The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-11

The controversy between the police au-
thorities of Pittsheled, Mass. and the
Fosburg family, as to who shot and
killed May l.. Fosburg. like the poetic
mill stream runs on, and the grist is al
most as voluminous.
In one out-of-town newspaper, Sunday,
was given an outline OF the states side
of this case.
Accepted as the truth. considered In all
its facts as impregnable. the govern
ments theory would absolutely wipe out
the claim that the Fosburg house was
burglarized.
According 10 that presentation there
were no people In the house-barring
Miss Sheldon--who were not members of
the Fosburg family.
Taken. sans contradiction. Robert S.
Fosburg had a quarrel with his wife, pre-
ceded by a debauch at local hotel, and.
by accident. he shot his sister. while in
tending TO fire at another member of the
family.
A TOUGH PROPOSITION.
The state has a tough proposition be-
fore II. Police theories must be backed up
by solid facts. Hearsay, presumption.
idle speculation and country cop sus-
picions, will not count.
1ne court will hold the state strictly to
the line of cold concrete facts. The en-
tire burden of proof will be upon the gov
ernment.
The story OF the debauch will be COM
pletely knocked out. IL is claimed, and so
will that to the effect that young Fos-
bursl did not dine at home that evening.
The entire Fosburg household, and Miss
Sheldon. will all tell the same story OF
the delightful family dinner. with every
member present. OF the pleasant time
everybody passed I'm listening to selec-
tions upon the piano and vocal mum
bers by Miss Fosburg, all OF a sacred
character, and the goodnight kisses of
the entire family.
As 10 the burglary which is discredit-
ed by the police. there is this to say.
Seneca N. Taylor. of 81. Louis, arrived
home Saturday night anu dropped some
entirely new information.
Included In this is "a statement OF what
Beatrice Fosburg Will testify to- Her
story opens with what Miss Sheldon has
given out, and II goes good deal further.
SAW THE MURDERER.
Mr.. Taylor says: Beatrice Fosburg. a
lovely girl, thirteen years old. roommate
of May, heard the screams OF her parents,
and had started TO their assistance. She
was within ten feet OF May and approach
ing her. when she saw the desperado lift
his arm. She saw "A flash from his re-
volver and saw her sister fall pierced
through the heart.
She did not see the second burglar
strike Robert, but she saw where he had
been struck. and knows that he fell TO
the floor. Beatrice aud the mother hast
ened TO the assistance OF May. Young
Mrs. Fosburg rushed 10 the side OF her
PROSTATE husband.
Now Beatrice has testified 10 these
facts and there Is not a shadow OF testi-
mony contradicting her statements. Tho
testimony OF her brother. who has been
indicted at the instigation OF Chief OF
Police Nicholson. and the testimony OF
her father and mother all corroborates
what she has told"
I'm the struggle between Robert Fos-
burg and the burglars his night shirt
was torn into shreds about the neck and
shoulders. His wife entered May Fos-
burg's room Just In time TO see her hus-
band reel under the blow from the sand
bag and fall unconscious by the side Of
his sister,
THE TORN NIGHT DRESS.
she rushed Immediately 20 his side
and was 50 distressed as result OF HIS
Injuries and because Of tho death Of her
sister-in-law. that she neglected to dress
before the arrival OF neighbors. She
wore a night dress that had been much
used. The lace about the neck had been
torn by laundering and had not been
mendcd As she sprang from her bed the
front Of her dress caught on the post
and was torn. That Is al there is TO the
torn night dress episode.
IT has also been asserted that after
the tragedy some persons entered the
room Of Robert Stewart Fosburg and his