The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-10-02

being contended by the State that
Tupper placed the knife there in or
der to bring about the idea of self
defence.
After DR.. Stinchfield left the stand
Paul Hebert was called. He proved
one of the important witnesses of the
case. He told of his whereabouts on
the morning of the murder, of the &C
tions at the time of the murder, and
also told of hearing the loud talk.
Upon looking into the yard he saw
Mclaughlin grab Tupper and throw
him down. Hebert testified that he
pulled Fred off from Tupper and con-
sequently got mixed up in the fra
cas-. Finally he heard two shots and
then saw Tupper with the rifle pointed
toward Mclaughlin and later there
was another shot. Hebert testified
that Tupper said to him after the
murder, will you say for me Fred
/ d
Tupper also say II got you"
Another important witness was
Mrs. Matilda Mclaughlin, mother of
the murdered man, at whose home the
murder occurred She is a woman
past middle age and claimed to have
lived in Moscow for % years. Said
she had known Tupper about four
years. She further testified that dur
ing the forenoon of the murder her
son Fred came to her door and in
quired for Tupper. Tupper according
! ly went out and when she saw her
son catch hold Of Mclaughlin she eX-
claimed "Oh, Fred, don't" She then
saw Tupper have the gun, but with
drew to the shed in her fright and
soon heard the two shots and later
another shot. When she came back
from the shed she saw Fred lying on
the ground. She asked Tupper what
he had done and he replied, she said,
by saying that "he had shot Fred"
She didn't see Mclaughlin have any
knife in his hand, and testified later
that Tupper had asked her to plead
for him at September court. Upon
cross-examination by attorney A. X.
Butler-with |. Goss of Bingham
who appeared for Tupper-Mrs. Nc
Laughlin admitted to having made
statements to the coroner's jury that
were untrue at the time of the in
quest, these being to the effect that
at that time she had tried to shield
the accused man somewhat.
Numerous other witnesses were in
troduced during the afternoon who
testified to seeing the knife under Nc
Laughlin's body. The States evil
dence was all in Monday night.
At the opening of Court TUESDAY
| forenoon the State called Sheriff
Thompson and at the request of the
defence, Paul 'Hebert was recalled
for a brief examination. Harold l.
Goss, Esq, of Bingham then opened
the case for tn defence, briefly stat
ing what would be presented in the
nessos Harlan Tupper and Frank
Hunn2well, The first one called to the
stand being Tupper, the accused man.
He told something of his former life
giving Nova Scotia as the place OF
his birth and saying that he had lived
in Moscow since 1910. That same
year he met with Fred Mclaughlin,
he said. and stated that he had worked
with aim during the past winter. His
testimony was further to the effect
that he went to Fred McLaughlin's
The night before the murder and there
obtained rifle, his object being to
try to capture a deer, which he had
previously seen. He told of his and
McLaughlin's going to the scene of
The wood-sawing and of his leaving
there, with plans to go to Deadwater
on business regarding a settlement
for some work which he and Nc
Laughlin had done during the winter
for Frank Hunnewell according to
an arrangement made by him and
Hunnewell the day before the shoot
| ing. He claimed to have told Fred
of this in the morning although he
had told him the evening previous
that he would work for him that day
He returned to the home of Mrs. Ma
tida Mclaughlin and deciding to take
the rifle with him on his trip upon
examination found loose screw. He
sat down upon the steps to fix it with
his pocket knife. This however did
not seem to be the proper instrument
with which to correct the trouble and
he went back into the house to pro
cure some tool better fitted for the
work. While inside he decided to eat
lunch and before he had finished
eating he was notified by Hebert thai
he was wanted outside. He went Out
and was met by Mclaughlin whom
/ he said asked the question, What did
you leave me for?" and trouble ip-
mediately ensued. There was a live