The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-12-30
TOLD OF
CHILD'S MURDER
Mahan Girls Father Brings
Tears
TO THE ACCUSED'S EYES
Not Responsible, Is The Defense Ia Mahan
Murder Trial-flSst Witness a
Bennington Is the Victims
Father. German Mahan.
10 THE ACCUSED'S EYES

bennington. Dee. a0.-- nrolhcv against
brother proved . sensational ieat,re a.
tho Mahan murder trial hen saturday,
German Mahan. brother q Alfred
AiahAn. the prisoner, and father Of tAe
.yeAr.ola airi who was cruelty muf.
dorcd. sook the stand and told m =
most dramatic manner the events OF
April Is. when leading a number q
nearciera be found bis child IN a gully
with her throat cut
Then followed the ercst Of hls ~kir'
brother for the crime. So graPaie and
heart .rending was his description Of
al that transpircd that day, Of the
feeling between HE ,aughses ami tae
PRISONER. that even the jury was moved
70 tears, and Judge HaSehon was seen
10 wipe his eyes.
Up 10 the iimo that his brother took
TIE stand against him the prisoner was
bearing up wonderfully, but Ike a sheet
q tissue paper IN the hand be cranbled
until. before the testimony vas half
over, he began bleeding from the nose.
There was but q years difference IN
the AGO II the two btothcr. prisoner
and witness. and the resemblance wac -
great that they could easily be taken
for twins.
Pacing each other, but IS feet apart
they sat. Tho prisoner sobl,cd bitterly
and kept his eycs always on the hoor
his face showing clearly the terrible
agony he was suffering. But once did
German Manan look AZ bis brother, and
then BE- stopped 10 cry. His testimony
was clear and straight until be came 10
the point Of telling of the finding u his
daughter. ana also Of the friendly feeling
between him and the prisoner. Then be
sobbed bitterly.
state Attorney William Meaehcr
opened the case BY outlining the gov.
ernment's ease 20 the jury. He stated
that they would show that although
the prisoner had never owned y fazor
or shaved himself, ne took one from
che home q his father on the morning
81 April IS and that he asked 10 nave
the little Girl 10 accompany him 70 the
lake where her father was fishing.
Tho states case was 80 strong that
Counsel O. NJ Barber. for the defense.
said. "Whatcver the respondent may
have done. as the evidence must prove,
the defense will be that IL WIS done I'M
der siich a condition Of mind that toe
law cannot punish him therefor
The defense maintained one point IN
the case Of insanity, when German Ma
han admitted in the direct examination
that a brother Daniel, had died but two
weeks ago in an asylum in Bratticboro.
II Is the intention Of the defense 70
prove that insanity i hereditary u the
prisoners family.
When the name Of German Mahan
was called a hush fell on the crowded
court room. Not a seat was 70 be had,
a. the case has aroused such interest
that farmers and their wives are coming
from all parts Of tine county.
The announcement Of the brothers
name, and father Of the girl be is charg-
ell with killing, caused the prisoner to
uncover mis- face and look pleadingly IN
the direction OF the witness from at the
rear of the court room.
But the finn, decided expression on
the face Of his brother, playmate for
years, caused him 70 turn his head and
sob into a handkerchief that covered his
face
With firm step the witness approach
ed the stand until he reached the place
where lis brother, on trial for his life,
sat weeping. lie faltered and would have
spoken but the voice Of the clerk say
ing Hold up your right hand stopped