The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-06-17
TURNER WAS DEAD
BEFORE WATER
TOUCHED HIM
And Tom Harris Owned up to
Having Struck Him
FEATURES OF TESTIMONY
Case Dragging Slowly Along Today
With Testimony Covering Dry
Details Mostly

Manchester, June 1.-THE principal
points brought out during the past "a
hours of the trial of Thomas Harris
accused of killing Oscar Turner are
that Turner was undoubtedly dead
from fractured skull before his body
reached the river and that Harris told
Frank Moon That he struck Turner
The fact that Turner was dead be
fore he reached the river is shown ap
parently conclusyely by the testimony
of DIR. Stone who made the autopsy
He declared that there was no sedi
ment in tie dead mans lungs, throat
or bronchial tubes. Had he ever
gasped after touching the muddy wat
ers of the Hoosick river there would
have been.
Then too, the wounds including the
severe fracture of the skull described
by DIR. Stone would probably have kill
ed Turner within short time. The
testimony OF Pratt and Moon also in
dicates tnat Harris had an opportunity
to throw the body into the river UNI
observed by them.
The testimony this forenoon was
not very interesting, as it was devoted
largely to side details intended to
close up the web that is being woven
about the accused. The state witness
SEES were examined by States Attorney
Meagher, with Attorney General Sar
gent, only occasionally taking a hand
J. X. Batohelder does most of the
cross examining, assisted by Frank c
Archibald WAC is associated with him
George Leonard who is Turner's
stepfather and with whom Turner liv
ed, testified to fading the dead boy s
cap short distance down stream from
where he was last seen alive. He also
told about the finding of the pick-han.
die and shovel hidden near his place.
Edward Pratt testified to going to
Charles Potters after the tools.
M. L. Grady who was boss on the
Job where Harris worked at loading
tools for the electric railway company
testified that Harris worked until
about 5 o'clock on the day Turner is
supposed to have been killed.
Stephen Pratt who lived near the
Harrises told of Harris and his wife
coming to his house the next day af
ter Turner's death. Tae three OF
them went to Williamstown and got a
gallon of cider which they drank.
Surveyor ID. T. Bates who made the
maps for the state was called to tell
the distance from where Turner was
seen lying in the road to where his
cap was found in the river. He fixed
the distance at S12 feet.
Sheriff Godfrey and Deputy Sheriff
Nash were called and told of the find.
ing the pick handle and other tools
being found hidden near George Leon
ards. They also told of the arrests
and other matters of detail.
Mrs. Maggie Harris, wife of the ac.
cused was on the stand this after.
noon and told that she and Tom went
to North Adams the night of the HON
icide and came home early in the eve
ming.
She went 20 her mother-in-la s
while Tom went and got the tools sc
often referred to. Tom then came af
ter her and they started for home
Near DR.. BARRIERS somebody came
along and grabbed her by the should
err and told her ne was going to get
next to her" or words to that effect
She wouldn't say that her husband
struck the man but said the next she
saw OF him he was lying on the
ground. Then Frank Moon came
along and asked Harris if he struck
Turner and Harris said he nad to to
save his wife. James Pratt came dir.
ectly afterward.
She said that Moon remarked to her
husband that that son of a b. had
got what he was looking for" She
said that Turner got up partly and sat
against the fence after she saw him
On the ground.
The four went to the Harris home
and went in. They had several drinks
on the way. Pratt remained all night
The next morning she and her hus
band went out and hid the tools neal
Henry Leonard's. Mrs. Harris wa:
examined by the attorney general bu
was not cross examined
Miss Nettie HAYES, granddaughter
of Charles Potter testified to hearing
racket about II o'clock the night Of
Turner's death. She went out anC
saw a man on the ground and Harri.
kicking him. She said that Mag Har
ris told her it was Oscar Turner She
went back after lantern and the meI
disappeared
Mrs. Adelaide Harris, mother Of
Thomas Harris, testified that her sor
was at home at supper and went tC
North Adams on the evening of April
II, returning at later hour.
Trainer Harris, brother of Thomas
Harris testified to similar facts. He
also test flied that there was a hall
pint bottle of liquor at the house.
James Pratt testified that he went
to the depot where he met Mike Hill
lier, Steven Gradey, Thqmas Ryan
William Harris and Thomas Harris
at work. Later went to the George
Lewis house and was there a portion
ofSthe day. During the day drank
one bottle and glass of ale with
Steven Pratt, later going to the car
where the men were engaged in un
loading tools. Remained there until
noon and he went to Lewis store and
purchased something to eat. Went
back to the car where he saw Thomas
Harris. Harris was at work WITH the