Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-25
Takes Stand and Insists
ThatFather ShotHimseIf.
Version in Main Agrees With
Those Of Witnesses.
Discrepancies Brought Out by the
Cross.Examlnatlon.

Salem, Mass, May 24-Edgar Weston
Meikle, the 17-year- old boy. who is on
trial on the charge of numbering his
father. Charles S. G. Meikle. took the
stand today in his own defence. In the
main his story was similar to that al
ready credited to him by the testimony
Of other witnesses, but in the cross-ex-
animation the prosecution brought out
some apparent discrepancies between
his testimony at the inquest and that
given today. During his appearance on
the stand some women in the court
room were reprimanded once for ap-
plauding. and Judge Stevens ordered
their removal from the room should the
offence be repeated.
It is expected that all the evidence
viii he completed by tomorrow noon
and that the arguments will be made
ana the charge of the judge delivered
SO that the case will be given to the
jury tomorrow night. Edgar Meikle was
still on the witness stand when ad-
iournment was taken this evening, I'M
dergoing fire Of questions from Dis
trict Attorney Peters.
IL his direct testimony young Meikle
said he was born in Lynn, March 81.
he was six years old. He LAST went to
school about a week before his fathers
death.
In describing the incidents preced-
ing his fathers death, Meikle said that
on that Tuesday morning, he and his
father had a talk about a history book,
and his father told him that he could
get the book and take 1t home" About
r. h. xx,tA
looked for the history but could not find
it. He passed by the bureau and that
reminded him that he had seen his
father put the book in there, so he went
% Mrs. McCarthy's and got a key and
went back home. With this key witness
said he unlocked the top drawer OF the
bureau and found the history. He car
ried the book into the kitchen and put
il into a box. His examination as to
this part of his story was dwelt upon
particularly. because of the claim made
by the prosecution that the revolver
with which the elder Meikle is alleged
to have been killed came from the bu-
reau where the history was found.
Continuing his testimony. young
Meikle said he began just before IL
o'clock to get dinner heating some
in which the chops were to pull it for
ward to the front of the stove when
he heard footsteps and the door OPEN
ed. The witness said his father came
in the door, drew the pistol from his
pocket, put it to his head and fired.
The witness was dazed for moment.
His father fell forward about at his
feet and the witness then picked up
the revolver and put it on the refriger-
ator
In closing the direct examination,
Lawyer Sisk for the defence said:
Nov, Edgar. / want to know IL yo.l
shot your father on Nov. 7th."
Il didn't" replied the witness in
tones more emphatic than had charac-
terized any Of his previous answers.
In cross-examination by District At
torney Peters, Meikle said that his
father was kind toward him and al
ways gave him good advice. He I'M
derstood that he had been dlsobeying
his father the last few weeks that he
had been staying from school and that
he had signed his fathers name to
notes to the school teacher, and knew
it was wrong to do so.
what did you want of that history
book?" asked the district attorney.
ITO take ii to school," replied the
witness.
But you were not going to school
any more, were you?"
To this question the witness replied:
mo"
The district attorney then asked some
questions regarding the boys testi-
mony at the inquest and the boy was
still being examined when court adj
journeG.