Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-09-29
WILLIAMS MURDER TRIAL
WITNESSES FOR STATE TEST
~ At BURLINGTON.
Eye Witness to Shooting Unable 10
Identity Prisoner - Woman Says
Williams Threatened "Cops"-De.
fence viii Allege Insanity.

The state had nearly completed us
case, In the trial OF Benjamin Will
iams for the alleged murder OF Po-
liceman James u. McGrath, nj Bur-
lington Tuesday, Sept. 20. The days
witnesses were Albert Belknap. VINO
testified that Williams told him tha'
rum and women were responsible Tor
his downfall. Chief-of-Police Russell
Sheriff T. II. Horton, Sergeant Bras
well and III, NJ. Mcintosh. the latter
presenting map OF the district OF the
murder. j. w. Ketcham. confined IN
Addison county Jail at Middlebury'
went up with Deputy Sheriff w; H.
Cobb. and testified as 10 the conditioh
of williams when both We're incarcer-
ated In Chittenden county iail, Will
liams did not act insane then.
The most sensational evidence was
DR.. +. t. Clark's story OF the shooting
as told by williams. DR.. Clark said
that Williams told him TO ask any
questions he wished. The first thing
he asked was, How far did you stand
from McGrath when you fired!
Five or six feet" was the reply. VIII
liams said he did not know on which
side of McGrath he stood, but that ne
had his revolver in his right hand. and
fred point blank. Dr. Clark testified
that williams further said: Il re-
peatedly warned McGrath TO let me
go OF he would be sorry" DIR. Clark
said that Williams told him TO throw
UP his hands, telling him he would
shoot IL he did not. Williams said
that McGrath smiled and said: on,
no YOU DON'T" Il was so enraged
that | let him have it," continued VIII
liams, according to DR.. Clark. VIII
foil hack
saving. Don't. DON'T Williams said
he thought a man in that condition
could stand some more and let him
have two more. He then went TO the
lumber yard.
The defence will rely on the alleged
insanity of Williams and the I'M
peachment of the testimony of the
Miller woman given Monday. Sept. 20.
Mrs. Miller testified that she stayed
with the respondent at Battery
street resort the night before the
shooting of McGrath. She said she
asked Williams what he was doing
with a revolver. He said he was
looking for deserters. Finally he sald
he himself was a deserter and would
fill any cop full of holes II he came TOT
him. Williams had cartridges IN
cloth around his body. r. l.. Kings
land of Vergennes. a reporter tesu-
fled to going to the jail for an inter-
view with Williams and said that his
name was John Thompson, and that
he was a tramp beating HIS way.
An extended examination by eX-
perts. of Benjamin Williams, held for
the murder of Policeman McGrath, at
Burlington resulted in the decision
Thursday, Sept. 81. to try Williams
for murder. Four physicians. VINO
have made a special study of insanity
were on the stand and three of them
said that Williams was not insane ana
one said he did not know whether he
was insane or Stimulating, 1t took the
court but a few minutes after hearing
was over to decide to have the
trial continue. Williams maintained
his silence, through watching the pro
ceedings with interest and smiling
frequently, AT the trial Saturday,
Sept. %. Joachim Lebarge, the only
man who actually saw the shooting,
testified that he was in the third
story of his home the evening Of May
10. and about 4: 80 o'clock saw Police
man McGrath and stranger come
from the lumber yards. He heard
them talk and then saw the stranger
shoot three times at McGrath. he
ran, but after going few steps. turn
ed and fired a fourth shot. The wit
ness was not able to identify Williams
as the man who did the shooting.
Other witnesses, John Crowley Of
Burlington and Frank McKenna OF
Rutland, testified to seeing Williams
in the lunber yard 10 minutes before
the shooting. Williams inquired VINO
McGrath was. as the officer was
standing near the crossing, and where
Williams could see him. ;,
Frank Lavally testified that he heard
McGrath tell Williams he had better
go back and that Williams replied
that he would not. because his feet
were sore. Lavally left and within
two minutes after he turned his back
he heard three shots and saw Will
Jams run through the yard.