Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-11
SLIGER HELD FOR TRIAL
Charged with Assnulting Harold In
bounty. with Intent to Kill

At hearing which lasted all day yes
terday in city court. Judge J. p. Ladd
bound over Lucille Sliger, the colored man
VINO is charged with assaulting Harold
La bounty. soldier, with a dangerous
weapon with intent to kill, in the sum
OF 5000 bail for his appearance in county
court. The bail was not furnished and
Siiger went to Jail to await trial.
Labounty took the stand in the morn
ing and testified to the circumstances
surrounding the shooting and positively
identified Sliger as the man who accos ed
him az he was walking down the street
after calling on his girl His story was
about the same as that told the police
on the night of the shooting and rema IN sd
mistaken under severe cross-examina-
tin by J. J. Enrght, who appeared for
Sliger.
According to Labounty. he came out Of
the Pickering house two weeks ago
Saturday night shortly after seven o'clock
He was accosted on the street by two
colored men who made some nasty re-
marks about the girls who lived In the
house. Labounty took exceptions and one
Of the men struck him on the forehead,
while another pulled a gun and shot by
his chin. inflcting a cut. The negroes
with the officers In search of the men
who shot at him and easily recognized
Sliger, who lives in the Perleman block,
next door to the chickering's.
Evelyn and Bertha Pickering, the girls
who occupy the house where Labounty
was calling, testified, and Evelyn heard
the shot ~ she said she was out of the
house before the shooting. She saw the
negroes beating it down the street.
Clarence LeClair, a cousin of the girls
and soldier chum of Labounty's, also
testified. He was some distance from the
street when he heard the shot and ran
out to see what the trouble was He saw
Labounty, who was bleeding at the chin,
and asked him what the trouble was.
Labounty told him that he had been shot
by a "dark' man. LeClair saw no one
running and did not seem very sure of
anything he said for under oss-examina-
ton, he was made to change his test-
mony several times by States Attorney
Martin and Mr. Enright.
Neither lawyer wanted to argue the
case but both had something to say be-
fore Judge Ladd announced his decision.
Attorney Enright said that he didn't be-
lieve anybody shot Labounty. To shoot
man. person has to have a motive
and motive was absolutely lacking in this
case. LeClair, Labounty's friend. ran out
on the street as soon as he heard the
shot but saw no one. Mr.. Enright thought
the whole story a myth. Sliger made no
attempt to get away and told under
examination by the police where he was
at the time of the shooting and when
arrested was sitting quietly at home.
States Attorney Martin said that this
was only binding up hearing and that
it was not necessary to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that Sliger had at
tempted to shoot Labounty. The soldier
had told his story and identified his man.
Others had heard the shooting and had
seen the men running away, There was
no reason why Labounty should shoot
| himself. so far as he could see,
Judge Ladd said, in making his decision,
that there was evidence enough to war
rant trial and he therefore bound Sliger
over to county court On recommended ion
of the States attorney he fixed bail in
the sum of 5000.