Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-02-01
.TR0WbR|DGE
WAS CONVICTED
Jury Found Him Guilty OF
Assault To Do Bodily Harm
Less Than Murder
SENTENCED TO JACKSON
Judge Davis Severely Reprimanded
William Trowbridge For Ill
Treating His Family

After hard fought legal battle in
which |. l.. Hubbell defended the
prisoner in the Circuit court several days
last week, John Trow bridge was con-
victed of shooting his father the YER
dict being equity OF assault with in
tent TO do great bodily harm less than
murder In giving his sentence
Judge Davis told the prisoner he was
sorry to have TO sentence him again
| but was obliged To do so and this time
would send him TO Jackson for term
OF from two 10 ten years with recon-
mendation of light sentence
Young Trowbridge sobbingly inter
ruputed with frequent calculations
against his father and finally went out
still sobbing AMI accusing his father
as The cause of his misfortunes
After John had received his sentence
William Trowbridge, the father was
called by the court, who spoke with
much greater severity to the victim Of
the shooting than he did to the convict
ed son.
Judge Davis called the attention of
the father 10 the statements he had
made when he expected to die.
The reversal of his statements when
brought before the jury constituted the
foundation for a serious charge, but the
court said he had not yet desided
whether to prosecute him for purjury.
The principal part of his address,
however, related to the fathers treat
ment of his family. He said that Mrs.
Trowbridge left the court in fear of
her husband on account OF her testi-
mony and that the irst indication of
assault by Trow bridge on her or any
other member of the family should be
severely punished by the state.
He reverted TO the conviction Of
many years back when the father
served time for incest and said that
another accusation woulG bring little
chance for leniency.
On the opening of the case VIM. +.
Trowbridge, the father of the prisoner
Of the shooting, was the first witness.
The bullet had passed through the soft
palate, partially paralyzing the tongue,
which made it difficult to understand
all his testimony. The statement made
by him when he was expecting death
as consequence OF the attack was pro-
dpaai ~, annrt anH raaI hxy
Locke. Attorney Hubbell objected to
this, saying that in the event of mans
recovery to give verbal testimony So
called dying statement made by him is
incompetent. The prosecutor claimed
that a statement made in the expecta-
ton Of death was dying statement,
regardless of the result OF the illness or
injury. A brief argument ensued,
which was settled by the court in~ Mr..
Locke's favor, and the examination
went on.
Mr.. Hubbell then took up the cross.
examination. He inquired rs To the
past history of WIN. Trowbridge, ask
ing in particular for the details of any
former trouble he had had with nsigh-
bors or other persons. Trowbridge told
Of several fist encounters, their occasions
and outcomes, TO the frequent amuse-
ment OF the audience. Mr.. Hubbell
then produced rough sketch of the
house in which the Trowbridge's live
and where the shooting occurred, and
asked Trowbridge TO point out on the
sketch the positions where he and his
son stood and their movements. Dur
ing the consequent description of the
encounter John Trowbridge clutched
his throat and put his hands TO his
eyes TO illustrate the attack made on
him by his father. When his father
denied having choaked him he shook
his head violently and again clutched
his throat. Mr.. Hubbell asked Trow-
bridge his opinion of his own temper
Trowbridge answered that he was quick
TO anger and quick To recover from il.
"Ed" Trow bridge a brother OF John
and the only witness TO the shooting
was placed on the stand but il was next
to impossible to get any testimony from
him, as his answers are slow and hesi-
tating. He took several minutes TO tell
his name and was similarly slow in Civ.
ing his relationship TO VIM. Trow bridge
and John Trow bridge. When the ques-