The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-06-26

In the cross-examination of Hiram B.
Trasker by Attorney Madden yesterday
afternoon the witness described Hamil-
ton as being of athletic build, active
and aggressive. Wren was described
by the witness as being slow and not
aggressive. He said he never knew
Wren to have any quarrel. On redirect
examination by Attorney Cain the Wit
ness stated that Wren borrowed so
cents of him several weeks before he
was discharged at the railroad. He ties
titled that Wren was somewhat dissatis-
fed on losing his job, as he was an older
man on the work than many of the 9th
ers and thought he ought to be retained
He described Wren as being active for
man his size.
Herbert l.. Ripley of Brattleboro,
I Vt, engineer in charge of the work on
the Hinsdale- Brattleboro road, was next
called. He explained maps of the rail
road and the character of the land
tracks, etc. He located the crime as
near station 261, marked by a stake
The stakes We're set marking stations
100 feet apart When he reached the
scene of the crime the coroner had Just
removed the body from the ice. He did
not know of any rocks between the two
tracks of the railroad. On cross exami-
nation by Mr.. Piekard, the witness
measured on maps the distance the body
was dragged and found it about IS
feet. The spot where the murder oc-
( CURED was some 10xS feet in size.
( There was a box ear and gondola in the
Liscomb cut. Witness measured on the
map the distance from Hamilton s of
fee to the track as $50 feet; from the
point on the track where Hamilton
would reach it to the scene of the muir
der is 2, 500 feet; from there to the main
road by the path Hamilton was accus-
toned to take, as $50 feet; and from
there to the Osteyee home 1900 feet,
total distance of trifie over IL miles
\ tank house was located some 400 feet
north of Hamilton s office. Hamilton
was a very efficient foreman Had
about $50 men under him, of all nation
alities. No record was kept of their
names. On redirect examination witness
gave distance from scene of crime to
road and thence to Osteyee house as
practically one mile.
William j. Shannon was called after
Mr.. Ripley. He testified that he was an
assistant to Mr.. Hamilton and was well
acquainted with him. Shannon who.
aside from the murderer, is probably
the last man to see Hamilton alive, tes-
titled that he left Hamilton about 6.15
and went toward Brattleboro while
Hamilton went toward his boarding
/ place He described the scene at the
/ place Of the murder, on the morning of
| Feb. 6. On cross examination he said
| to Mr.. Madden that he knew Hamilton
was in the habit of carrying consider
able money, but did not know how much
he had about him on the night of the
murder.
James Madigan. a fireman on steam
shovel No. 61, testified that Hamilton
visited his place at the shovel during
the afternoon before the murder anc
that he remained about two hours, il
order to keep warm While with Madi
gan Hamilton opened his pay envelope
in put it in his bill fold with other mon
l ey, which was described as yellowhack
| and greenbacks. Witness said Hamil
! ton told him that he carried over $500
| and that he, Hamilton, would deposi
| it the following day. Hamilton lief
! Madigan about 4 on the afternoon o
| Feb. s.
On cross examination by Mr.. Madden
Madigan said he had worked on iO
about one year. and said the genera
character of the men was good. lie ties
tilted that Hamilton was positive ma
and one of good physique. He describe
Wren as a good naturcd man, Plcasau
aud never saw him quarrelsome Mad
pan testified that ne told Hamilton tina
y $500 was too much 90 carry aud told q