Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-31
Contradictory Testimony Brought
Out in Fairbanks Trial Pleases
His Counsel.
FIRST WORDS AFTER MURDER
Witness Tcstines That Fairbanks Said
"~somebody Has Almost Finished
Mc"--Wife of Accused Takes
thc stand in His BehnIf-
Tells OF Staring Eyes.

Rrattleboro. oct. 27-Judgc r. W. Gib-
son, attorney for William Fairbanks.
now on trial for the murder of Mary
Circuit. when interviewed by the repre-
sentative of the Burlington Free Press,
expressed himself to-day as well salts
fled with the evidence put in yesterday
by the defense. He seemed particularly
pleased ON account of contradictory tes-
tiinory from hat previously produced
by the State drawn out from every wit
ness put on the stand.
Elizabeth Sankee, a colored woman.
said that she saw Fairbanks and Mrs
futile taking together wnen the alleged
death threats were made md that she
did not sec Fairbanks place his hand
over his heart or note any change in his
manner during the entire conversation
Mrs. Margaret futile testified peviously
as a state witness that Fairbanks placed
his M on his heart and vowed that he
would Dust" Mary Grout because SHE
had busted" him. Contrary to what the
colored woman said. Mrs. futile testified
that Fairbanks was at first difident,
then excited and last mad way through.
SAID SOMEBODY" SHOT HIM.
Charles Akin of Saxtons River was
called to the stand and said that he
reached the scene of the crime just
before Deputy Sheriff George Alex
ander did and that the pistol lay on
the top stair OF the front steps and
not on the ground beside the fallen
man as the officer testified. He
further testified that Fairbanks said
as he leaned over him, Somebody has
almost finished me-" Or. T.. l.. Os-
good, witness for the State. previously
testified hat the wounded man was
unconscious from the time he arrived
Their" Just after the shooting until
two hours and a half afterwards.
John Wyman Of Saxtons River told
of meeting Fairbanks at about noon,
Of eating dinner with him and of
their having several drinks together.
He further said that Fairbanks did
not leave him until after three
o'clock. This tends to contradict
two State witnesses. Mrs. futile, who
testified that Fairbanks took the 12:15
car for saxtons River on which she
rode, and that of f. Markham. who said
that Fairbanks was in a livery stable
asleep the greater part Of the time
@''' ~ IptI WI IL AFTERNOON
Of the day of the murder
WIFE OF ACCUSED TESTIF1ES.
Mrs. William Fairbanks. wife of the
accused man, ~testiile; as to the moor
health her husband was in. She said that
sAe mad spoken to her husband and also
10 MIS-. Grout about their relations to
each other and that on this account
Mary ia not come 10 the house again.
81" told of the severe headaches that
he had suffered recently and that they
became more Intense. She further admit
TED that her husband had used little pro-
ian" Language in her presence. She said
that occasionally toward the last of his
being at home, she saw in his eyes an
unnatural appearance, that the looked
as though they We're staring.
George Townsend testified that he had
know Fairbanks for the greater part
OF % wears and that Fairbanks had oc-
casionally worried for him. lie went on
10 TESTIFY that Fairbanks suffered n
sunstrnkc during the summer of 1906 and
that he had a spell of trembling after
wards. He said that the accused man
was sick in bed for two DAYS and was
unable to work after the sunstroko dur
ing that summer. He also old of tho
severe headaches Fairbanks suffered He
came to the house, Mr.. Townsend said.
about two weeks before the shooting and
looked in a bad physical condition.