The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-23
CHARGE OF
MURDER
CHANGED

In the Eighth district court at Knights
VILE. before Judge Henry A. Palmer. yes-
terday. John Farrell OF Foster. arrested.
on juno is charged with the murder of
Charles w. Tanner also Of Foster. was
the defendant in a hearing which lasted /,
all day. AS the result OF the mass Of evt~l
dence presented on both sides. and the In
conclusive nature OF the same. judge
Palmer suggested that mansiaughter
rather than murder be charged against
Farrell.
The suggestion was agreed 20 By T. B.
Cooney, for the prosecution. and Willis d.
Richardson, for the defense. and Farrell
was bound over for the grand jury under
$500 bonds
1t was clearly shown. In tho course of
the long hearing. that Tanner and hin,
house on the Plainfeld pike in Foster.
the upper tenment OF which was occupies
by the prisoner. Farrell that a fight oc-,
ns e nay &C. ans a1 that on & ns
septicemia, the result OF the many bruises
and wounds on his body, on Sunday morn
Ing. June 12; that his skull had been frac-
tured.
The prosecution claimed that the frac>
ture was caused by blows delivered By
Farrell possibly with other weapons than.
his fists. while the defense holds thaeJ
fist, and then only In self defense.
No clear motive for the assault 10 a.
yet apparent. The widow OF the victim
The first witness called was Chief &C
Police and Town Sergeant Henry w. Ben
nett Of Foster. His testimony was COM
fined TO the account OF Farrels arrest by
him about o'clock on Monday morning.
June 13
Mrs. Almie A. Collins, who lives some
100 yards from the scene OF the assault.
2Al-
ing the attack she told OF the washing
of Tanners head TO remove marks OF the
fracas. She asserted that Tanner wae not
drunk at the time, and that Farrell men
as good friends as ever.
Lizzie Matteson. Farrell's mother, sub
stantiated the evidence OF Mrs. Collins.
and asserted that Farrell was not angry
al the time OF the affair.
Orrins w. Bennett. lifelong friend
and neighbor OF Tanner. told of the re-
suits OF the autopsy, which showed death
TO have ensued from blood poisoning.
This was the opinion expressed by DR..
Henry Arnold, who performed the au-
topsy.
In failing to connect the blood poison
ing with the acts of the defendant tho
prosecution, as Mr. Richardson claimed,
had failed 20 substantiate the murder
charge. A request for the dismissal OF
the case was denied.
The afternoon session was opened with
Farrell on the stand. He recounted the
incidents OF the fight. avowfng that Tan
ner struck him first and that his subse-
duent acts were done In self-defence. He
said he struck Tanner but once. and that
Tanner suffered no mediate effects from
the fight. He declared he was sober at
the time.
Mrs Collins again took the stand for
81 1.fo he tn~ -
the death OF Tanner on the floor of his
bedroom In great pain. He had fallen
FRONT his bed to the floor a short time
before he died
DR. Arnold testified again, showing In
answer TO Mr.. Richardson's questions
that death might have resulted from a
rupture OF tissues brought on by the fall
from the bed to the floor
The court offered suggestion as pre-
viously stated, which being agreed upon
by both sides. concluded the days pro-
ceedings.