Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-06-07
SD. Wilson on Trial,


known as "Spotter Waite" charged
with the shooting OF Z. I. COSTA
the evening of Dec. s, 1901, at
White River Junction, was put on
trial for manslaughter in Windsor
county court Wednesday morning.
His counsel is Frank Plumley OF
Mortified and VIM. E. Johnson is
conducting the prosecution, assisted
by States Attorney &, p. Tarbell.
Wilson WAS employed by the
states attorney last year in getting
evidence in liquor and gambling
cases, and shortly after raid ut
White River Junction the tragedy
occurred. He has bee n in Jail here
since that time.
Wilson appears well dressed and
faces the court with much compos-
ure. He is young man, not II,
it is said, when he began detective
work. He was engaged by the states
attorney in Boston.
The trial began at 9 o'clock and
the jury was impanelled at 1908.
Thirty-one jurors We're examined !;
fifteen were excused for having ex-
pressed opinions, one on account
of sickness, and three we've chal-
lenged by the respondent. The state
exercised no peremptory challenges.
Here is the jury:
VIM. A. Chaffee of Rochester,
L. +. Boutwell, of Stockbridge, H..
c. Brownson of Rochester, Il. l..
Earle of Chester, S. II. Rogers, Ed
son Emery of Bethel, George W..
Harding of Pomfret, Charles Harris
horn of Windsor, Abel Ray. Jr., of
Reading, E. J. Whitcomb, Charles
Ray of Ludlow, A. l.. Waite Of
Weston.
Dr.. r. +. Garland, who attended
Gosha when he was shot, was the
first witness called. He found CO.
sha lying on the floor in the entry
at DR.. Worthen's office, and de-
scribed the wound, the bullet which
caused his death entering the abdo-
men and lodging in the backbone.
COSTA was conscious and in his
right mind. His dying statement
was that he stood on the piazza out
side the door of the Junction House
as Wilson came out at the time of
the shooting. G osha said, "rhere's
the spotter," Wilson drew his re-
volver and fired and COSTA fell.
Dr.. NJ. P. Stanley's testimony
which followed was largely cor
roborative of Dr.. Gartlands.
Dr.. O. w. Daley, who was in
the hotel office just before the trag-
cdy, also testified, the court then
taking Il recess until Thursday
morning.
Henry Durham was the first wit
ness the second day of the trial. He
saw the shooting; there were three
men outside the Junction House
door.
John Woodbury., Boston and
Maine conductor, was then called.
He heard the shots; some one SAID,
"They're at it," and he ran out on
the piazza "Did he hit anybodv?"
he asked, and Wilson replied conf
IDENTIFY, swell, guess l did" Saw
Peck take Wilson away.
S. l.. Chapman. who was in the
office, heard the shots, but noticed
no disturbance before the shooting.
l.. u. Williams, who was at the
Junction the night of the tragedy,
saw Wilson several times before the
occurrence but saw no disturbance.
Came to Woodstock with v ilson
and Deputy Sheriff Spafford.
l. H. Whitcomb, Of whom Will
son hired ii team the dav of the
tragedy, and DeputySheriff Thomas,
who identified the revolver used by
respondent as his own, were the
next witnesses.
l.. III. Svmonds, clerk at the
Junction House, was there when
Wilson registered. COSTA was
among the people in the Office.
Heard no threats against respond
emf, but there was ii lot of "cheap
talk" Landlord Wheeler finally
advised the people to keep quiet.
Deputy Sheriff r. A. Spafford
said Wilson came to his office and
got his revolver and billy. Told
him it was bad practice for Il
young man to carry pistol. Will
son replied, "You don't have to go
into such bad places as l do"
loaded the revolver and lett. Off
Ger Peck brought in Wilson after
the shooting. He was not much
excited. Witness afterwards ex-
amined Gosha's clothing and found
what he called powder, marks.
VIM. St. John. a plumber of
White River Junction, witnessed
the shooting, standing on the piazza
with several others. Saw Wilson
come out and heard pistol shot.
COSTA flinched little and tried to
grasp the revolver. Two more
shots were fired and one bullet cut
his coat sleeve.
Deputy Sheriff Peck, who ar
| ,ected W.;te ,y,c ~, th.. stand Fr; .