Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-15

to the occurances at the time Of the
shooting and the wounds inflicted on
Miss Moore.
Walter F. Gray and Charles A. john
son testified to carrying notes for Ben
son and throwing them in Miss Moore's
door.
Sheriff A. F. Carleton, identified the
state exhibit No. Z, the revolver, as the
one he was told Benson did the shoot
ing with. On ts-examin alton he
said Benson came O. the jail unaccom-
panied and gave himself up.
The State closed ut $50.
Mr.. -Ritchie said in opening for the
defence that his client was not 'Nig-
tger,' as he has Oft en- been called, but
was the son of an American mother
and a father Of Spanish extraction,
which accounted for his dark face. Mr..
Richie also said that self-derence
would be the defendants line OF de-
fence and that he would show how the
woman had pursued the respondent
and threatened his life many times. He
also said he would show the meaning
and cause of the notes produced by the
State and that ha had no intention Of
committing murder. Six witnesses were
sworn for the defence.
Benson was first placed on the stand.
He said he was &c years old and born
lin Castine. His father was Allan Ben
son. who died when he was one year
old. He lived with his grandparents at
West Sedgwick and went to work when
70 wears old. He said he lived 10 years
lin Augusta, working as longshoreman.
He enlisted in the LIST Me. Vol. Inf of
Augusta at the time of the Spanish
!. American War lie was at Camp
george H. Thomas, Chickamauga
Park. and served in the army seven
, months receiving an honorable dis
charge and a pension. He has been
, married and divor ced. He has two chill
t dren.
J, Benson said he came to Belfast In
, February of last year and worked in
the shoe factory and bowling alley. He
was on very friendly terms with Miss
: Moore from the beginning, and she &C
| lcepted his attentions. 1t was she who
l Isuggested he testified, that they &c
away together. From February unit
S late in July he roomed at her apart
/ ments They hs some trouble in July
! and he left, af ter which he did, !. no
room there or call there. She visited
t him both at his room and at the 100
2 Club. where he was working. She hat
G threatened his life many times, Ben
! son claimed, Saying if she could no
have him no ONE could. Later she de
= c;ded she would go away with him ant
e offered to do so. Benson denied eve
threatening Mi IS Moore's life or say
l. ing he would shoot her.
y The defendant swore that about Dec.
n Miss Moore call I'd on him at the stabl
where he was working and accused hin
Of telling bad ste ries about her. He toll
Il her he would give her a week to hav
: him arrested in and he would prov
G the stories. This was the only threat n
had made and it was this week to whic
he referred in his notes. On Dec. Z, tn
day of the shooting, the week was ur
| The stable is plainly visible from Mis-
tMoore's apart n1ents and about o'cloc
in the afternoon she beckoned for him t
n come over. He went to the door and ask
ed her what SHE was going to do abou
it, saying that the week was mp and tina
r il she was not going to have him ar
rested he would have her arrested.
A few minute later. Benson said, h
It went to Miss pMoore's room. He sa
n down and Miss Moore left the room, re
). turning soon with her hand wrapped u
In shawl. She sat down near him an
% then, calling him a name, pulled on
l. hand out of the shawl, holding revolv2
e with which she fired at him. AS 500
=. | as she fired the. shot he exclaimed
"Stella, you have killed good man." H
- then drew his own revolver and fire
y two shots in ra pid succession at Mis-
- Moore, who fell to the floor but got u
- and ran out of the room.
Benson said he then went into hallway
where Jimmy Kelley fired at him. Will
going down stairs; he discovered that hi
- face had been gr azed~ by bullet III
went to his room and later went to tn
- Jail and gave him self up. He had neve
), been arrested in Belfast before, but ha
been arrested NICE in Augusta for fas
y driving.
Johanna E. Gray said Benson ha
boarded at her house since July. Sh
o had seen Stella Moore at his room man!
: times. Once Stella said she had to go il
l the back way because she was bein,
y watched by the police. She heard Stell;
tell Benson If she couldn't have him sh'
" would kill him. a
Mrs. Rose Harper OF Castine, Benson
mother. testified she was in Belfast Sept
| IL last ana SIdyGu all 1ll6Al at JoHdIils
d Gray's, where her son boarded. Saw L
woman come in and saw her sitting o.
: her sons bed and heard her say: 81
YOU don't take back what you've sail
about me I'll wipe you out" Heard he
son say: "You wouldn't hurt me. woult
YOU, Stellar" and heard Stella reply: 81
II T can't I know someone I can get tina
will"
Mrs. Harper went down stairs and wa.
conversing with Mrs. Gray when Stella
:. came down. She heard Mrs. Gray tel
. Stella: you've been in my house a goot
many times, but you'll never get II
again.
Mrs Lillian Gray testified to hearing
> Miss Moore say she would have Ben
II son before Judge Rogers because he had
. been lying about her.
John w. Norton and Allie M. Jellisor
gave evidence that they saw Benson and
Miss Moore talking on the sidewalk at
the entrance to her apartments, on the
: day Of the shooting. They did not hear
II the conversation, which was not con-