The Republican journal., 1914-10-01

home about 1880 o'clock, talked with the
accused. examined the premises and took
the defendant and the gun that night to
coroners inquest the next morning and
corroborated the statement Of previous wit.
nesses that there was no broken glass from
the window under the body Of Romeo. He
identified the long butcher knife found under
Ronco's body. also the coat, shirt and UNDER
shirt with the hole in the left side Of each
where the charge Of the gun entered q it
penetrated the heart of the deceased. It also
developed from the testimony that Roncos
funeral was held at the Burgess home. Hodg-
don c. Buzzell. the attorney for the defence
objected to several questions in regard to the
glass under the body of Romeo, the foot prints
in the earth in front of the broken window and
cross examined the witnesses who had testi-
fed in the case in the lower court on many
minor points. The work of Tuesday rested
with W. L. Gray deputy sheriff.
Court opened Wednesday morning with the
testimony of E. Everett Davis, a member of
the coroner's jury and the greater part of his
Leon Reynolds, saw Romeo at about 80 o'clock
going toward the Burgess house; met him on
the road about o'clock near his own farm and
gave him a ride to within about half mile of
the Burgess house. Romeo appeared all right
and had his gun with him. George Dodge tes-
tilted that he saw Romeo about $50 going to-
wards the Burgess house with his gun. Chas.
E. Cunningham saw Burgess about $50 on the
night OF August 31st and he (Burgess) said Il
have shot my son-in-law." Mather Monroe
recognized the knife found under Romeo as one
he made for Burgess in July.
At this juncture there was considerable dis
cussion over admitting sworn statement by
Miss Nancy J. Conner, who is i'll and unable to
attend as witness. to the effect that Romeo
had told her he would kill Burgess. The Court
ruled that it was out of order and it was not
admitted.
Mrs. Romeo, widow of the deceased and the
daughter of the defendant, was very good
house for her husband on the day of his
death. She also said that her father was al
ways pleasant to her husband and was kind to
him on this occasion. She married Romeo on
June %. 1908, in Waterville and up to this
year had lived in Somerville, Mass. About
seven months ago they came to Burnham and
had lived five months with her father, moving
from there July 18th. Her husband was an
habitual drinker and frequently became in
toxicated.
Frank M. Fairbanks. undertaken, was called
at II a. m. Sept. 1st and cared for the body.
Found gun shot on the left side, felt the shot
on the back and found section of the back
bone broken. The shot also penetrated the
upper part of the heart and the large artery
leading to it. The, skin on the lower side of
the left wrist was broken and had bled, He
also identified Ronco's clothing.
Mr.. Conary opened for the defence Wednes
day afternoon, claiming it was not murder, as
it was not premeditated and not from malice
aforethought. That Burgess made no attempt
to escape and seemed Mortified at his deed.
In the scuffle it happened to be Romeo instead
of Burgess. The defence called Burgess to
the stand He is a Frenchman, aged So years
He told the story substantially as the with esses
had. He did not seem embarrassed on his own
account, but showed signs of grief at his deed
On cross examination by Mr.. Wilson he was
not perfectly clear as to time or just what he
was doing when the crash came at the window.
At this point the Judge excused the jury
while the defence again introduced Miss Con-
nors's statement Mr.. Wilson for the State
claimed it was too remote, not direct evidence
and not admissible to the jury. Judge Bird
allowed the objection. Mr.. Buzzell excepted
and the Judge admitted the statement as
court records. The defence introduced DR.. E
D. Tapley, who testified that the deceased's
face showed signs of prolonged struggle just
before he died.
This case is on trial as we go to press.