Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-23
Shepherd EIdredge's Testimony.

Shepherd Eldredge's Testimony.
Mr. Eldredge was to have followed
Jasper 5. Gray in testifying for the
State, but he has been confined to his
home by illness and Thursday was the
frSt time that he has been in court
since the trial started. After being
sworn the witness said that he was 66
years old, farmer by occupation and
lived in Whitetield. He said that on the
afternoon of Oct. 10 last he was driving
along the Windsor road and when
about one-fourth of Il mile from Ed
WIZ Cooper'S house, he heard 4 shot
and it sounded from the direction Of
the Cooper place. Witness thought this
was about 2 o'clock. He continued to
drive toward the place and when he
came nearer, saw Mrs. Cooper running
about in the middle of the road and
when she saw the witness she cried out:
Hurry up
When the witness reached the black
smith shop he came upon Mrs. Cooper
and her husband. They were standing
in the road and Mrs. Cooper was being
supported by her husband who had
his arms about her Mr.. Cooper asked
witness TO go to Henry Cooper'S store
and telephone for DR.. SukefOrth. Wit
ness hurried to the store and was in
formed by Mrs. Rosie Cooper. who was
there that DR.. SukefOrth was out of
town ana tnat ii would do no good to
telephone for him. Witness returned to
where the CoOpers We're still standing
in the road and told Mr.. Cooper of the
absence of the physician.
Mr. (spnnar
after Jasper Gray, the chairman of the
board of selectmen. The witness drove
to Mr. Gray's place and found him in
his orchard picking apples. Mr.. Gray
returned to the Cooper house with wit
ness and both entered the building.
passing through the kitchen into the
dining ROOM
In answer to question, witness said
that when they passed Mr.. and Mrs
Cooper on their way to the house Mr..
Gray asked Mr.. Cooper what the
trouble was. and he answered:
That fool Of u boy has shot himself.
and | wish that YOU men would go into
the house and look after him"
Upon entering the dining room with
Mr.. Gray III the lead, witness said they
saw young NOrthy stretched out on the
floor in much the same manner as has
been described by Mr.. Gray. Witness
said that he remained in the house for
some little time and then came out and
walked up to where Mr.. and Mrs. Coop
er were still standing in the road.
When he approached the couple Mrs.
Cooper asked:
DO you think he will ever speak,"
Witness said that he replied: "No. I
don't think he will"
Witness said that Mrs. Cooper was
trembling violently and appeared TO be
losing control of her senses. After this
the witness went home and did not re-
turn that day. he said.
The direct examination Of Mr.. FL
dredge occupied but a half-hour and
his testimony seemed to be straight
forward and positive. Mr.. Heath be-
gan his crOss-examination and it was
somewhat severe and particularly |
searching. He inquired into the life Of |
the witness and asked him if he had |
ever lived under an assumed name.
Witness said that he had not. Mr. |
Heath then inquired if the witness had
testified at the hearing held before |
Judge Andrews in the Augusta muni- |
cipal court. Witness replied that he |
had.
Q--"Didn't I have talk with you in |
one of the rooms Of this court house |
prior to that hearing. Mr.. Eldredge?" |
A-"You did. sir
Q-"And don't you remember that I |
asked you in the presence Of a Wit
ness, (Mr. Hadlock), if you heard a |
shot when you were near the Cooper
place. and you answered that you did |
not?"
Continued on Page Two1