Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-29
ACCUSED'S STORY ON THE SHOOTING
Mrs. Lillian M Perkins Is First Witness When Defense Opens Shot Son-in-Law Because She Was Afraid of Him After Threats When He Came to House and Broke Through Doors-She Denied Some Details of Her Signed Statement Made Before Coroner.

On Tuesday in the superior court 1 nere before Judge Gardiner Greene the trial of Mrs. Lillian M. Perkins oL Aliyn's Point on the charge of man. slaughter In shooting her son-in-law Ihomas V. Coatchelly, made progress towards ultimately reaching the jury soon, and the prospects are that the first of the arguments for state and TOT defense will be reached this morn : Ing and that the case will get to the jury by Thursday.
 For over an hour on direct examina- tlon conducted by her counsel, Att torney J. J. Desmond, and for nearly the same length of time under cross examination by States Attorney Hull Mrs. Perkins, the accused, occupied the stand on Tuesday, this ordeal being divided between the morning and af- ternoon sessions. The task of telling her story on direct examination seem ed to be the most trying upon her. for In the afternoon under cross examina- ton she was much less nervous At times States Attorney Hull allowed her to talk freely in long explanations at other times he caught her up sharp ly and insisted upon yes and no an- swers to his questions.
 Testimony Excluded.
 When court opened in the morning
 
 called Mrs Phebe Norman of A1lyn's Point to the stand. He asked her a question intended to bring out what Coatchelly said at the store before he was shot as to where he was going and for what purpose.
 This led to objection from Attorney Desmond and long arguments. A re- cess was taken while authorities were consulted by the court and attorneys. Alter about 25 minutes the court ses- sion was resumed and Judge Greene ruled that this evidence should come in as rebuttal and not at the present stage of the case.
 State Rests.
 Major Hull then said the state would rest it's case.
 In Her Own Defense4
 Tn her own defense Mrs. Lillian Per ktns, the accused, was the first witness put on by her attorneys Speaking in low but distinct tone of voice. she gave her age as 50, and she had lived on the place at Allyns Point since 1890 She has two children, a son, Ar thur, and daughter, Ida the wife of Thomas " CoatChelly. Her husband died in January. 1904. She testified to conducting the farm since then, part of the time conducting it herself and part of the time renting it.
 Attorney Desmond conducted the ex- animation of the witness In answer to his questions she testified to the cattle kept on the farm, and said that her son Arthur was 28 and lives up- Point. Her daughter, Ida, was mar ried to Thomas Coatchel1y on April 14, 1912. and they lived also at the Perkins house until the fall of the same year. when they had some trou- ble about going to a Greek wedding.
 Accused Gained Confidence.
 As the examination proceeded, States Attorney Hull asked several times to have the witness speak louder as her answers could not be heard at the farther end of the counsels' table Mrs Perkins manner grew more composed as her counsel questioned her about details of the residence of Coatchelly at the Perkins house. covering the time when he was in business in Nor- wich, when he ran the farm for a while, and when he was in the insur- ance business in New London. There was time in the fall when Mir. Coat chelly did not come back to the house but before Thanksgiving he came back and stayed about two weeks. In Janu- ary. 1913. was the last time he came there and stayed over night. The next time Mrs. Perkins saw him was when he came there in the automobile, as had been testified by MT Erickson. She did not know he was coming that time, which was after MT. Coatchelly had returned from Mexico.
 Witness Grows Nervous.
 Mrs. Perkins grew much agitated as Attorney Desmond asked about the time of the birth of the Coatchelly baby She said it was some time in and they did not know where Thomas was at that time until they had a letter from him in Texas.
 Alone With the Two Babies.
 The attorneys next questions reach ed the day of the fatal tragedy. Mrs. Perkins said that she had the care of the two babies at the house all the time, and that when CoatcheIly came to the house, only the two babies and herself were at the house. Her daugh- ter Ida had left at 415 that after noon
 Mrs. Perkins testified that she had a telephone message from her daughter, and that Ida told her that Thomas was coming to the house In consequence of that Mrs. Perkins looked out of the She did not see CoatcheIly at first She went back to take care of the baby, which was crying and had been awakened by the telephone Doors and Windows Always Fastened.
 
 the doors and windows, as they were already locked and fastened Mrs. Perkins described the fastenings of the front door, which sine said were orig lnally braced by a hoe handle, but when this was broken they used a crowbar She said the hall door into the sitting room was also locked.
 Looking out of the window at the rear of the house a second time, she still saw no ones and then she tele- phoned to Mrs. Lewis.
 The third time she looked cut of the window she saw Coatehelly on the run along the path towards the house Then she telephoned to Mrs. Lewis again.
 Asked to Be Let In.
 Ceatehe11y came to the window by the telephone, and she telephened again to Mrs. Lewis, asking where Ida was. Il He said te nae, Let me in '"
 I said: "Ne."
 CeatcheIIy Was Smiling. Ceatchelly was smiling very pleasant y, Mrs. Perkins said. He repeated his 'equesti Let me in. I want to see my 3aby."
 She told him he could never come in, hat she had suffered enough from his hands, and that the last time he was here he had pounded her SC that she lad te have the doctor, and he could lever darken her doors again, and that le did not care enough for the baby to come to see it when they went to New london, and he could never come into he house.
 Shook Outer Door. Then Goatchelly deliberately turn I'd from the window smiling all the