New Britain herald., 1914-07-30
AUSTIN PLEADS SELF ! | DEFENSE AT TRIAL


 (Continued from First Page) borhood came out" he testified, bu he could not remember if anyone as sisted. him. He had gone over or a lawn to lie down, he said, ant didn't know any more until he found himself in the New Britain hospi- tai. Asked if he received any in. juries, Gordon said he was hurt about the head and nose. He showed the court mark on the side of his nose which he said Austin had inflicted. Humorous Testimony. When examined by Attorney De.
 laney, Gordon seemed to have great
 difficulty in understanding his ques-
 tions and some of his answers were
 most ridiculous and amusing. Asked
 which hand Austin struck him with
 he shouted What do you mean what
 head?" When the matter was
 strengthened out, the court was in-
 formed by Gordon that Austin held
 both his hands at the same time he
 was striking him in the head. He
 then told how his son, Harry, had
 come to his assistance and had been
 thrown to one side by his alleged as-
 sailant. He denied that he had any
 thing in his hands when Austin took
 hold of him, asserting that two quart measure which he had been
 using fell down on the ground.
 When did it fall down?'' asked Attorney Delaney.
 Saturday answered the other, amid nipples of laughter which swept over the court room.
 Harry Gordon Testifies. -.
 Harry Gordon, who said he was fourteen years old, testified that he was sitting on his fathers wagon when he first saw Austin coming in the opposite direction on his ice wag- on. His father was delivering vegeta- bles in a nearby house at the time, he said. He testified that the tax col lector came over to his parent and demanded payment of that bill you owe me-" When his father refused to pay him any money on the grounds that he did not owe it to him, Aus tin called him Christ-killer and va rious other names, said the boy. He then grabbed his father by the shirt collar and threw him to the ground, after which he proceeded to strike him on the nose with his fists. Aus tin didn't kick his father, he said
 Told Father to Stop Fighting.
 In answer to a question propound- ed by Attorney Delaney, Harry Cor don told the court that he stopped just as he raised mea- sure and was about to hit Austin up on the head with it. He said his fla ther arose after the alleged assault and walked across the road unassist- ed. He started to cry, he said, and was joined by his father. Just be- fore leaving the stand he told Attor- ney Delaney. in answer to question, that he had. told his father to stop fighting.
 Neg1i Saw Struggle From Distance. <. Concluding from the cries he heard that someone had been run down by an automobile, Dennis Negri ran out into tile street in front of .>his house on New Britain road, he said. when on the stand. While approaching the scene of the conflict, he could see between the wheels of the wagon that two men were struggling on the ground behind it and that the person Dn the bottom seemed to be receiving blows from the other man. He couldn't see distinctly, however be- ng about 200 feet away at the time. Attorney Delaney asked him if he could tell at that distance whether or lot the man on top was striking the one under him or if he was simply irving to release himself Ffroms5 the others hold. The witness could snot say.
 Doctor Found No Bad Marks.
 Dr. Roger M. Griswold of Kensing- on said that Gordon was lying enshis pack at the side of the road when he ,ame upon the scene. He seemed %to De suffering from a slight shock and lis pulse was somewhat weakened md disturbed. He did nothing for him, however. The only mark he .ound on Gordon was a small flake of blood on the side of his nose. There were no contusions on his head
 pr. M. H. Griswold told the court hat he administered hypodermic n the form of quarter. grain of mor- ,hine, to relieve the man 'sppain His patient was apparently coltscious, he 'aid, and nothing bnthY his. ac- ions indicated that he was in pain. He shouted when the morphine was injected into him. s+9Hf
 Austin Claims Self-defense
 The next witness called was Austin himself He said that he had no sooner reached the side of Gordon's 7ehicle than the latter shouted Get lvay.' raising a measure as if to strike him. He prevented the same rom descending on his head by grab. ong the arm in which it was held, a1ter which he wrested the wooden measure from his would-be assail- ant. Gordon then grabbed him by ne shirt collar, he said, and tugged SO Vallalntly that it was torn. He suc- 'eeoed ll breaking Gordon's hold and 1ad pushed him AWAY maan tlo roa