The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-23
RESPONDENT DENIED
"TWITCHING" NEGRO
Henry Goodrich Went on the Stand in
His Own Behalf in the Bolton Case.
Taking Testimony Completed.

/
OF South Burlington, who is on trial in
Chittenden county court on a charge of
manslaughter, took the stand in his own
| behalf yesterday afternoon and, with
/ pale face. related to the Jury his part
in the events that led to the drowning
of Sam Rounds, negro, at Bolton, on
! April 49,
The appearance Of Goodrich on the
stand gave the first inkling OF what his
defense was to be- According to his
story, Rounds either jumped of his own
accord or fell into the river and was
drowned
Witnesses for the state earlier in the
day had testified that Goodrich had
grasped the negro in shoulder and
body hold and "twitched" him into the
swift current OF the river before any of
the other members OF the section gang
knew what was happening
Goodrich claims as his defense that
the negro was only led down to the river
to "scare" him and that just as the bank
was reached the negro gave him Good
rich) A push 50 that he did not see how
the negro came 10 fall into the river.
The respondent stuck to his story that |
he had no hand in "twitchng" the negro |
into the river, in spit, OF sharp grilling |
by Attorney General II. Il. Brown.
James Sweeney and Henry McCabe I
who have already pleaded guilty to /
manslaughter in connection with the /
nsgro's death, were the chief witnesses
for the state yesterday. John kineston,
another member Of the section gang,
who took no part in the alleged throw
a.. I...ta hx T.
important witness for the state. The
first two testified that Goodrich gave
Rounds the fatal push that sent him to
his death
The state rested its case at noon after
calling about 10 witnesses. The de-
fense called three witnesses to testify as
to the respondents character and
fourth witness to testify concerning
he had had at the Jail
This last witness Is serving a sentence
for larceny and had been told by Me-
..sbe that Goodrich was not to blame
or the negro's DEATH II
The defense then placed Goodrich on
he stand and at the close of his testi- {
nony, rested their side of the case.
Goodrich related the events which led
ip TO the drowning of the negro. He
aid they took the negro to the shanty
IN McCabe's orders. r
Had YOU struck the negro?"
~ threw stick at him but did not Z
lit him" I
Goodrich testified that McCabe told
he negro ii he did not tell where the ?
ails were they would throw him into Z
he river.
did you see McCnbe throw stone
lto the water?"
81 did
What happened when McCabe threw
he stone into the river?' :
He pulled his arm away and gave
le push on the shoulder. | fell
gainst McCabe with my back TO the :
egro"
aDld you see the negro go into the =
aterE'
Il did not I I
What did you say'' =
Il said For Gods sake boys, let's get : !.
i'm out = Z {
Now Henry, | want you TO tell this :
Try whether or not you had any hand /
pushing that man into the water" !, 4
NO, sir, / did not =
Attorney General Brown took up the =
.oss examination Of Goodrich during 3
le middle of the afternoon. The re- y
,ondent answered the cross fire Of ques- y
ons as glibly as he had told his story y
"WThat did YOU chase the negro across
10 field for?' "
Because McCabe told us to-" t e
"He never raised hand against you, ~ ~
d he?' ~ ~
NO, sir" "
"You knew that there was no proof ~
at the negro had taken the pals, ~
dnt your
"Yes, | didn't stop TO think at the :. p
me whether it was right or wrong" "
"IIow did the water look to YOU when "a "a
u got to the bank with the negro?" !, !,
''It looked pretty wild" ~
''The negro was helpless when he was =, =,
rown into the water. was he not ?" ~
"Yes, the current was swift. He came III
once but the current carried him
,ay.' af
"Then you do not know how the negro plI
me to get into the riverf" phi
Il do not" IN
On redirect examination, Mr.. Powell ca
ked Goodrich if he saw McCabe or | =
'eeney push the negro into the water hr
whether he saw him Jump or fall trt
e witness said he did not see what wi
ppened because the negro had pushed PEE
n on the shoulder.