Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-01
WIFE TELLS Of
ALLEGED ATTACK
ON ACEO HUSBAND

! Rutland. March 30 Declarinc that
the officer threatened to kill her nus
band Mrs. Bump, wife OF the plaintiff.
described witness in county court
o-day the alleged vicious assault upou
, Harvey Bump of Chittenden, an aged
man, by Constable Charles O Wooster
of Chittenden, who is the defendant in
civil suit for $4,000 damages now on
trial ~ jury. The alleged maltreat-
ment took place whom Wooster went
to Bumps house on MAY -. 1914. to
arrest the latter on ii warrant charg
ing breach Of 5he peace. the two men
= having previously had some trouble
when Wooster was guardian for Bump.
The contention of the constable is that
Bump struck MN AYst, but Mrs. Bump
denies this
In answer to questions put 10 her by
g. V. Poulin, who. with Z. ". Moloney,
Is trying the case for the plaintiff, Mrs,
Bump said: Mr.. Wooster came to our
house that morning acting excited like a
crazy man. After he had looked into a
window | let him in at door and he
went In search of Harvey, finding my
husband in a bedroom. where he was
changing his clothes preparatory to
helping Bella Churchill milk, having just
come from Rutland.
Wooster read something from a. paper
and Harvey said What have | got to
go to Rutland for? haven't done any
thing stood near the door where
could see and hear it all After Harvey
had said this Wooster grabbed stick
which ! used to keep the bedroom door
open and struck Harvey over the head
The blood spurted all over Wooster
shut the door right away and could
see no more. but | went outside ana
called for help and Bca and Charles
Churchill came.
Il went back in once and the door was
still shut. heard my husband begging
for his life. He said: You are killing me
Wooster replied: That's what | want
70 do went outdoors and when
came back again Wooster was dra gging
Harvey out into the kitchen by the shirt
collar, Harvey being too weak to get
onto his feet Wooster said: Get up,
YOU - dirty dog and ne struck him
-onl. more and kicked him
The woman then went on to describe
hoW the blood was spattercd on the wall
of the bedroom and kitchen and how the
floor and her husbands clothes became
blood stained. Wearing apparel and bed
clothing covered with dark stains, said
to have been caused by blood, We're hung
up for the jury's inspection.
Mrs. Bump declared that her husband
had had nothing to drink that day. tic
had been to Rutland. having when he
started a dollar which she gave him. He
accounted for every cent when he re-
turned and he walked several miles to
and from pittsford station.
Another important witness for the
plaintiff to-day was Charles Dodge of
Chittenden. grand juror for the town
at the time Of the alleged assault. lie
! told Of going to tho Bump house on
May 90 in response to n complaint and
making On Investigation. He saw
much blood about the floor. on the
wall and on clothing. He described
the stained conditions in detail to the
l. jury. Some of the blood spattcrs on
the wall were over five feet above the
floor.
Harvey Bump in tellin. his story OF
The affair, said that after Wooster
had read the warrant the plaintiff said
that he would go with the officer as
soon as he could put on his shoes and
stockings, that the constable picked up
the stick and struck him n severe blow
| us soon as this remark was made. lie
struck the defendant in return. the of
f!cer keeping up the beating and drag
iginG him out into the next room. He
denied ON cross-eXamination by Attor-
neys W. S. Fcnton and j. G. Jones.
counsel for the defense. that he held
amy grudge against Wooster tor re.
| flushing 10 obiain linMOr Cor him