The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-09
PRIEST FREED BY The COURT
CONTINUED From page one)

Continued From Page one)
Priest was defended before Judge Lee
today by James A. Williams: and the
prosecution was conducted by Assistant
City Solicitor Cram.
The first witness was Mrs Margaret
Shea, sister OF Mrs. Steward and while
she was narrating the story of the shoot
ing she nearly swooned. and had to be
assisted from the witness stand. She
soon recovered, however. and continued
her testimony, being allowed to remain
seated.
Later she was again overcome. and on
advice of Dr. Edmund Abbott was tenn
porarily excused. and was assisted to
Deputy Chief Egans room where she
was given restoratives
She was never in a court room before;
and this fact. coupled with the memory
OF the incidents OF the tragedy, wrought
her into highly nervous condition.
Or. Edmund Abbott testified that he
first saw Priest when the latter summon
ed him 10 go to the house on Cope street,
telling him that woman had been acci.
dentally shot lie found Mrs: steward
on the floor with a bullet hole i'm her
head. bleeding profuseiy, and In a dying
condition.
Priest went with him 10 the house, and
tried 10 hurry homo as much as possible
on the way.
After looking at Mrs. Steward. DR. Ab-
yer as he wished TO learn its calibre. He
was unable to find the weapon. but Priest
handed him an empty shell, saying that
the bullet was ~. calibrc.
~-rhe ambulance arrived and the accom-
psnylne surgeon took charge Of the pa
ticnt DR. Abbott then looked for Priest
TO continue his search for the revolver.
but. Priest had disappeared. He continued
the seaTch for the revolver alone, but
failed to find IL
In cross-examination Dr. Abbott testi-
fed that he did not sec or hear anything
60 make him believe that the shooting
was accidental. Priest seemed To be hon
est when he told him that the woman had
been shot by accident; and Priest was I'm
a highly nervous condition. like a man
who was beginning TO realize the horror
OF what had been done
DR. Coogan the ambulance surgeon,
and the hospital surgeons testified TO The
character of the wound and the death OF
Mrs. Steward. and Medical Examiner
Magill testified as to the cause of death
as shown by the autopsy.
Mrs Margaret Shea, resuming her testi-
mony. told of her leaving ner son with
Mrs. Ste ward. and said that on her return
she found her sister and Priest and the
boy i'm the sitting room.
Her son was playing with a 3s-calibre re-
volver cartridge he had found on the floor.
She took II from him and Priest took II
from heF. saying that be would replace IL
in the revolver which he produced; but
whether he took il from his pocket or
from the mantleshelf she could not say.
He began TO tell of the power OF the re-
volver. saying that II would fire a bullet
through a lO-inch board, when suddenly
10 was discharged and she heard her sis
ter fall from the piano stool.
She did not see the shooting. rs she was
engaged I'm wrapping her son in his over
coat. She knew OF no trouble between
Priest and her sister
Miss Agnes Bradshaw another sister,
testified that night or two earlier Mrs.
Steward herself was showing the revolver
end telling OF its power as a weapon. and
finally put it beneath the pillow OF her
bed
At the conclusion OF the states evil
dence Mr.. williams asked that the pris-
oner be discharged. as II had not been
shown that malice had prompted the,
shooting
Mr. Cram said that the state had pre-
sented the strongest evidence ~ had. and
that while the evidence showed. perhaps
criminal negligence I'm the use OF fire.
arms no jury on that evidence could con-
vict tho prisoner Of killing Mrs. steward.
Judge Lee, after remarking that ire
sponslble persons should let firearms
alone, said that he saw no reason why
Priest should be held. rendered a verdict
Of probably not guilty and discharged the
prisoner from arrest.
After his acquittal Priest spoke few
words with Mrs. Shea and Miss Bradshaw.