Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-03-25
. e. 80 !. !. I. - zee - - -

band in a criminal cause. The woman
dressed IN sombre colors, sat beside Rev,
nolds within the bar, impoteut to inter
the words that might save him. Her face
spoke her anguish and her complete helm
lessness. "e'P-
In effect, therefore, It depended upon
Witkie himself to convince the Jury OF
MS innocence. He took the stand. The
long jail confinement had brought pal
lor 10 his once rudy cheek. The seri-
business OF his present situation evidently
pore down upon him heavily. He lacked
much OF. his old-time spirit, but despair
had not yet claimed him. He smiled 10
nls vile, who summoned her strength to
return a kindly greeting. He glanced
around the court room seeking and Ana
ing the faces OF friends, and warmed as
DO noted their sympathy. Answering
the various preliminary questions in .
modest, natural way. he was about In re-
ply to this one,
Describe the events Of the day TINT
preceded the affair at your home"
When the states attorney objected.
1.-The state has presented no evidence
bearing on this phase; hence none is
called for by the defence. It has no prom
er part in the case"
Then followed a long wrangle. the
court finally ruling that only so much OF
wilkes story as tended to show the
eject on his mind Of anything done that
day by John Edwards himself could be
admitted. InRsmuch as Reynolds had
not seen the boy take his fathers note
from the hall at the caucus aud only
learned Of It after the shooting, he could
only state that fact, as showing the abb
sence of any motive on his part to single
out Edwards from the other nocturnal
visitors and slay him.
"You knew John EdwardsP'
81 did"
"Did you ever have any words or trou-
bic OF any kind with him?"
"Never."
"Did you ever utter threats against
him?"
"Never.p
"What was your feeling tow ard him?''
oval, I hadn't no use fer his old man,
bat ruther liked tn boy, sort O. quiet
an kind-like. Took from his mother, l
reckon"
An admonitory look from Spencer pun
ished Wilkie for his lingual wandering.
The states counsel Rrinned.
Wilkie described his homecoming the
mig t OF tnA caucus.
"What first attracted your attention
outsider"
"a noise like bedIam let loose oeutside
TIL door. Horns BLOWN, men yellin' an
a fearful racket"
"Then What happened?'
81 was settin' near tn door, talkin'
jumped up am flung open tn door ter
see what was up"
"Well, go on"
GAS opened the door, hull passed. o.
rotten eggs come hyin' at me.'
"Obiectl' yelled the states attorney.
"Witness could not have known at the
moment they were rotten"
"Huhl Guess it didn't take no chem
list ter find that oeut Didn't hev ter
wait an send 'em to state labratory.
Say, they stunk enough ter"
"Stopl Let the court rule on this
point"
The court held that Wiikie was a COM
petent witness on the point and the mis-
siles went to the jury as "rotten eggs"
"Did any OF them hit your"
"Wal, I can't eggsactly say tibet any of
'em hit me square, but they sploshed
areound nuff so L got full benefit. An
one on 'em hit Emma-that made me the
maddestip
"Did you see anybody outside when
you opened the door,"
"No. Air was too full o. eggs"
"Did you hear anything any words
spoken2"
eyes. Somebody said to come oeut an
I'D git licked"
"Was it a male voice?'
Feared that way"
"Did you recognize it?"
emo"
"Give the exact words of the invita-
tion."
"Near's I en- recollect twas, Ready
ter lick somebody, he ye? Well, come
oeut an wen fix ye.'
"What followed"
az was so excited tibet l grabbed up my
shotgun from the corner, p'inted it oeut
\ tn door an blazed away"
"Was the gun already loaded7"
Eyes"
"When did you load itP"
"That afternoon, after the caucus"
Explain"
"Well, we'd ben havin' tarnal tims
with visitin' cats. Couldn't sleep nights
I'd threatened ter shoot 'em, an that day
afore thu caucus / was inter Walters store
an bought a peound o. buckshot. tua
ded tn gun whit when got home, so''
ter be ready fer 'em that night"
"well, when you went back to the dool
with the gun. or before you leveled It an6
pulled the trigger, did you see anybody
outsider"
s'No, sir"
"Did you at anytime see anybody out
side2"
"No, sir, did not"