The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-25
MEIkLE ON THE
STAND Tells
HIS OWN STORY

Salem. Mass. May 25.-In the expecta-
ton that the trial OF Edgar w. Meikle.
charged with the murder OF Charles s.
@. Meikle. HIS father. would come to an
end today. large crowd gathered in
front OF the court house before the case
was resumed this forenoon. Within two
minutes after the doors had been open
ed. every seat in the court room had been
taken, and many were unable 10 gain
admittance. The defendant. who was
pale and heavy-eyed. when he was taken
back to the jail last night. after having
undergone a searching cross-examination
by District Attorney w. Scott Peters, APP
peared brighter today, and evidently had
been greatly refreshed by his nights
rest.
The members OF the jury. too. appeared
more alert today, seemingly relieved 10
feel that this would be the last day OF
their confinement
When Judges Stevens and Sanderson
took their places on the bench this fore
noon, Judge Stevens announced that the
court would remain open tonight until a
verdict was reported TO the jury, no
matter how late that might be.
The young defendant was placed on the
stand again and District Attorney Peters
resumed his cross examination
Mekle said that he took a school card
on which was written the table showing
that he had been absent from school l6
times and had hidden IL at the bottom OF
a box at his home, because he did not
want his father to see It, (
He said that he saw a message written
on a slate which they kept hanging up
In the house for the purpose of commlIni-
eating with each other when they were
rot together. This message said that his
father wanted TO see the school card
which the witness had hidden. The wit
he had gone TO the Mccarthy house, next
door. 20 borrow a key with which 10 Gn-
lock his fathers bureau drawer, from
which, he testified yesterday that he re-
moved n school book. He admitted that
he talked with the Mccarthy girl and that
she told him ne would get II for opening
q letter from has teacher 10 his father"
To many other questions from the dis
trict attorney the witness replied: II
don't remember" or II don't think So"
The boy said that on the day OF his
fathers death he intended to go 10
school and that was why he took the
history out OF the drawer. He did
no. remember what made him change
his mind. He did not see the revolver
box when he took the history from the
drawer and he could not remember ever
having said whether the box was thero.
His evidence at the inquest was thon
read to him. At the inquest he said
lldl not See tne DOk In TIE
drawer. Today, however he could not
remember OF having seen II. He did
not remember having told Capt. Proctor
that the box was there.
He said that he did not know whether
or slate which they kept hanging UP
OF the shooting, and did not remember
whether they were pulled down. He did
not remember of saying anything TO Mrs.
Goudreau or her daughter OF the manner
In which his father came TO his death.
He said that when his father came home
that noon he made no statement, but pull
ed the revolver out OF his pocket and
shot himself. He did not remember which
pocket the revolver was taken from or
how his father used II. He said that he
saw the fash OF the metal, and then the
weapon was placed at his fathers head
and fired. According to the evidence given
at the inquest. which was read at this
point, the father took the revolver from
the right hand trousers pocket.
At this point Meikle left the stand and
the defense rested