Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-04

The fifth day of the trial of James Rego Mellow, indicted for the murder of William Rhodes, in the old Kings ton station, in connection with the murders of Gustave and Oscar Olsen, was occupied in testimony for the de- fence. Mellow is also indicted for the murder of the Olsens, and the trial in these cases depends upon the result of the case now on trial. Should Mel low be found guilty the penalty will be life Imprisonment, which would practically dispose of the other cases.
 The first witness called by Attorney Clarence E. Roche, counsel for ac- cBsed, was Almon E. 'Hoxie, of Ash away, a brother of John HoXie, super intendent of the Westerly town farm. He had known Mellow for a year and saw him at the town farm and he knew Mellow warlled there on two oc- casions. Mellow also worked for wit ness and did his work well, and never saw him in the influence of liquor. Saw Mellow the day before Christmas when he came to farm with Christmas presents from brother on the Wester- ly town farm.
 Elliot Raymond Thorpe. of Westerly, student at Kingston college, testified he was at the shack on the Tuesday afternoon after the murder. The shack was open and with other stu dents he went in. Went into the room of death, and then into the bedrooms. He saw lam, and articles of food. On the stve was frying pan, with beans in it, and the pan was the size of the one exhibited in court. There was another pan under the stove that had
 eggs in it. Joldngly, it was suggested
 that the students have eggs and blood
 pudding. The pan with eggs in 1t
 was not a small pan. Things were
 taken from there, the students taking
 matches as souvenirs.
 Howard Knight, student at Kings
 ton College, testified he visited the
 scene of the murder with Thorpe and
 other students, late in the afternoon
 on the Wednesday following the Sun day after the murders
 Edward p. Tucker, storekeeper at
 Kingston, testified that Oscar Olsen made purchase on the Saturday be-
 fore the murder to the amount of 45 cents, and Oscar and Gus Olsen came to the store frequently. Oscar paid
 25 cents on the 45 cent purchase. Os- car was under the influence of liquor Witness saw Oscar take out his wal let and thought there were bills in 1t He did not think the wallet exhibited was the one Oscar had. He did moi l see Oscar take money from the hand kerchief. Mellow was with Oscar ans witness thought Mellow was intoxi- cated.
 George Harvey, of Wakefield, cor respondent for several newspa pers testified that he attended the autop- sies and told who were present. The autopsies were in Wakefield. He noted in addition to the bullet wounds or Rhodes and there was an abrasion over the right temple. Witness pro- duCed the notes taken at that time. ---------
 pr. Michael H. ScanIon. of West. | erly, testified he practiced medicine | for fifteen years, and was medica 1 examiner. He was refused permission i to see the dead bodies of Rhodes anC l the two Olsens. It would be difficult i to tell whether a confusion wa: also hard to determine the course ot a bullet through the brain, and bullet ] is deflected by bone. Had he beer permitted to see the bodies he woult l be more competent to testify in thi: l particular case. Upon hypothetica ! questions, pr. Scanlon's testimony
 was antagonistic to the testimony ot 1 Dr. Thewlis, medical examiner fol Kingston. All of Oscar Olsen: wounds with a blunt instrument could have been administered if the mar 1 sat in a chair and that it was no 1 necessary for the mans head to be oI ! when tRe blows were inflicted. From i the description of the wound il | Rhodes head there was two points O. | entrance. The witness knew Rhode! l when he lived in Pond street. Wester l ly, with a white woman. There wer, | objections to many questions by tn l state.