The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-08
EASTMAN ON THE STAND
TELLS HIS OWN STORY as TO HOW
THE SHOOTING OF GROGAN
OCCURRED
SAYS IT WAS AN ACCIDENT
Claims That His Struggle With tho
Fatally Wounded Man Followed
His Accidental Shoot
Ing.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, May Tho cli-
max in the Eastman murder trial was
reached today when the defendant him
self took the stand to tell his own story.
He went into no elaborate details, but
answered only the questions put to him
by his lawyer. For two hours he was
on the stand giving his testimony as to
his relations with Grogan, and the Incl
dents Of the day Of the shooting. He
declared that the shooting was an acci-
dent, and that up to last October he had
always believed that 1t was the old rim
fire pistol which discharged the bullet
that killed his brother-in-Iaw The
struggle which followed, he said. was for
the possession of the center-fre pistol,
which GrCgan had in his hand. East
man said that he went to GrOgan first
to assist him and then, because of the
expression on his face, to get the weapon
away from aim He said that there was
so much noise and confusion In the
struggle that he could not recall how
many times Grogan's revolver went off.
But that it did go off, he was almost Ger
tain. He did not know how he received
his own wound and said he did every
thing possible after the affair to assist
Grogan to the house and was Frustrated
with grief when he found that he was
dying.
The ross-examination was not finished
when the court adjourned for the day.
Interest was enhanced by tho fact that
Mrs. Eastman, wife of the defendant,
was on the stand most of the forenoon.
She was visibly affected by the minute
examination as to tho incidents imme-
diately proceeding the tragedy and re-
garding certain statements made by
previous witnesses. At times she went.
Mrs. Eastman said she did not remem-
Der any such incident as that related
by Mrs Grogan. who testified that Mr..
Eastman said Grogan's days were num-
bered. Witness never said that Eastman
had been drinking nor had she ever
heard Mrs. Grogan Jr. say he had been
drinking.
Mrs. Eastman also testified that In
June the lock on the tomb containing
Grogan's body had been tempered with,
but no one had asked permission to open
the tomb
Attorney General Knowlton declined to
cToss-examine Mrs. Eastman.
The defendant, Charles p. Eastman,
then took the stand to testify in his own
behalf.
Eastman confined his testimony to an
swerlng the questions Of his attorney.
He said that his relations with Grogan
always were pleasant and that from the
fall Of 1899 they we're on terms Of great
est friendship. He denied that any quar-
rel took place in November, 1893, that
any jealousy existed because Grogan
had undertaken the business left by
their father-in-law, or that he ever had
said in the presence Of Grogans mother
that Grogan's days were short
Witness then related the incidents Of
target practice on the morning Of July
4, Of dining and going to the swimming
races in company with Grogan.
Eastman said that ne found the races
slow and started back home with his
wife. He denied that he urged Grogan
to return with him but said GrOgau
overlook him on the way home East
man could not tell whether 1t was Gro-
gan or himself who suggested a resump-
ton of target shooting. In the main
Eastmans story Of the shooting OF Gro
gan was as it has been repeated by wit
nesses during this trial who heard East
mans statement Immediately after the
event He said that his recollection OF
what happened after he and Grogan
clinohed was very indstinct. There
was" he said, - struggle for the pos
session OF the gun. There was
confusion, eXclamations noise and
cries. The next I remember was
the deep indrawlng OF breath. and
when he, Grogan, broke out with
something like Damn it, I am shot
Finally got possession of the revolver
after a long struggle, and Grogan was
brought to his knees. I do not exactly
know what happened after that because
of the fright and horror and of tho
agonized cries. I cried to him to let go,
while on his part ne said in the most
agonLzed tones, On, on. OH 1 next re-
member that We were running and that
we came together again for another
struggle. Some weapon, don't know
what lay on the ground and I tried TO
kick 1t out OF the way"
Eastman testified that he had never
entertained a feeling OF malice or teal-
ousy toward Grogan and had never
had any thought OF injuring him or any
human being.