The St. Louis Republic., 1901-05-08
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Boston, Mass, May 7.-For nearly four
and half hours Charles R. Eastman was
on the stand to-day, chief witness for HIM
self in his trial for the alleged murder Of
Richard H. Grogan, Jr.. his brother-in-
law. last July. Nearly three hours were
consumed in his direct examination which
was conducted by his senior counsel. Sam
uel j. Elder. Then for an hour and half
Attorney General Knowlton held him up be-
fore the inQuisitorial fire still unfinished.
Mrs. Eastman had preceded her husband on
the stand, and had given important testi-
mony for the defense. but the Attorney Cen
eral did not cross-examine her. and she
was permitted to step down after her direct
statement.
Eastman made an excellent witness in his
own hehalf. His account Of the shooting
of GrogRn was simple. yet graphic state
ment. 1t was frank and open and at times
pathetic. The witness held himself well in
check, so far as exterior signs of emotion
were concerned. although he several times
was obliged to wink rapidly and to wipe the
moisture which gathered on his eyeglasses.
He did not attempt to account for the
shooting by any circumstantial explanation.
He maintained that he originally thought
Grogan was shot by the rim-fire pistol, and
that only the testimony OF the experts-to the
effect that the centre-fire bullet produced
could not have been fired from the rim-fire
pistol-caused him to change his opinion.
Denies Much.
He denied point blank several of the
statements made by witnesses for the pros
ecution, particularly that of John Grogan
and his mother. that he had ever threat
ened Grogan; that there was any ill-feeling
between himself and Grogan; that he de-
sired to get possession of the lens business:
that he had tried to induce the manager Of
the lens business to get the trustees to sell
the business SO that he might buy 1t: and
that he had made contradictory statements
to the police relative to incidents of the
shooting.
Mrs. Eastman, who preceded him, sup
ported these denials by her testimony. Mr..
Elder led Mr.. Eastman through a long ex-
animation, beginning with his school life in
Cedar Rapids, Ia, and leading UP through
his high school life in st. Paul to his grad
uaton from Harvard in 1890. In 1881 he took
his degree OF NJ. A.. in 1891 he married
Caroline Clark and went to Munich, where
he remained for two years
Returning In 1894. he first met Grogan.
who had married his wife's sister. In that
same year he was appointed an instructor
at Harvard. where he has since remained
His feelings toward Grogan had always
been kindly, he said. They had never quar-
relied.
Eootmua'o StOFys
The picture OF the tragedy Of that hot
. July day which he outlined was briefly
this: He and Grogan had gone down to the
target in spirit Of friendly rivalry. They
had fred several rounds from the A-caliber
Colt revolver, but had lain 1t aside because
of the noise 1t made. Then they took up
the a2.caliber, center-fire revolvere and
fred all the ammunition they had Eastman
emptying his revolver first. Grogan, with
several shots in his revolver, was aiming
IT the target. while Eastman was trying
to get the old rim-fire pistol into working
order SO as to continue the sport. because
there was plenty of rim-fire ammunition.
There they were-Grogan sighting at the
target, while Eastman, standing with his
back toward him. was trying to take out
the cylinder of the old revolver. While en-
gagged in this task Eastman held the ham,
mer of the old revolver with the thumb Of
his right hand. Suddenly the hammer
dropped and there was an explosion. Gro
gan cried out. Eastman thought he had
shot him and ran to aid him. AS he did
so there were two shots from Grogan's re-
volver. He closed with Grogan in a ter
rife struggle, trying TO take from him the
revolver which he held
In doing SO he forced Erogan to his
knees and got the revolver, which he threw
away. Grogan renewed the struggle, but
Eastman shook him OF. and then Grogan
ran toward the house. Eastman picked up