The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-11
THE EAST HAVEN MURDER
TRIAL NEARING THE END---EVI-
DENCE ALL IN.

Sharp Gross Examination of Taylor,
But His Chief Testimony Could Not
Next Tuesday, When Arguments VIII
Begin--Case VIII Probably be Given
to the Jury Next Wednesday Morn
ing.
Crowds witnessed the closing of the
evidence in the Herbert w. Taylor and
Mrs. Ida Jennings trial in the criminal
superior court yesterday afternoon.
Among the most prominent people pres
ent were j. Clinton Roraback, former
Yale football player, and Rev. Albert
Edward Roraback, both sons of Judge
Roraback, who is presiding over the
case.
Dr. Francis Bacon and DIR. Robert E.
Peck testified that there was nothing
lacking in Taylor's mental ability and
that after several days of thorough ex-
aminations of the boy, as to his mind,
body, strength and courage he was
equal in all ways to the average person
at his age.
After ten days of court the evidence
is now all in, and on next Tuesday the
arguments will be brought up Both
the state and the defense will be al
lowed four hours of arguments and then
Judge Roraback will charge the Jury.
1t is very probable that the case will
reach the jury Wednesday afternoon.
1t is NATURALIZATION thing in court
that the cross-examination by State
Attorney Williams was the most mas
terly piece of work witnessed for years
in this state.
The trial has been very speedy one,
considering that about sixty-five wit
nesses were examined and the case
closed just one month after the alleged
murder The interest of the defense
has been ably taken care Of by Attor-
neys Webb and Alling.
The rebuttal began with Mr.. Hinck-
ley, the stationary engineer of the Trap
rock company of Branford, who testi-
fled that Taylor had worked for him at
savin Rock and appeared him to be
of sound mind.
Deputy Sheriff Wood was called to
testify as to the kicking of Mrs. Jen-
nings by Herbert Taylor, but his evil
dence was not admitted.
Miss Ethel Coe told how she had seen
Mr.. Jennings on the night Of the muir
der, on Sunday, April s, as he was pass
ing Bartlett's store in East Haven, and
that he said Good evening" to her.
DR.. Bacon related how his attention
had been called to Herbert Taylor by
Mr.. Williams, and that at his request
he had made a physical examination of
Taylor to determine his mental condi-
ton, He told of his conversation with
him to test his mental action, to test
his memory as to his birth, parentage,
education and experience of life. He
testified that Taylors answers were
given with alacrity and with apparent
truthfulness.
DR.. Bacon said that the accused's
development was rather poor,
and that Taylor had told him of his life
in the navy and at the jail. He said
that Herbert was drowsy part Of the
time, but that his answers were prompt
and apparently correct.
The examination failed to show any
thing the matter with Taylor's mental
DR.. Bacon testified, in regard to his
seeing Taylor on the witness stand and
to his appearance in Jail, that he SEEM
ed to have the average quickness and
capacity of the boy Of his age.
Cross-examination by Attorney
Webb:
What time did you get to the jall?"
About o'clock"
What time did you leave?"
About s."
Have you formed your opinion as to
his mental ability from the sayings of
anybody on the outsider
mo, SIR"
Then your opinion is based on the
examination"
mo"
"Then what is 1t based on?"
ION several days examinations"
From your examinations of him do
you think your opinion of him to be
true?"
Yes, sir"
Mr.. Webb wished to ask the witness
whether his opinion given on the wit |
ness in previous times had not been
passed over by the court, but Attorney
Williams objected and the court sus-
tanned the objection.
Attorney Webb continued:
Have you notiesd q varying degree |
of emotion in the soy"
Eyes, sir
you have testified in a good many
cases for the stateT"
mo, sir"
DR.. Robert e. Peck followed DIR. Ba- |
con on the witness stand. He testified |
that Taylor's mental capacity was as
good as any ones of his age; that he |
can discriminate between right and |
wrong; that he did not show any i'm |
pulses arising from fear or mental ac-
tivity. He testified that he and DR.. |
Bacon agreed upon the mental ability |
Of the boy, and that as far as they !
could see he was all right.
On the ross-examination Attorney |
Webb asked Dr. Peck:
"When Mr.. Williams asked you if you /
noticed anything about his mental con-
dition why did you hesitate?"
81 do not recollect that 1 hesitated." |
cat that examination did he show |
any evidence of timidity?"