Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-01-28
BEAN TRIAL
FOR MURDER.

VII mOnDLI'
The trial Of Joseph Bean for the murder
Of Ephraim o. Root was resumed OF
Thursday morning, Jan. 2lst, after th'
break occasiOned by sick jurors ana tht
death in the family Of Mr.. Sargent, coun-
sci for the prosecution.
The state recalled Frank Hubbard to
show that he had in his barn the remains
OF an old hay rack, and some Of the stakes
were about in the barn or shed. One OF
them was produced and put in evidence,
and compared with the club that Il IS
claimed BY the state was the weapon used
by Bean to do the deed with which he
stands charged.
The state closed its opening case about
10 o'clock Thursday morning and after a
short recess the defence begun. w. b. Z.
Stickney made brief opening statement
10 the jury. He said very much OF the
evidence OF the state was as to facts about
which the respondent made no question;
as to a good deal Of the testimony no evil
dence would be introduced for the reason
that the defense deemed it unimportant.
The evidence that would be introduced by
respondent would convince the jury that
the death OF Root was the result OF acct
dent.
few more witnesses were then called
by the defeBce on the same line as some
introduced during the states evidence, to
show that respondents reputation was
good, as peaceable man, and TO show
that "Boney'' Martell was man OF bad
reputation as to truthfulness.
Then Joe Bean, the respondent, was
called. He is 43 years old. He has a
glass eye in the left side He had been in
partnership with John Green some nine
teen years and lived with the Green fami-
ly on close relations-as a member OF the
family.
He admitted having had talks with some
people about Root, but 1t was only as to
his business capacity, and his habits. Re-
spondent had left the Green partnership
because Root was at work for Green and
used TO bring hard cider for the Green
boys. Respondent said he had heard that
Green was going to take Root into BUSH
ness, and as the firm of Green a. Bean was
owing considerable he thought it would
be to the detriment OF the concern II Root
should 90 in with Green.
Bean admitted having had talk with
people about detective, but it was not in .
connection with Mrs. Green and Eph Root,
but in connection with Mrs. Wiley and |
Eph Root. Bean said he had seen the de-
tectiye at Mrs Wiley's and at one time
met on the road the detective, who offered
him fifty dollars for information as to
whether Mrs Wiley and Eph Root were
married.
During last summer and fall respondent
hhth HN nhHNItu AEOAu NiEnl AMEhkh ana
frequently made the sheets moist from
perspiration at night
he eontradicted the story Of the two
boys, Simonds aud Louis A. Carter, as to I
trying TO hire them to go up and watch !
Mrs. Green and Eph Root. He admitted !
being there in the Carter camp, as they !
testified, but said it was to see old Louis
Carter about swapping horse
He denied altogether the story Of the {
witness Chatfield as TO sending him to the
Green place With a message as.to tarring I
and feathering Root il he did not leave the s
Greens; also denied debating a letter to !
Chatfield to write TO Mrs. Green. He adj '
mitted debating a letter to Ethel Hubbard /
to send to Mrs. Green. lie explained that
he was up at the Greens and told Mrs. t
Green that he had had letter about her !
and Root. She asked him where II was b
and he said in his trunk. He had not re- {
ceived any such letter and SO thought he a
would have one written to send to Mrs. y
Green, which was done. {
As TO the "Boney" Martell story, Bean
denied trying to hire Martell to kill Eph 9
Root. He said he had been with MartelI 1
on the occasions testified to, but it was to r
try and get Martell to come and work for &
Belden and Bean, as help was scarce, and h
Martell had promised to come and work s.
for them.~
As to the incidents OF the gun, respond t.
ent admitted having had the gun OF Hub a
bard, but had borrowed it on the request "
Of "Boney" Martell to use it hunting
hedgehogs and coons. +
He did not assault Root, did not touch o
him and did not know how he came by d
his death. Was not at the Green house ei
that night and did not look IN the win b
dow OF the Green house. On the evening "
OF the killing, respondent said he took ei
supper at Hubbard's about o'clock; af- b
ter supper he went to the pasture to look
for Hnbhard's stays; then he fed the cat
Tie and horses at the barn; after that he 81
went to the barn and got his overcoat out b.
Of his wagon and went to lie down on the cl
hay. lie went to sleep and when he awoke SO
y was dark, so he got up and went to the al
house, knocked and was admitted and tv
went to bed. The boy, Evans Lovett, who m
slept In the same ROOM asked him the al
time and he looked at his watch. 1t was dS
half-past seven. He lighted match and 70
showed the boy his watch. He denied NJ
telling Tinkham and Greeley the next W
morning that he went to bed before the sI
Hubbards. He said the revolver in the 81
case was his brothers., borrowed OF him at cl
Mass, in September.
The state subjected Bean to a slight ex- sp
animation. Most of his testimony was a ca