Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-28
WILL Be TRIED
BENJAMIN Williams Must Answer
to Charge of Murder.
Experts Testified 70 His sanity and
Judge Haseiton Ordered the Trial
10 r'roceed-Diyiculty in Get.
ting Jury.

That decision having been arrived at Thurs
day after an extended examination of
experts. who testified as 70 his sanity.
-Four physicians, who have made q special
study of insanity, were on the stand
ii,rc Of them said Williams was not
iusane and one said he did not know
whether ne was insane or Stimulating. 1t
took the court but a few minutes after
~" hearing waS over 10 decide TO have
the trial continue.
Williams maintained his attitude Of
si,ncc Thursday. although throughout
tho afternoon he smiled frequently and
watched the proceedings with apparent
interest He occupies n seat near his
counsel but never speaks to them. Just
~ rear of him is Deputy sheriff Erodc
white few feet away sits Deputy Sheriff
i.avlin.
The hearing to determine whether the
trial should continue was begun a, nine
"clnck and 1t was nearly noon before
II was over. The afternoon was devote d
I" drawing the jury.
c. Il. ROBERTS
q. II. Roberts of Mortified. former
nurse at the Stale insane hospital, tes-
tired that 10 was in ward nine when
" Hams Wig thee FOR observat ton. This
Wa"d contaircd 1G ether patients. all of
whom were criminals. The witness said
IL. left the institution June 7. He said
TINT When Williams first arrived n. the
hospital he refused to speak. hut that
after abou, 4 wce,. he would speak when
spoken to.
Wien questioned a. ia Williams Q
actions the witness sad That he played
solitaire great deal. taking great in
tcre,; in ihe game and played it intel
I'gcntlN I'ne witness said Williams
taught hin, In. game Mr.. Roberts said
that on some occasions Williams COM
pianed of seeing snakes. this occurring
when he WAS entering his room and not
at other times
MIR. Roberts said that at ono time Will
,Ams talked about his trial, wanted to
kro" if he was going to have one and
when it would occur He said Williams
would. on most occasions. obey promptly
when told To do anything. but that some
times he objected. On one occasion Will
Jams was in the water cistern and re
fused TO leave. IL had to be taken ont
and was later placed in straight jacket.
lie said on one occasion Williams fell
OF tho floor and hurt his chi'i. the wound
having to he dressed After the bandages
and had to be place in q Jacket in order
that the wound might heal.
ON occasions the witness said Williams
would spit Mt the attendants and at the
doctors. At one time Williams asked
tho witness how he was making insanity
work and Mr.. Roberts replied that he did
not think h. was doing ve,v we'll. The
witness said that Williams called him Il
hypnotst and lid he was hypnot,zing
him (Nilams.J
Mr.. Roberts said that on one occasion
Williams WIS cleaning the cuspidores He
MADE y motion as though he would
throw the contents into tire sink but hesi-
tafcd. and. then placing the vessel to his
lips. drank the mixture it contained
FRED GATES.
Fred Gates of Maine. vino was a nurse
at the insane hospital for n time while
Williams was there. said that Williams
had spoken to him about seeing snakes
the remarks always coming in the form OF
an Interrogation. The witness said Will
lians would forget all about the snakes
as soon rs the subject was changed.
The fall that Williams sust aimed. which
WAS brought out by Mr.. Roberts. was re-
felrcd to. Mr.. Gates said he was standing
near Williams ~ the time and that he
at .nrst foll backward, then fell forward
10 his face and struck his chin on tho
floor, causing the wound.
II, said that he once saw Williams take
II cusp!dore from the floor and drink the
contents. At other times he said he saw
Williams drink the secret ions from his
own body.
During the c.oss-cxamination the wit
noas sand the nurses We're instructed to
check anything OF an unusual character
that might appear in Williams.
LOUIS MARSHALL
Louis Marshall. another nurse who mas
been at the hospital during tie entire time
Williams has been there, gave testimony
similar to that given by Mr.. Roberts and
Nj Gates adding that he had found Viii
llnlns asleep on the closet floor. telling of
conversng with him about his trip to the
Philippines and seeing that williams In
walking frequently hit his heels against
the floor with considerable force.
WILLIAMS SITS uP.
At the close OF this testimony Judge
Naselton spoke sharply to Williams. tell'
ing him TO sit up. Just a short time pre-
vinus 10 this Williams, at the request OF
Jndee IIaselton had changed chairs As
soon as he reached his new seat his head
rell forward and rested on his arm. which
WINS thrown over the back OF the chair.
When Judge Haselton told Williams
To sit up he paid no attention and did
not move until Deputy Sheriff Brodio
,n]ged him. He then looked up quickly.
Glanced about the court room with the
trace Of a smile on his lps and con-
tinued to notice things unti the hearing
was over
DH. W. l.. WASEDN.
Or. w. l.. Wasson. who had direct
chary. of the observation of Williams
n, the insane hospital. was the first OK
merit witness lie reviewed briefly the
actions Ct Williams at Waterbury.
From what you saw at Waterbury
and from what you saw yesterday what
Is your opinion in regard TO Williams
sanity" was asked.
II do not think he is insane" was the
reply.
OSS-ExAMINATION.
During the cross-examination DR.. Was
son denied the statement made by Mr.
Gates that nurses were instructed &c
check any unusual actions on the part
If Williams. Considerable time WIS de.
voted in this examination in an attempt
IN show that sufficient care had not beer
Ir..L<.