Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-06-12
Windsor County Court.
June Term, 1902.

first day was devoted 10 the usual pfelih-
inaries of the term and the swearing OF the
petit jurors
Pursuant to the arrangement made at
the last term the state cases took prece-
dence of the civil, contrary to the usual
method There were fifty state cases set
for trial. foremost of which was the VIII
son homicide case-State VS.. Wilson alias
Waite-the so-called 'spotter" case. This
was to have been assigned for trial on
Tuesday at 2 p. m, but by agreement it
was not set until a. m. "Wednesday.
Promptly at that hour the presiding judge
asked il It was for trial, and counsel on
both sides replied IN unison that II was
ready. tCaIl Jury, said Judge Haselton,
and for the next three hours the examine
tion of jurors proceeded. By noon 81 oil
the as Jurors summoned had been eXamln-
ed; fifteen were disqualified because OF
having expressed an opinion, three were
challenged by the state, and one excused
on account OF his health. The state made
no challenges, and at p. m. the ndlet-
ment was read to the jury and long line
of witnesses sworn.
The following jurors compose the panel:
VIM. II. Chaifee, II. B. Brownson, Roches-
ter; T.. B. Boutwell,, Stockbridge; i. L.
Earle, Chester; 5. r. Rogers, Edison En-
cry, Bethel; George W. Harding, Pomfret;
Charles Hartshorn, Windsor; Abel Roy,
Jr., Reading; j. Whitcomb, Charles Roy,
Ludlow; A. l.. Waite, Weston.
The first evidence consisted OF the medi-
cal testimony to show the death Of Gosha
and its cause. Doctors Thomas +. Cart
land and Marx j. Stanley, both OF the
Junction, testified to being called and
finding Gosha in state of collapse. He
had been shot in the abdomen and it was
apparent that he could not live, He was
so Informed and asked If he wished to
make any statement. DIR. Stanley asked
him il he struck Wilson before being
shot and the dying man said he did not;
nor did he say any more to him than
"here is the spotter."
DIR. o. w. DALEY was called to show
that just before the shooting he passed the
hotel and saw three men in front OF it
one was Eubar, the hOstler, VIM. st. John
and Ed COSTA. The latter called his at
tentiOu to the spotter and witness looked
in the hotel window. He saw Wilson put
ting on a rubber coat. There was no
crowd outside the hotel. Witness knew
nothing OF the shooting,
Conductor Henry Dunbar was at the
hotel and as Wilson went out was just
following. Dunbar was going to the
freight house. just as he stepped out he
heard a shot, and glancing quickly to the
right saw few feet from him Wilson, |
holding out hls revolver, COSTA was just
in front of Wilson, and there were only
TWO Quiet ultM hlntbAt AllA lAOoAANA anu
st. John. Witness saw and heard the
next two shots After the second shot
COSTA turned around and ran towards the
bank Wilson turned and faced witness, /
at the same time bringing up his revolver. |
Then Henry Peck, the officer, stepped up
and arrested Wilson, taking the revolver
away from him.
Conductor John T. Woodbury. of the |
Boston q Maine was seated by the hotel /
window when Wilson went out of the |
hotel. lie had barely got out when shot /
was heard and the people in the hotel Of |
fee jumped up and made a rush for the |
door. Witness was one OF the first out 4
and as he got out saw and heard the second |
and third shots. Then he saw Officer /
Peck arrest the respondent. Witness
made the remark, "Has he hit anybody ~ /
to this Wilson made a reply, and said, |
''Did hit him2 Well, guess did" He |
said it as though he were sure he had hit /
someone and knew that he had.
Samuel Chapman, railroad mail clerk, /
and l.. 7. Williams, baggage master of the
b. q NJ. railroad, were both in the hotel |
and heard the first shot. Chapman did /
not 90 outside the hotel; Williams went i
out Just as Peck was taking Wilson away. |
Williams followed up to Sheriff Spafford's /
office and was asked to accompany the Of
hcer with the prisoner to Woodstock, /
which witness did. Saw respondent
at Woodstock and "billy" was
taken from his coat pocket, also some re-
yolver cartridges.
The state then showed by /. II. Whit
comb, a liveryman OF Woodstock the
hiring OF a team on Sunday, Dec. Sth, by /
Wilson, who said he wanted 1t for drive
about the town. Witness heard OF the
trouble and Monday morning went down
for his team. He found in the sleigh an
electric pocket tiashlight belonging to the
'boy detective, as Wilson called himself
about that time.
Eugene A. Thomas, deputy sheriff and
Jail keeper, testified that for few weeks
prior to the homicide Wilson had boarded
Il the jail house. He paid up his bill
afternoon and said he was going
home. But at supper time he came back
md said he was not going until Monday
morning. Thomas told him about the
bitter feeling against him and cautioned
him not TO be drawn into any conflict by
What men might say. Sunday he again
Thomas revolver that afternoon
be came in front OF the jail in a sleigh and
aid he was going for a little drive about
own. The next witness saw of Wilson
vas Sunday night when he was brought TO
he jail by Sheriff Spaford.
Luman II. Smonds, clerk at the juno
ion house at the time of the shooting,
estiiied as to Wilson's presence and de-
larture, and as TO hearing the shooting.
Witness saw nothing OF the affair In
ross examination he stated that quite a
'rowd Of men were in the hotel Office in
he afternoon talking sat- Wilson and
making offensive remarks. Proprietor
Wheeler ordered them to 20 away.
John kentield, carpenter OF the juno
ion, displayed plan made to a scale of
he hotel office and piazza.
Romano A. Spafford, deputy sheriff, tes-
flied that on the Sunday in question,
bout $3.50 p. m, Wilson came to him to
'et a revolver and"billyp that Spafford had
AIKEN on arresting Wilson a few DAYS be-
ore that. Witness had received a tele-
hone call from Wilson for these things
nd had promised to send them to
n Woodstock early Monday morning. When
le returned the revolver he cautioned
Wilson that he ought not to go about with
revolver and said that he. the witness,
lever carried revolver. To this Wilson
aid, ''0h, you don't have 10 90 into such
ough places as / do About an hour
ater Wilson was brought to the office un-
Ter arrest by Officer Peck. Wilson then
aid as an excuse for using the revolver
hat he had been set on by a crowd and
lid il in self-defence, bat that he did not
now he bad shot man. When told the
nan would die, Wilson exclaimed in hor-
or sob. my God 4 had moi hir,or arrsfr,a.