Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-22
Witnesses for p. w. Clement Give
Testimony against s. D.
Wilson.
TRIAL WILL Be LONG ONE
Defendant Has Large Number Of wit.
nesses-Unsuccessf Attempt to
Besmirch wilson's Character in
". OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Legislators Testify.

Nutlall0, OCT. lS.-SlX witnesses put on
the stand by the defense testified in the
United States Circuit court here Satur-
day morning that the reputation of Sam
uel ID. Wilson, the plaintiff. in the WILSON,
Clement 100000 SANDER suit, While he was
acting as detective for States Attorney
c. Z. Tarbcll of Windsor county in 1871,
was considered bad in each of the wit
nesses' home towns. The other testimony
introduced alluded to the phraseology of
certain of Clements speeches. There are
still lot more witnesses for MIR. Glen.
ent. 1t is understood, and indications are
that the trial will extend well into this
week.
At the opening of court Saturday morn
ing, Charles A. Caldcrwood of St Johns
bury. who was on the witness stand Fri
day afternoon, was recalled. He was
asked if the man who shot Goshen had a
reputation in his town. The question was
objected to by the plaintiff and ruled
out by the court, the defendant being al
lowed an exception.
The examining attorney then modified
the question. asking the witness if he
knew whether or not the man who did
tho shooting at White River Junction had
any reputation in St. Johnsbury. The
answer was in the Affirmative cross
examination was here allowed on TINS one
question. IT disclosed the fact that Will
son had never lived at St Johnsbury
plaintiff had even been there.
The plaintiffs attorney drew from the
witness the further information that
what he had gained concerning w llson
reputation was from conversation mat
had taken place during the time the pam
tiff was employed in Vermont. The VIII
ness thought that the general opinion OF
Wilson'S character had been formed from
his vocation as we'll as personal acts
Upon the resumption of the direct eX-
animation the witness said that he could
not tell whether Mr.. Clement used the
word murder or not at White River juno
ton in the speech which the witness
heard Mr. Calderwood was inquired OF as
to Mr.. Clements use of the expression
"a crank prohibitionist. etc which had
been referred to in previous testimony
but he could not remember that the can
didate for governor had used the phrase.
He could recall all the general topics OF
Clements speech but he could repeat none
of the speakers exact words concerning
the shooting ARRAY.
Mr. Calderwood had a strong feeling
about the shooting ARRAY and he ac-
knowledged that he himself might have
referred to Mr. Wilson as a murderer.
Later the witness said that Mr.. Clement
used the word murder in referring to
what the indictment against MIR. Wilson
should have been. The Clement speech
had excited the witnesses interest in the
shooting affray. The witness had often
discussed it with both friends OF license
and prohibition.
Eugene T. Keefe of Bellows Falls, a
foreman for the International Paper COM
pany was the next witness called by
the defendant Mr.. Keefe had heard Mr..
Clement speak at Bellows Falls carly in
May 1902 At the time the orator had
mentioned the shooting and also the
h.a lat TOR
Mr.. Clement had said according to the
witness memory. that prohibition was
responsible for the Vermont Anti-Saloon
League and that the league was the cause
of Gosher's death
The witness could not recall what Mr..
Clement said about the shooting affair
in the speakers exact language. He
knew Mr.. Clement had said that an in
nocent man had been shot, however Mr..
keefes duties brought him in contact
with about $50 men daily. He had often
heard these men discuss Mr. Clement $
speech but he could not remember ever
having heard any allusion to the White
River Junction affair in connection with
the speech
Mr.. Keefe was not cross-eXa mined.
The next witness was Fred G. Hundy
of st. Johnsbury, representative to the
legislature in 1902. The witness said he had
an extensive acquaintance in St Johns
bury and he had heard the Goshen shoot
ing affair discussed before Mr.. Clements
speech at st Johnsbury. The speech had
been widely discussed in the town. The
witness knew that the plaintiff had gen
eral reputation in St Johnsbury made by
his occupation as well as his personal
acts Mr.. Bundy was present in the hall
when Mr.. Clement spoke. The speaker
had discussed the shooting ARRAY but
the witness could not recall Mr.. Clements
exact phraseology. The shooting affair
was much discussed in St, Johnsbury be-
fore Mr. Clement appeared there, so that
people had already formed opinions about
it.
Mr. Bundy testified that Mr.. Clement
had said a man had been shot to death
hut the witness could not recall that
anything had been said about the prosecu-
tion that followed the shooting The wit
ness went to hear the speech because he
! had "A live interest in the subject 1e had
never heard the speech discussed.
| DISCRIMINATION brought out the fact
that the st. Johnsbury speech was ir
April. 1902, and it was attended by about
SOC people.
Charles NJ. White Of Woodstock was the
next witness. He represented his home
| town in the Legislature in 1902. The wit
ness had never seen the plaintiff unit
the present trial began. IIo knew Wilson
had been in Woodstock for short tim,
on different occasions during the sum
mer preceding the shooting. The witness
had heard Wilson'S reputation discussed
, among all classes Of people and his i'm
preston was that the man was not held
| in high esteem. He thought Wilson'S UNI
popularity was the result of the plaintiff
personal act. Mr.. White had heard tbs
| Clement speech at Woodstock and he re
member reference to the shooting.
was made in connection with the hlacl
list
The witness thought that Mr.. Clement
words were about as follows: IAN limo
cent man has been shot to death. TIT
shooter was indicted only for manslaugh
! ter. whereas the indictment should hav
been for murder, as the greater Grim
guilt is for a jury to determine" MI
White got no impression as to tn
speakers idea of the guilt of Wilso
from what was said. He thought Mr.
Clement intended that his speech shoul
be discussed and the witness knew
had been discussed. But in the discus
sons he never heard anything said as L
whether or not Wilson committed
murder.
When cross-examined Mr. White state
that he could recall nearly all the topic
OF the speech but he could not remcribe
of hearing the word murder used expec
in reference to the indictment.
I'm the Woodstock speech Mr.. Glenn
ont referred very little to notes. TIL
witness agreed with Mr.. Clement /
charging the shooting to prohibition MI
White was shown what purported to b
a manuscript of the Woodstock speec
and was asked II the often repeated para
| ..l-..g