Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-05
WITH THE JURY
Verdict Only Remains in the Case
against Benjamin Williams.
Judge HaseIton's Charge Occupied an
Hour and the Jurors Retired
shortly before II O'clock
Little Interest shown BY
Prisoner.

But little testimony was taken sntur.
day in the trial Of Benjamin williams.
ewing to the illness of John Spear of
Charlotte. one of the jIrymen. When
court opened DIR. WATSON resumed the
stand and continued his testimony in
rebuttal. At about ten clock Mr.. Spear
was taken Ill and at eleven o'clock court
was adjourned until two in the afternoon
At that time DR.. j. II. podds announced
that Mr.. Spear was suffering from an
attack of acute indigestion and would
lie unable to serve during the afternoon,
upon which court was adjourned until
Monday morning at nine o'clock.
Monday was occupied with the
testimony Of experts, who testified
for the state IN rebuttal on the question
of Williams's sanity and each of the
three gave the opinion that Williams was
sane. The last witness of the day was
DR. u. A. Shrres of Montreal.
Dr. WATSON resumed the stand Mon
day morning and the cross-examination
| was completed by Attorney Cushman
| Nothing of any importance beyond what
had already been drawn out resulted from
| the questions.
DIR. C. G. Andrews was next called and
| in response to hypothetical questions
said that he did not think Williams was
insane. His evidence covered many Of
| the points brought out mt the rrcliminar.
hearing regarding Williams's sanity.
Dr. Shirres told Of the various cxamina
| lions he had made of Williams. He wa
asked n long Hypothetical question by At
torncy- General Fits. which covered thu
testimony in tho case and in reply to i
| NIL bo of ntrn I
he true he should say that Williams wal
sane on May Il. 1901.
The opening argument for tho Stat
lin the Williams murder trial was made
Tuesday by states Attorney sherman
who devoted himself largely to the ques
ton Of Williamss understanding q
| RIGHT and wrong He argued that h
knew the difference and went on to shoy
the cunning of his mind by his attemp
| to prove an albi.
The first argument for tho responder
| was made by Attorney II Is. Shaw. VI
paid particular attention to the allcga
tion that Williams WAS feigninC insanity
lie spoke of Wiliamss peculiar action
in the Philippines and after his return
10 Fort Ethan Allen and said that if
was a fent il was one of the best OK
| ccutcd on record.
Attorney j. T.. cushman closed for tn
respondent. lie covered the evidence i
the case in detail, arguing that even
the jury found that Williams was in
sane condition that there were no ev
dcnces of generalization.
Attorney General c. c. Fits closed fo
the State. He made a mastery presenta
ton of the States case, covering eac
. point and submitting something on eac
) issue brought out in the other argument
to make their weight of less worth.
: rho trial of Benjamin Williams. VIII
is charged with the murder of Pohcem'.
James McGrath is at an end. the oni
thing remaining being verdict from tr
: Jury. The only thing done yesterda
was the delivery of the charge by JudI
Hasclton This began at nine o'clocl
and it was shortly after ten when he ha
completed The time from then until lo:
t was occupied by consultation betwee
e the attorneys at the bench. ate
/. which the case went 10 u
d Jury. A verdict was not reacht
d last night, although the jury came
: about five O'Clock for further informi
x ton. Williams is nonchalant and appa
n emily has less interest in the outcon
Il than have the spectators. When brougl
C into court yesterday afternoon at u
+ time the jury asked further instructi'
z he was chewing gum and as he sto'
3 in the dock eyed the jurors in an ind
,. ferent manner
Il Ay soon as the charge was complete
g the case was given to the jury WHO
J. retired at lc'45. From that time uni
u 445 in tho afternoon nothing vas h"a'
!, from tie jurors. Wien they did come
~ Williams was sent for but they were ~
- ready to render verdict. The forem'
10 said they lad two requests to make.
tho first place they wished to have II
- first and second degrees Of murder ~
~ the charge Of manslaurhter defined mo
!. fully. In the second place they wish'
IN 10 have the evidence OF Wiliiamss co
+. fcssion read again. In response To the
n first request the charge of Judge Iiaso
!. ton vas read to them by Miss Chestr,
the reporter.
nj After the Judges charge had been re-
g the court reporter turned to the ties
or mony OF DIR. Clark. which related
80 Williams's confession, and that was res
7 The Jurors then retired and nothing me
NJ was heard from them.
:, .su~Nnn TAI OnNAMn nDNn n