The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-07
LEGAL BATTLE OF WITS FEATURE OF
 SIEMON HEARING
Witnesses Of DeMartino Killing Are Practically Unanimous As To Number Of Men Without Hats Tn Death Car==All Swear AS ITO Speed

Manslaughter charges against Pres. fdent Carl F. siemon of the Siemon Hard Rubber Corp. as a<result of the findings Of Coroner PheIan into the death of John DeMartino, Stamford, on Fairfield avenue, near Grove street, the night of Oct. 29, 1910 before Judge John R. Booth, New Haven, in city court today developed at the start into one of the most aggressiveIy con- tested cases coming befoee that tri- bunal for a long time.
 While objections were few, the ex- animation of witnesses by Prosecut- ing Attorney A. L. Delaney and Judge B. S. Banks, senior counsel for the defense was close and lengthy
 Judge Banks was assisted by Attor-l ney Henry E. Shannon and the stem ograplic report of Coroner PheIanss inquest was frequently used in the questioning of the witnesses. Much in- terest was shown in the hearing.
 A large drawing Of Fairfield avenue in the locality of and bordering on the accident as well as of intersecting streets was hung with plain view and this was used frequently by counsel in the questioning. Every witness was closely examined as to how many were in the automobile, how rapidly the machine was travelling and as to whether the occupants were bare headed. In practically every instance the testimony was that there were at least four occupants and the testi- mony was practically unanimous that the occupants wore no hats.
 A new witness of the accident was mentioned in the testimony Of Charles A. Wade, who said that his compan- ion on the night of the accident and an eye witness was Robert McDougalI, who lives in. Hancock avenue, just south of State street He said further that it was McDougal1's father, who was called before Coroner Phelan while it was the son that was with him. Prosecutor Delaney took the name with the intention of summon ing McDouga1.
 It is ,intimated that his evidence may be of the highest importance as Wade has admitted that he was with in short distance of the spot where DeMartino was killed and saw the ac cident.
 have seen the color Of the car or iden- tified some of the occupants. The only Robert ANcDougalI listed in the city directory lives at 623 Hancock avenue and Is employed at the. Amer tcan Graphopl1one Co.'S plant Much of the testimony at the beginning of the nearing was along the same lines as introduced before Coroner Phelan and by the same witnesses. It bad to do with the actual killing of DeNGar- tino,- the general location of the scene and the part played by the a1tomo- bile, claimed by the prosecution to have been operated by 6temon.
 Chauffeur A. R Burison of the emergency hospital ambulance, who operated it on the night of the acci- dent, was the first witness after Mir siemon had pleaded guilty to the charge as read by Clerk Lavery. Bur- Iison said that the call came between 7 and 7:s0 o'clock that night and that. upon arrival, De11artino was found apparently hfeless on the pavement with his feet lying near the curb.
 Witness said that the mans head was covered with blood and that there was much on his shoulders. Also that there appeared to be blood on the palms of his hands. Judge Banks was insistent as to whether tla1s was blood. BurIison said that. to the best of his knowledge it was, but was not willing to swear to it. He mentioned taking the body to 8ourlxe & Rourke's norgue, following pr. Krause pQ>onouncing him dead
 Charles A. Wade, a milknran living on Park avenue extension and near the scene, wae the next witness. He said that there were four in the au- i bomobile that is alleged to have struck DeMartdno and was positive that they were bareheaded- He men L1OTf0Q neSF4nS seen OSN1dfIi1lO. SC4anQ- ing by the post, to have seen him sway a little and then, when he ooked again. the man was gone The 1 passed and a mans body l was discovered in the street. He was positive that the car did not stop.
 He said that he was not a judge of | speed as related to the l aunlber of miles travelled per hour Prosecutor Delaney questioned binasI along these lines. Attorney Banks ob- i ecting on the ground that Wade con ended that he was no judge Of auto ] mobile speed Judge Booth directed l he witness to answer to the best of 1 lis ability
 Gustave A Peterson of the Brook avn district said that there were four | n the car that passed just previously l o the finding of DeMartino's body. l He could not tell what kind of a. car t was but said that at least two of he men were bareheaded. The car lid not stop but he was unable to aEdge the speed, as he was not much ! with the operation of auto mobiles. He said that he d.d not hear | he noise, similar to g, vehicle passing 1 over a. sewer well cover. just before | he automobile was seen. His wife l and daughter Alice, had testified that hey heard such a noise. He said that he had seen a cloud of dust on the avenue just as the automobile ap- oeared.
 Mrs. Nellie Peterson, wife of Gus ave, testified along the same line as her husband. saying that she renem- oered hearing noise just preceding i