The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-17
WITNESSES DO NOT
AGREE ON KOCH
SHOOTING
Light House Keeper Says He
Saw Killing
MISS RIPLEY SAYS He DIDN'T
Trained Nurse Declares That Ned
dos Boat was eco Feet Away
and Headed South

rutland Dec. l7.--For more than
two hours yesterday Oliver Neddo,
the Lake Champlain lighthouse keep
err who claims, to have witnessed the
shooting Of Charles Gordon by VIM
Koch on the morning OF Nov. 8, was
cioss-examincd by Attorney Thomas
W. Moloney, VINO is assisting in the
defense Of Koch, who IS on trial in
County court charged with Gordons
murder. The state largely depends
on this witness 10 prove its case ana
Neddo was forced to tell over ana
over again what he says he witness
ed on the day OF the killing; what
was said between the two men, Cor
den and Koch, and the part he took
in The tragedy. before and after the
shot was fired.
A short session was held last even
ing at s o'clock 10 allow an out-of-lfle
safe witness for the defense TO get
his testimony before the jury
Neddo. was without doul5 the
mos. Important witness for the state
as he was the only one who claims
he actually Witnessed the shooting
and The prosecutions case is for the
most part built around the mans
story Another important witness
in The person OF Miss Ida r. Ripley
was introduced by the state iate in
the afternoon, but before the close Of
her examination she proved to be
valuable. Witness fer the reepon-
dent. In two instances she contra
dictod The testimony of Neddo and
although thoroughly cross-oTamined
by the states attorney he was un-
able to shake two declarations which
mean much TO William Koch.
Neddo IN telling his story on di.
rect examination sNore that Koch
was about 40 or 50 feet from Gordon
when he fred the fatal shot and he
also testified that at The time Of the
shoe ling the engine Of his motor
boat in which he visited the light
house along the lake shore was not
running
Miss Ripley a trained nurse.
whose home in on the lake hear the
scene Of the shooting. testified She
saw Koch and Gordon just before
the shot was fired, (Which she
heard) and the men We're only ABOUT
six feet apar, and were talking loud
ly. She also testified she noticed
The boat containing Nodd0 and that
it was about 600 feet south OF Jhc
two men. she testified that The
beat was running in 4 southcrly di
rection, that she heard The purr OF
the engine and saw the ripple5 in
{he wake of the boat. About two
minutes after the shot was fred she
saw Neddo turn his boat about and
head it in northerly direction.
towards The point where Tho mcn
had been having the argument.
These two statements, as siyen in
court; werc directly in opposition 10
each other Il developed that Miss
Ripley had refused TO give The Yer
mont officers any Information con
corning what she know of the shoot
ing. telling States Attorney b. L.
ina. She would tell ncr
story IN court
Later she admitted conlerridg
with Mr.. Jones OF respondents coun
sci and tollng him hcr story
Ncddo en- bis direct examination
told siraigh, forward story without
hcsitancy. but in the cross oXaiaira.
ticn he often was unable 10 rcmcm
Der certain vital details
Time and 2gain 30 Nes necessary
not only 90 repea, the question but
to have &c explained By the court