The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-01-11
JURORS RECOVER
AND TRIAL IS
RESUMED
Mahan Case Again On in County
Court
TWO WITNESSES EXAMINED
Stuart Hall and Thomas Mahan Cues.
toned by Defence In Relation to
Family History.

The trial of Alfred Mahan for the
murder of his little niece at North
Bennington last April was resumed in
county court this morning after re-
cess of two days occasioned by the Ill.
ness of two of the jurymen, Mark SUIT
ton Of Searsburg and Charles N. VIII
liams of Dorset. The morning ses-
sion was taken up with the examinat-
ion of Stuart Hall, brotherin-law.
and Thomas Mahan, father of the re-
spOndent Both had been called in
the case before.
For the first time during the trial
Thomas Mahan broke down on the wit
ness stand this morning and his grief
was pitiful. He has undergone con-
siderable questioning in relation to
Alfred without any display of emotion,
hard as the ordeal must have been for
him, but when asked to testify this
morning concerning the death of his
wife the strain was too much. He
recovered quickly, however, and when
cross-examned by Mr.. Fits gave his
answers without any difficulty.
Stuart Hall of North Bennington,
who was one of the witnesses for the
state was put on the stand this morn
ing and in reply to questions by Mr..
Barber stated that he had lived in
North Bennington larger portion of
his life, that he ha dbeen frequent
visitor at the Mahan house up to the
time he was II years of age and had
been there more or less since that
time He knew that Alfred used a
large amount of tobacco. Alfred was
always good natured and very affect
ionate toward his grandmother The
witness knew that Alfred was afraid
of the dark and that he would not go
to bed without light. On the Sun
day after his grandmother died Alfred
was seen by the witness crying and
wringing his hands and when ques-
toned said that his only friend was
dead and that he didn't care to live
any longer. A year ago this winter
Alfred complained that he could not
sleep nights The witness was ac-
quainted with Mrs. Seth Lawrence and
knew that she had spells.
Cross-eXamined by Mr.. Fits the wit
ness testified that Alfred was frequent
ly out of the house during the evening
and that he went away at night for
liquor. On the occasion Alfred took
the witness horse and went to ride
with Florence Mosher during the eve
ming, taking her to the cold springs,
Alfred went TO Troy once with party
of boys and remained over Sunday.
Thomas Mahan, Alfreds father, was
the next witness and testified that his
son had used tobacco ever since he
was little child, when he used to dig
it out of his grandfather's pipe and
during the last few years he had
averaged a plug a day. He knew that
Alfred used intoxicating liquor, but
did not remember how old he was
when he began to drink.
The witness testified in relation to
the wash bench which Alfred made for
his sister and of which none OF the
legs were Of the same length. Alfred
attempted to repair the well-sweep
a short time before the tragedy, but
failed to do so. So far as the witness
knew Alfred was able neither to read
or write.
Seth Lawrence, Alfred's grand
IdtueT, dCCUTumS W Tic Wlluco6, Woo
a hard drinker, and he recalled con-
versation with Mrs. Lawrence In
which she said that either she did not
know who Seth's father was or he
didn't, the witness was not positive
which way 1t was.
In relation to Mrs. Lawrence's at.
tacks Of hysteria the witness stated
that he had seen her 60 to the big
pond following spell of unconscious.
ness with the avowed intention OF
drowning herself, that the attacks
would sometimes last an hour and
that her arms would be rigid. Alfred's
mother was a sad woman who had a
habit Of crying which continued
throughout her life. she had six chill
dren and died in childbirth
Cross-examined by Mr.. Fits the wit
ness testified that the day Alfred
tried to fix the we'll curb was on the
day of the tragedy and that he knew
the young man had some liquor the
night before.