Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-13
JURY DISAGREES.
Case against Paul Stcpanian 70 He Tried
Again Next Friday.

Again Next Friday.
at $50 o'clock Friday night. the Jury
in the case of State vs.. Paul Stepanian Of
Winooski, charged with negligent driving
and exceeding the speed limit in his auto
mobile, entered the court room at the
county court house and reported disa-
greement among its members The trial
had been in progress since 10:15 In the
morning.
After the jury had been polled by the
clerk Of the court, Jed P. Ladd. and the
decision Of the jury had been announced
by the foreman, Judge Joseph T. Stearns
thanked the jury for their painstalsing de-
liberations and discharged them. The
court. with the asquiescence Of the attor-
ney for the State. Allen Martin. and the
counsel for the respondent. II. F. Wolcott
of Winooski set the date for the retrial
OF the case. when a new jury will be sum-
moned by Sheriff James H. Allen, on Fri
day. September IA. at nine o'clock. Tho
ball In the case Of Stepanian, which was
liked by the court on August % at 500.
still holds. and Mr.. wolcott remains the
mans bondsman.
The witnesses for the prosecution called
Friday were James Porter a civil engin-
neer Of this city. who drew plans Of the
road and surroundings where the alleged
violation Of the law took place, Fred F.
Mays Of Essex Center. whose car figured
In an accident at the time of the alleged
violation Of the law, Leroy Dopp of the
Cadillac garage, James Whalen and Will
liam F. Duggan, motorman and conduc-
tor, respectively, Of an electric car that
was nearby, and Sheriff James II. Allen.
who testified as to the whereabouts Of two
soldiers who were on the electric car. at
the time.
| For the defense there we're two wit
nesses, Tony Bochoyn and Leo Hakman.
Badros Magician acted as an interpreter.
| The Jury was composed of d. H. Butler,
Alexander Hunter, G. j. Hobart. w. M.
Webster. G. w. Dorr, George Vallee, B.
n. Mack. S. r. Narcotic, John McCuen,
l.. w. Ravlin. G. H. Eddy and A. A.
Curry.
The offense against the State with which
Paul Stepanan stands charged occurred
on Tuesday evening, August q. at six
o'clock directly at the spot where First
street ceases to be known as such and be-
comes the lower road. which is at the head
of North Winooski avenue.
At the time Of the alleged breach Of
the law Paul Stepanian was on his way
to this city in his Chandler car and Frank
F. Mays Of Essex Center was on his way
to his home in his Ford car. Both the ma .
chimes came together at the aforemention-
ed spot, the result, 1t is alleged of the
careless manner in which Stepanian was
running his car. it also being charged that
he was speeding at the time.
Stepanian, who Is an Armenian, claimed
that Mays crossed directly in front of his
car. while Mays testified that the Armen-
ian ran directly into his car and carried
him away across to the other side Of the
road and up against a telephone pole. From
this collision both machines were con-
siderably damaged and had Stepanian been
convicted by the State yesterday it was
more than probable suit would be
brought for damages by Mays. There were
two other Armenians in the Chandler car.
in addition to the defendant
One point brought out by Allen Martin
for the State was the fact that the re-
spondent had procured license to operate
a motor car only few hours previous to
the accident. 1t was also learned that he
had never run a car for more than 100
miles. and then he was under the SUPER
vision Of an experienced operator.
After arguments by both the prosecuting
attorney and counsel for the defense,
Judge Stearns read the law on the sub
5ect and instructed the jurymen to care.
fully weigh all the evidence at hand and
render a verdict accordingly. 1t was the
judges first jury trial. and although ex
citing at times, the case developed into Z
tedious affair before the close. There wer'
several recesses and much use was mad
Of a map gotten out by a civil enginee
: Of the place where the alleged infringe
ment Of the law occurred. The Jury hal
; the case nearly four hours.