Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-15

THE FAIRFAX MURpER.-The st. AL
bans Messenger has the following con-
corning the trial OF Mrs. Sarah Davis for
the murder of her stepchild at Fairfax
We have before alluded to the case of
supposed child murder, for which Mrs.
Sarah Davis of Fairfax was arrested on
Saturday, the Sd inst, and arraigned on
Monday. The examination of the &C
cused, on motion of her counsel. was
continued until Thursday, in order to
afford opportunity for post norton ex-
animation OF the deceased. Such exam
ination was made on Tuesday by Docts.
Rublee eff Montpelier, Fasset of St. Al
bans, Hawley and Brush of Fairfax, Nor
gan and Wood OF Johnson, Corey and
Darah, of Waterbury.
On Thursday morning, long before the
appointed hour-l0 q. m.,-the vestry of
the Methodist church was densely pack
ed with an excited crowd the ladies be-
ing largely represented. The examina-
ton was conducted by Justices A. G..
Brush and J. M. Hotc hkiss. Messrs. D.
R. Bailey, G. Soule, and G. A. Ballard
appeared in behalf of the State; and
Messrs. Benton g. Wilson and w. W.
Eaton for the respondent. The indict-
ment exhibited three counts; LIST, for
murder by violence, beating I'd, by
starvation, Sd. assault and battery. It
appeared in evidence that about eighteen
months ago the respondent married Nor
man Davis, who had two children by 3
former wife, a little girl five years old
and a boy younger that she had
severely punished and otherwise NAL
treated and cruelty abused the little girl,
six months and q year before her arrest.
That on Wednesday night the child
went to bed In usual health that on
Thursday morning it was found to be
insensible lingering in this unconscious
state until about a. m, when it died.
That those who laid out and prepared
the body for burial discovered upon the
neck four black spots-three on one side
and one on the other, as though they
might have been produced by the i'm
preston of fingers; also, bruises upon
the head, back and limbs. DR.. Farms
worth who, with Hawley, made an ex-
terror examination OF the body on Friday,
also testified to its bruised appearance
without finding therein q sufficient
cause for the death of the child.
DR.. Hawley OF Fairfax, testified as to
the result of the post norton examination,
that it did not develop conditions that
were a sufficient and satisfactory cause
of the child's death. The internal organs
were apparently in healthy condition
except an inflammation Of the pia mater
or interior development of the brain.
He referred to the marks upon the ex-
terror of the forehead and stated that
upon dissection blood was found to be
settled on the frontal bone. The marks
upon the neck were found to extend but
slightly or not at all below the surface
of the skin. s.... ..-..
The prosecution claimed that the
marks upon the throat was the result OF
pressure Of the hand, while the defense
regarded them as the result of q cutane-
Gus disease with which the child had
been afflicted. Respondent also claimed
that the marks and bruises on the body
of the child were occasioned by fall
into crevice In the rocks, while the
child was out picking berries,
The examination of witnesses continu-
ed till about 9 p, M, and the arguments
of counsel were not concluded till two
O'Clock this morning, when the respond
ent was hell to bail in tbs sum of 500,
for manslaughter In default of bail she
was committed.
So intense is the excitement created
by this affair that the interest of those at
the examination was unaagging, and
the attendance was almost undiminished
to its close. The feeling against the
accused is very strong, and 10 the popu-
lar verdict she is already condemned.
The husband of the child was not present
at the trial, nor has he seen her since
her arrest. Several circumstances seem
to point as strongly against him as the
woman, and he shares largely in the
popular indignation that the supposed
OF this terrible crime has
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