The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-25
HEARD CRIES
OF MURDER.
NeighbOrs of the FOsburg's
Give Their Testimony
Regarding Events Of the Night
of the Tragedy.
AROUSED FROM SLEEP
BY the Incessant Ringing of the
Door Bell.
Have Never Talked of the Affair
With Family Since.
Miss Bertha Sheldon, Defense's
Star Witness, Testifies.
Regarding Events Of the Night
of the Tragedy.
AROUSED FROM SLEEP
BY the Incessant Ringing of the
Door Bell.
Have Never Talked of the Affair
With Family Since.
Miss Bertha Sheldon, Defense's
Star Witness, Testifies.

Pittsfield, Mass. July 25.-With the
government case over with the excep-
ton of rebuttal testimony which it is
understood win be considerable and the
defense case wen started, in fact more
than half of it given to the jury, the
sixth day in the trial of Robert Stewart
Fosburg on the charge of manslaugh-
ter, for causing the death of his sister,
May, was begun today with the interest
in the case more evident even than
heretofore.
The first witness Of the day was Miss
Estelle Chaplin, sister Of Mrs. Shep-
ardson, whose home is near that Of the
Fosburgs. She said she was awakened
on the night of the tragedy by the in
cessant ringing of the doorbelI and soon
she heard mems voices crying MUIR
deri Policei Help." Her sister came
into the room and together they kneel-
ed at a window and listened. They
heard a woman say: She is gomez
Then the witness, her sister, and her
sisters husband went to the FOsburg
house where they were told what had
happened.
On the discrimination the woman
said she had never spoken to any of
the Fosburg family about the tragedy
since the night it occurred
The next witness called was Harry
S. Plumb, one of the FoSburg neigh
bOrS. His testimony was on the same
lines as that of Miss Chaplin. He added
that the first time he saw Mr. FoSburg,
Sr., he had on night shirt and
trousers The defendant was dressed
Dr. Paddock came to the FOSburg
house three quarters of an hour after
DR.. Schofield. The witness was certain
that he noticed the foot prints which
seemed to be those made by two men
who had dropped down from the piazza
roof.
on the cross-examination witness
said he had introduced Mr. Chapman
latter ask Chapman to keep outsiders
from the house. Officer W hite appeared
about that time with a shoe and hat in
his hand.
Miss Bertha Sheldon, the young wo-
man who was visiting the Fosburgs
when the shooting occurred then went
upon the witness stand On the night
OF the shooting she occupied the guest
chamber leading from Mays room. The
witness then proceeded to relate the
happenings of Sunday, both day and
evening. Sunday night May sang THE
Holy City" and she remembered that
the members Of the family kissed one
another and bade one another good
night as was their custom. Shortly af-
piercing scream, and then she heard a
pistol shot. She got up, opened the
door and asked what was the matter
She saw May upon the floor and she
room. Also she saw Beatrice and Mr.
Fosburg, Sr. She called Beatrice to
her again and asked what had hap
pened- District Attorney Hammond |
objected to the witness giving the an
sWer Beatrice made.
The court retired with counsel to con-
slider in private the admissibility of
this evidence.
Judge Stevens announced that BY
agreement of counsel the question /
would be answered, and Miss Sheldon
oil hot fr-1r. LOT,
glars have entered the house and shot |
May!" The witness said that she then /
to her room, dressed and went |
down stairs.
The admission of what Miss Beatrice /
said to Miss Sheldon was regarded as |
a victory for the defense Continuing |
her testimony Miss Sheldon said that /
she sat up the rest of the night down |
stairs. She went away in the forenoon
very much excited and nervous. The
witness described the scene in Mays /
Robert Stewart Fosburg bend over her
husband who was at the side of May
On the floor.
She would say that all the members
Of the B'osburg family were very much
devoted to each other
On cross examination by Mr.. Crosby
Miss Sheldon said she remembered a
talk at her home in Providence with
Colonel Whitney and Captain Parker,
Of the Providence detective force about
The tragedy. She told Colonel Whitney
she mad heard shot and that she had
then got up and opened the door.
Did you see any burglars /, that
night?'
mo. SIR
On redirect examination by Mr.. Joyn-
.er Mrs Sheldon said that she told Mr..
Whitney that what she did know was
very little. Cross examined again by
Mr.. Crosby Miss Sheldon said that she
had not been in Pittsfeld since the day
IF the tragedy nor had she visited the
Tosburg house. This concluded Miss
Sheldon's testimony. When she left
he stand all of the Fosburgs shook
hands with her.
The defense rested at $3.50. without
putting the defendant or his wife on
he stand.