The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-09-05
MRSLAURA CARTER
TELLS STORY IN
COURT
Betrayer Of Chester B. Runyan
Weeps Before Jury
FEARED CHARGE OF MURDER
Woman Begged Dofaulter to Return
Money and Square Himself With
Tho Company He Robbed.

NEW YORK. Sept. "a hidden 70.
nance In the life OF Laura NJ. Carter,
who betrayed Chester Is Runyan 10
the police. WAS revealed at her trial
before Judge Whitman Ia the court Of
general sessions on charge VI recely.
ing part OF the $4,000 loot stolen
from the Windsor Trust company.
II was learned for the first time that
Mrs. Carter had been married many
years ago aud had child whose
whereabouts II now a mystery When
this was disclosed In court she broke
down.
Where Is your child nowT' asked
Assistant District Attorney Marshall
IN crUss examining the witness
This was the fir-t time that any men
tlun had been made Of the existence Ut
the child. and Mrs. Carter was taken
by surprise She was unable 20 ~
strain herself and wept violently
After considerable argument the qnes
ton was Withdrawn. aud Mrs. Carter
was not compelled 10 answer
The woman was called 10 the stand
at the opening Of her trial aud la =
voice weak aud trembling told Ia dra
matte fashion " her meeting with Run
yan.
my real name" she said. turning an
appealing look On the jury. ia Laura
NJ. IsOn. | Was married twelve or thir
teen years ago I don't wish 90 tell
where I came from unless I am com.
PEELED 10. for there are many dear o.
me who do not know Of the life I am
leading here left my husband ten
years ago because he drank 70 excess
aud treated me cruelty.
II came to New York and sought a
position In many Of the department
stores here. / got nothing but prom
ises aud was compelled TO resort 10 ms
present form Of living.
II first met Runyan near Healy's res
taurant GA Columbus avenue. when
MIR Runyan accOsted me. lie asked
me n would have a drink He told
me that was n nice girl. that par
ticulary appealed o. him aud that a.
he had a great deal ~ trouble at home
with his wife aud family he wanted 20
conway.
lie asked me 90 Keep house for him
aud 1 said I would But as be had
been drinking I never expected Ia -.
him again when he left. lie said L.
fore parting that he would pay me so
a week aud expenses then told him
my name aud the telephone number of
my house. but when ! asked Tor hi.
name he replied, oh. just call b. G-Or
gle
"He called the following day. aud
asked him for money. as hr had sug
gcsted move ~ 10 one Hundred aud
Twenty .hfth street
when be- finally came 90 our new
Hat be was morOsc. nervous aud NJ.
pearcd 10 h. ~ nj ease all the time
A short tlnie after that ! began 10 sus-
pect that something serious was wrong
Il want 20 say here now that when
: took that $500 from him ! had NO
knowledge VI his Identity. IL was not
until the following day. when taxed
him with being Runyan aud confront.
I'd him with the pictures aud stories
published In the papers. that he dnally
admitted his Identity
1T appeared 10 me that be- might
commit suicide. figured that would
be ia bad position II he ended hls
life In my home | could see that
would DO arrested aud perhaps charg
ed with murder
Realizing my danger. then begged
him 10 square matters with the bank.
but he said that Was impossible. az he
was too deep la the hole. was very
much frightened and making some ex.
cuse. left the house aud went down Co
the Garfield deposit vaults In Twenty.
third street. secured the 5000 which
be had given me aud took II right back
90 the Hat aud gave II 10 him. lie was
very angry at this aud said was play.
Ing him false aud threatened the with
n pistol.
81 will kill you and take my own
llS, he said"
Before the Carter woman took the
stand a juryman suggested that Ches.
ter Is Ruuyan be- put on the stand. as
be- had three questions 10 ask him.
The iuryman wanted 60 know the ex.
net amount of money Runyan counted
IN the dress suit case.
IT was S7D5OO" replied Runyan.
"You claim you gave this defendant
$4,000 or thereaboutsr'
Eyes. sir"
Then that should have loft s0l 800
OF thereabOutsT'
yes. sir"
"well how was Il that they only
counted SOi.4i0 In the station housei"
Runyan admitted that ho could not
explain this. but that he saw II count.
I'd at the station house This caused
jubllation In the camp Of the defend.
ants lawyers.
havsa woman asa Two aen.
WATCH HILL, H. l., Sept DIN q
thunderstorm, Captain Davis and his
crew Of the life saving station here
took on a woman and two men from