The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-27
WIFE AND
HUSBAND
TESTIFY
Mr.. and Mrs. Shaw Give
Their Version Of ihs Shoot
ing Of Conway

Plymouth Mass, Feb. 21.-Louis J.
Shaw, who is being tried for manslaugh-
ter here, In causing the death of Frank
Conway last fan at South Carver. was
heard IN his own defence today and the
introduction OF testimony was concluded
during the forenoon session OF the court.
Mrs. Shaw, wife Of the defendant, also
appeared as a witness Mrs. Shaw was
the first one called in the case this fore-
noon. She described the incidents which
attended the shooting OF Conway, saying
that while she was sitting in the kitchen,
sewing, her husband having previously
gone To bed. she heard step outside the
ened her husband. he dressed, went TO the
Goor and asked who WAS there.
With an oath mans voice told him
that it was none OF his business. Mr.
Shaw askAt what was wanted? The man
outside said, something TO eat" The
request was refused and with much pro-
family the man, stranger, said. send
that woman out here, or shall break
i'm Then the man appeared at the win
dow and put his fist against 81. Mrs
SHAW heard the sash crack. "I'n fix you
before morning he said, and he went
away.
Mrs. Shaw said that her husband was
badly frightened. He got his gun and
took ap his place in the kitchen with
the gun in his hands. She stood watch
inur has kssfp A... 4 f.l.. .,l~
she saw the man returning and informed
her husband.
Tho man came to the kitchen door,
shook and ratified IL so that IL Jared
lamp in the kitchen. Mr.. Shaw shouted
hold up" then ne fired the gun. shortly
afterward he fired "A second time. The
man outside began to swear Then her
husband fired third time. After the
last shot Mr. Shaw went 10 his fathers
house after his brother he came back
in about IS minutes. Mrs. Shaw said she
never had seen Conway before.
On cross-examina ton she admitted that
the man first Knocked at the door in an
ordinary manner. She said nothing was
said To him when he came the second
time and that he made no threats and
asked for no one. Her husband. she said
gave Conway ample time TO retreat be-
tween the frst and second shots.
Mr. Shaw, the defendant. then was
called as witness. He told Of Con-
way > first visit in much the same man
ner as Mrs. Shaw had done. He said.
however. that the mans language was
vile and that I'm course OF the conversa-
tion he pulled something from his pocket
L -sAie44-+4e4fed Ike a revolver. Shaw said
that he stepped away from the window
thinking the man was going To shoot.
Between the first ana second visit OF
the stranger, Mr.. Shaw loaded his gun, az
he thought II was necessary to defend
himself. When the man came back he
made so much noise that Mr.. Shaw
thought he was trying To get I'm. He told
him TO hold up." The man did not stop
end Mr. Shaw fired a shot over his head.
The man still advanced and he fired "a
second shot at his middle. The man be-
gan TO swear and went partially down;
then came on again. Then Mr. Shaw
gave him the third shot higher up. Wit
ness said he shot the man in defence of
his wife and family and because he
thought he was going to do the witness
bodily harm. He said he never had seen
Conway before.
On cross-examnation Mr.. Shaw said
that with the exception of his profanity
the mans manner was not that OF an in
toxicated person. After a. r. Cornish
had testified 20 seeing conway coming
away from the Shaw house at about 10
O'Clock on tho night OF the shooting the
defence rested its case and the presenta-
tton OF arguments was begun shortly af-
ter / o'clock,