The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-09-24
GIBSON CASE IN HANDS or JURY.
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} tNbAGiLUtu from 4 A-t ="
Tic latter part of the forenoon, continued
ms testimony. He was cross-examlncd
, by Attorney General Archibald and was
asked why he did not interfere when Les
cord assaulted Race He said it all hap ,
pened 50 quickly he didn't have an OPP
p1rtunity. When asked why he did not
tell somebody about the assault he re-
piled that it was because of his friend
ship for his fellow soldier He said he
did not tell the truth when questioned
at Bellows Falls but lied because Detec-
tive Wood told him he would get off cas-
Ter if he confessed that he had some
thing to do with the assault. lie denied
that he ever touched the stick which
caused Races death and declared he
: never intended to say Ire touched IT and
if he said at the inquest that he did 1t
! was because he was ali crossed up IN
| answering so many questions. when
asked why he and Lescord hid in the
woods in South AShburnham he said they
knew the officers would be looking for
them. there because some people in Gas
] sets knew LeScord lived there. He lden-
titled some tobacco which was taken
! away. from him as having come from
I Races store.
When Gibson had finished his testi-
mony the defense rested. The respond
Cnt was the only defense witness.
J The state then called Detective Wood
in rcbuttal He declared he never talked
with Gibson alone, never told him that the
I attorney general would be easy with him,
never promised him immunity from pun
ishmCnt and never mentioned to him the
death penalty. His testimony was a gen
/ cral denial of what Gibson had said con-
corning him. The state then rested and
! Attorneys Upper and Biclnell for the
defense held conference about 20 min
utes and announced that they had moth
ing further to offer.
states Attorney Rowland began the
opening argument for the state about
/ O'Clock and spoke about 20 minutes
urging the iurymen to be as faithful to
their duty as the American soldiers were
in France.
Attorney II G. Upper of Springfield
made the opening argument IN behalf OF
the respondent, speaking about 30 min
Ut"S. lie asked the jury to keep IN mind
that it was not Lescord who was on trial
and that any evidence against Lescord
should not be construed as evidence
against Gibson. Re mentioned four pos
Sblc Verdicts. acquittal, manslaughter,
murder in the second degree and murder
in the first degree. and said a prcSumn-
ton of innocence went with the respond
cnt until proven guilty beyond q reason
able doubt and that if proven guilty II
should be for the lowest offenSc unless
all the facts justified verdict for n
higher ofTcnSc. All the doctors, he said.
had testified that death was caused by
blows from the club and all the testi-
monv showed that the blows by the club
vr-G struck hy LesCord and not by Glib
son. Premeditatjon had not been shown,
he declared. and there was no satisfactory
cr:dcpce that Gibson even premeditated
taking Races money. ON the man who
brought the LIQUOR to the store rests the
J re&p0nSihi}itv for the death of Race. NJ
torucv Upper exclaimed. A recess for
the night was taken NJ 40 o'clock.
The closing argument for the respond
b.
F G. Bickncll of Windsor. He said that
sympathy for Race should not enter into
the iury'S consideration of the case. The
.QucStiun for them to decide was who
killed Race. II" emphasized the condl-
lion Of Gibson at the Bellows Falls in
uuCst saving he was not out from the
Influence Of liquor. had been without
/ sleep fpr two nights and was subjected
/ to an inauisition for II hours. The Of
| fcnrs were bound to make him confess in
accordance with their theory of what &C.
! Cured. Attorney .Bicknell stressed re-
marx: which the notes showed Gibson
/ laid at Bellows Falls "Ncu can Law this
~ me Bill but its YOUR luck" Gibson
| va- quoted ~ saving to Lcecsrd: also in
| telling Of what happened Gibson SAID he
told Lescord. after the latter had Int
/ Race Fer Gods sake. Bill. what have
| ver dan"," Tie referred also to Gibson's
! statement to LcScord when the latter sug-
grStcd that thcv put Race ont OF the way
( Hul sake his money. winch was. NO. II
/ wouFd be better for me To gamble with
Attorney General Archibald began
tho closing argument for the state shortly
/ AFTER 10 O'Clock. lie said hc wished To
! 9vDral In the rco son 81 the iurymcn and
90 remind them that they had to perform
/ % duty t0 the state as we'll "s - tn" no
| .,.,udent. IT was immateriaI who struck
tao fatal blow. he said, if Gibson was
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