gro
gan and the incidents of the day of the
was an accident and that up to last Octo-
ber he had always believed that it was
the old rim-fire pistol that discharged the
bullet which killed his brother-in-law.
The struggle which followed. he said. was
for the possession of the center-fire pistol,
which Grogan had in his hand. Eastman
said he went to Grogan first TO assist him
and then, because of the expression on his
face, to get the weapon away from him.
He said there was so much noise and con-
fusion in the struggle that he could not
recall how many times Grogans revolver
went of, but that it did go off he was al
most certain. He did not know how he re-
ceived his own wound and said he did ev-
erything possible aIler the affair to assist
Grogan to the house and was prostrated
with grief when he found that he was dy-
ing. The cross-examination was not fin
ished when court adjourned for the day.
Mrs. Eastman, wife of the defendant.
was on the stand most Of the forenoon
session of court She was visibly affected
by the minute examina ton as to the Incl
dents Immediately preceding the tragedy
and regarding certain statements made by
previous witnesses. AT times she wept
Mrs. Eastman said she did not remember
any such incident as that related by Mrs.
Grogan, sr., who testified that Eastman
had said Grogans days were numbered.
Witness never said that Eastman had been
drinking nor had she ever heard Mrs Gro
gan, jr., say he had been drinking Mrs
Eastman also testified that in June the
lock on the tomb containing Grogans body
had been tampered with, but no one had
asked permission to open the tomb Attor-
ney General Knowlton declined to cross
examine Mrs. Eastman.
The defendant, Charles r. Eastman, then
took the stand TO testify in his own behalf
Eastman confined his testimony TO answer
ing the questions of his attorney He said
his relations with Grogan always were
pleasant and that from the fall of 1899 they
were terms of greatest friendship. He
denied that any quarrel took place in No
vember 1899, that any jealousy existed be-
cause Grogan had undertaken the business
left by his father-in-law or that he ever
had said in the presence OF Grogans
mother that Grogans days were short
Witness related the incidents of target
practice on the morning of July 4, of din
ing and going TO the swimming pool in
company with Grogan. Eastman said he
found the races slow and started back
home with his wife. He denied he asked
Grogan TO return with him, but said Gro
gan overlook him on the way home. Wit
ness could not tell whether it was himself
or Grogan who suggested a resumption of
the target shooting.
In the main. Eastman's story of the
shooting was as it has been told by wit
nesses who heard Eastman's statement
Immediately after the event. He said his
recollection of what happened after he
and Grogan clinched was very indistinct.
There was" he said, "a struggle for pos
session of the gun. There was confusion
exclamations, noise and cries, and Grogan
burst out with something like Damn it,
am shot Finally l got possession of the
revolver after a long struggle, and Grogan
was brought to his knees. 1 do not know
exactly what happened after that, because
of the fright and horror and Of the ago.
nized cries. l cried out TO him 10 let 60
while on his part he said, in the most ago.
nized tones OH Oh. OH l next remem-
ber that we were running and that we
came together again for another struggle.
Some weapon. / don't know what. lay on
the ground, and 1 tried TO kick it out of
the way" Eastman testified he had never
entertained feeling of malice or Jealousy
toward Grogan, and had never had any
thought of injuring him, or any luman be-
ing.