Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-08-02
RUTLAND w. THURSDAY MORNING. AUGUST 2,
Levi Ives sworn.

years, and sold him the place he lives on.
1t has always seemed like home to me
and | have been there a great deal. New
er heard word of difficulty. He took
his wife's death very hard.
Surry Ross (sworn) lives within two
miles of Mr. Giddings; hired the old
est boy, Sheppard, Z months last year;
testified to the same purpose as the
Others. Here the defense rested with
the reservation of the right to recall.
Mrs. Atherton recalled by the prosecu-
tion by way of rebutting,
l found shirt-sleeves, shears, stock
ings and yarn left of Mrs. Giddings'
work looked for the paper containing
the powder in the kitchen and sitting
room, and | lifted up everything.
had been there or weeks before, and
we aever had any difficulty. The wit
ness proceeded at some length to eX-
plain the circumstances connected with
temporary estrangement of feeling on
the part of Mrs Giddings, which were
in perfect accord with what has been
shown in many other instances
Witness further said; We have been
very Intimate the last two years. |
have often asked her to ride with me
and she would reply, 81 would like to
but then look So" why do you say
that?" "My husband has often said |
look so meanly-
Mr.. WAsHBURN-Wait, wait!
Mr.. FULLAM-I think the witness
ought to be allowed to proceed.
Mr.. WAsHBURN-Not at all. If we
were trying horse case, l would not
say word; but we are trying a man
for his liberty and life, and l must in
sist upon a strict compliance with the
rules.
WITNEss.-We have often conversed
freely on the subject ofdeath, ,ibut | never
heard her wish herself dead. She seemed
to have a great dread of the agones of
death.
Mrs. Elizabeth G. Whitcomb testi-
fed that she called at Mr.. Atherton's
last year, August 20, when Mr.. Atherton
said his wife was at Mr.. Giddings, but
he would go and bring her home and
did so.
Harry P. Atherton sworn.
Two years ago this summer Shepherd
Giddings and / were in our barn talk
ing about the war and the hard time the
soldiers had, when Shepherd said, II
would rather go down South and enlist
than stay at home" "Why?" "Be-
cause my father abuses my mother and
me so. He tells her she don't know any
thing--don't know how to sit at the ia
ble-that l was just like her-I did not
take after him"
One Sunday morning I asked him if
he was going to meeting. "No." 'Why
not 2" Cant get no girls to go with
me-they all prefer to go with father
The girl came out into the field the 9TH
er cay and asked father to carry her to
meeting every Sunday. Father said,
there is my son who will carry you.
She said, I rather go with YOU He
only done it to find out how well she
liked him"
Last winter, white attending school,
having asked to speak with Shep. about
a lesson, he told HE he had heard his
father speak of buying some strychnine
to put on dead calf to kill foxes, but
he did not knOwiwhen his father brought
it home. After his mothers death he
saw the broken phial as his father said,
but saw no stryChnine.
This witness was subjected to a Sc
we're cross examination which he sus-
tanned certainly as well as could be ex-
pected from boy Of sixteen years.
Charles H. Parkerson sworn.
Lived at Mr.. Atherton's last year and
year before. Was in the barn at the
time of the conversation related by the
preceding witness, and corroborates. his
testimony.
DR.. Palmer recalled.
NY attention was never called to any
bunch in Mrs. G's stomach, either by
her or Mr.. G. or any one else. never
carried nuX vomiCa or. strychnine about
with me, and the man who says
showed him phial of strychnine in the
tavern, says that which is as false as
hell, and as black as midnight. This |
declare before God, in whose presence I
am testifying-and the man shall an
swer for it.
Mr.. ARIA SMITH.-He is ready"
Mr.. WAsHBURN.-Well, Dr., you have
manifested very strong feelings-are we
to understand they are personal
WIrNEss.-Not as against Mr.. Gid
dings.
Mr.. WAsHBURY.-Are you aware that
such an outburst of eloquence, if may
so call it, before jury would be calcu
| lated to effect their minds unfavorably
| towards the prisoner?
WITNEss.-I am aware it might, but I
should deeply regret having done any
thing that would be prejudicial to Mr..
| Giddings.
The witness then remarked in refer
ence to the bunch" he thought he could
offer au explanation which would re-
lieve the minds Of all parties and gavea
somewhat technical account of "globous
| hystera" which for want Of space is
here omitted.
Elisha w. Johnson recalled.
Winfield Giddings once told me that
he was going to carry Amelia GriswQld
to Derry, and as he, Winfield, was hAr
Messing the horse, he saw his father on
the piazza hold the girl in his lap, hug
| ging and kissing her.
This witness testified to having heard
a considerable of similar scandal from
Shepherd and the other boys-also that
they used to talk and laugh about such