The sun., 1901-07-26
THE FOSBURG DEFENSE
Mother of Defendant Tells Story Of
the Fatal Night.
MISS SHELDON A WITNESS.
visitor to the Pittsdc1d Contractors
Mouse Testlfes That All the Menu
hers of Ills Family Seemed
on Good Terms.

witness of the day in the Fosburg man.
slaughter case was Miss Nj. Estelle
Chaplin, neighbor of the Fosburgs.
She testified that the night of the |
shooting she was awakened by the IN
cessant ringing Of the doorbell, and
soon she heard mems voices crying:
Murder! Police! Help" Her sister
came into the room, and together they
kneeled ut window and listened. They
heard woman say, "She is gomez!
Then the witness, her sister and her
sisters husband went to the Fosburg
house, where they were met by James
Fosburg and where they saw Mrs. Rod
ert S. Fosburg on the landing and MT.
Lund IN the parlor. Robert S. Fosburg,
Beatrice and Miss Sheldon came down
stairs, and the visitors We're told what
had happened.
The next witness called was Harry
s. Plumb, another Of the neighbors,
who testified to noticing the footprints
around the Fosburg house.
Mrs. Harry S. Plumb, the wife OF the
last witness, testified that she was
awakened by screams and cries Tor
help. She went over to the Fospurg
house the next morning ut o'clock.
she testified that she had heard sing
ing on the evening before the tragedy.
She had also heard laughing.
Miss sheldon on the stand.
A thrill of anticipation ran through
the courtroom when Miss Bertha Shell
don. the Young woman who was visit
ing the Fosburgs when the shooting oc-
Cured, went upon the witness stahd.
She said she was little hard of hear
inc. and counsel raised their voices SO
that she could understand.
She said in substance that Mr.. Eos
burg senior had invited her to visit MS
daughters because Berkshire air might
tlo her good. She was not at all well,
and she intended to go home sooner
but Mr. Fosburg wanted her to see ms
Wife. SO she staid.
on the night of the shooting she oc-
cupied the guest chamber leading from
Mays room The witness then pro
ceeded to relate the story OF the hap
penings of Sunday, both day ana even
Ing. Sunday night May sang "Ihe
Holy CITY" and she remembered that
The members of the family kissed one
another and hade one another good
night. as WAS their custom.
shortly after midnight witness was
awakened by n piercing scream, ana
then she heard Il pistol shot. She got
mp opened the door and asked what
was the matter. She saw May upon
tile noor, ana she saw young Robert
ltosburg near his room; also she saw
Beatrice. Mr. Foshurs senior and his
wife. she called Beatrice to her and
asked what had happened. District
Attorney Hammond objected to the
witness giving the words (which Bea
tricc spoke 10 her"
After Il short conference Judge Ste
vens announced that by agreement o
: counsel the question would be answer
ed ANA the witness would be allowed
10 tell what Miss Beatrice explained t
! her Miss sheldon said that Beatric
exclaimed to her, burglars have en-
tered the house and shot May" Th
witness said that She then returned t
: her room, dressed and went dow
stairs.
Z Deemed Victory For Defense.
! The admission Of what Miss BeatriC
!, said to Miss sheldon was regarded a
:, victory for the defense. Contnuin
her testimony, Miss sheldon said thG
she sat up the rest OF the night dow
stairs. She went away in the foreno0
!, very much excited and nervous. ~
Il. knew She would be in the way if 81
IL staid. The witness described the sccl
IL in Mays room at some length. ~
a, saw Mrs. Robert Stewart Fosbllrg bcI
y. over her husband, who was AZ the sit
=. Of May on the hoor. Witness said 81
WAS asked to come and testify once i
fore, but her father had refused to pc
nit her. She would say that all Il
me members of the Fosburg family we
lp very much devoted to each other.
ON cross examination by Mr.. Crosl
liv Miss Sheldon said that she went to Ii
ley room at the same time as Beatri,
The door Of her room was kept nj;
am but the door leading into tile hall "
closed. she remembered talk at |
home IN Providence with Colonel WI
=. ncy ANA Captain Parker of the FRO
dencc detective force about the tr;
=" cdy She did not state to Colonel WI
W ncy that She had not heard Il shot.
tab LtI so,, tn hi,n th,t .,n. h,d b.,r
:. shot ANA that She had then got mp !.
''' opened the door Colonel Whitney
her they wanted her to testify, but
said She did not know anything alb
It,
Mr.. sheldon Testihes.
TER l.. T. sheldon, father of Miss 81
Ing don. Il mechanical engineer of Pr,
~ ~ deucp, testified that he had 4 busiu
20 acquaintance with MIR. Fosburg
three years duration. His daugl
was not in good health. Her visit
the Fosburg house was the result OF
.nch invitation of Mr.. fosburg, Sr.
ware Heard of the tragedy by telephone,
PEN he Immediately tclephoned his dI,
ssful ter to come home. Asked why he "
. tie ed her to come home, Mr.. Sheldon
! lor he thought that it would not be
~. l.os for her to stay Mt the Fosburg h'
then. He was not willing to have
come to the inquest to testify. as
had not recovered from the shock.
~. Cross examined, the witness
lana that lie was friendly with the Fosl
be- family all the time and had never
lmed any i'll will against them.
that William w. Shedden OF New
II a. city, shoe salesman. was called
said his place Of business was III