Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-03-18

access to Clark at any other time; I did
say when some letters came out that
supposed Clarks friend Billy was here
setting fires; did not conceal this but
showed the letters to Mr.. Field letter
shown witness, which can be found at
head of rebutting testimony wrote
this letter and sent it to man named
NICK ensie the idea in that letter is that
I had a guard at the Jail and that the
guard had been removed, and that l was
afraid Billy's men were here, and that
was nervous Neary might have got out
Of the house and I not know it, on the
night of the fire Neary often came in
and went to bed before 8 o'clock, and 9
great many times he did not go to bed at
all at my house he often came in late in
the morning looking hard from dissipa.
ton: I knew that Peter was unfortunate
and had got a blind mother have been
to Jail to see Pete; he said to me, you
know that I was at home that night;
told him yes that was all that passed be-
tween us; was there once before and
told Peter he was just where | expected
to see him I did hear Peter in his room
after the fire alarm, and saw him when
he came down after the alarm the But
terfiy boys came to the Jail; Peter was
not with them at first Martin Duffy was
put in Jail that night for intoxication.
Re-eromined-Duffy has been commit.
ted three times for crime and once for de-
sertion; / know at what time the detec-
tive Whipple was here first; | did not
know he was "a detective | did tell Neary
if he did not avoid Whipple he would gel
into States prison, for he was black leg
or thief | did not know he was detec
tive; | did not tell Pete Neary that
Whipplo was a detective; | had heard
that Pete aud this man, who turns out tc
be detective, went off up to PIttsford
with some women, and that they were
drunk, and that Pete was getting into
very bad company.
hrances Briggs being called, testified
am the wife of Levi Briggs; l was the
mistress of the Jail at the time the town
hall was burned Peter Neary was in the
employ Of Mr.. Briggs at that time he
brought in wood and did chores; Peter has
been in our employ more or less for about
two years during the last year he had
worked for Mr. Randall some he had
been back month or more Peter eat his
supper and went away; my daughter
Louisa was at the rehearsal of choir at
Mr.. Graves house, that night; she came
in about half past nine o'clock; Peter
came about minute afterward
he took his lamp upon coming
in and went up to his ROOM and did not
get up till the fire alarm l saw him as
he went by my door and spoke to him.
Upon cross-examination Mrs. Briggs
testified; my attention was first called to
the fact Of Peters being in early that
night, the next morning; at this time o.
b. Clark was in jail; no person but Mr.
Briggs, ever unlocked the door except the
sheriff when Neary carried in wood to
Clarks room Mr.. Briggs usually went
with him; the wood was put into Clark's
room through an opening under the door
l had quite an interest in this o. ID. Clark
but if he was guilty of the crimes charged
against him, L wanted him punished Clark
paid me for whatever | did for him at
first he had plenty of money and paid
literally for everything he had, but to-
ward the last he had but little money and
went away in debt ! did not go to bed
that night of the fire until after the
alarm sounded; l set up that night and
was reading the Rutland Courier; | had
prepared myself for bed and was all ready
to retire and had placed my lamp in the
hall when the alarm sounded /, know Peter
Neary could not have gone doU-n stairs
and out of the house without my knowing
it; / know that Peter was in by 20 min
utes II ten: / have known Peter Neary to
go to bed as early as half-past eight;
Peter was frequently drunk, and some
times he was committed to Jail for drunk
enness; / cant. give an instance Of his
being in early, but he frequently was in
early.
Louisa Briggs being called and examin-
ed, testified | am the daughter of Mr..
Briggs | was at the elder Mr.. Grants at
a rehearsal in the evening of the night on
which the town hall was burned | got
back home about half past nine o'clock
in coming home, | came down the road in
the middle of the road a lady and gentle
man were with me as we came by the in
tersection of Washington street and Main
street, saw three or four boys; they
were talking loudly and making much
noise; when ! got home | asked if all
were in, as was my custom when ! came
in late; my sister Clara and the hired girl
were present as | came in, and the hired
girl said, your father says that when you
come in, shut the door and not wait for
Peter; / went into the kitchen to get
some water as | was getting my glass of
water, the door opened and Peter came
in; ! asked Peter if that was him coming
up Washington street he said it was ,
Peter then had words with the hired girl,
and then took up his lamp. and went up
/ Al. 4, .,
our rooms after Peter went up | went to
bed bat saw the light from the fire of
RandalFs barn shining through my win
dow | got up before the alarm as the
alarm sounded, | heard Peter jump out
of bed. and with an oath said, it is Ran
dalls barn.
Upon cross examination Miss Briggs
testified: Peter was in often early; but |
cannot specify instances CT days on which
he was in early; | did look at the clock
when | came in that night
Cloro BriGgs being called and sworn,
testified am daughter OF Mr.. Levi
Briggs | was at home most of the even
ing; | walked to AIRS. Graves with my
sister, and stayed there few moments
and then returned home | know nothing
about Peter Neary after his supper until
he came in; Louisa came in little later
than usual that evening; as she came i'll
she inquired If all were in {; the hired girl
said your father says shut the door where
you get in and not wait for Peter; within
a very short time Peter came in | should
think in less than three minutes: he had
a little conversation with the hired girl !;
he went up stairs ahead of us | cannot
state the exact minute when Neary came
in it was between half-past nine and
twenty minutes to ten after the alarm
of fire was given he came down stairs into
the hall.
Upon cross examination Miss Briggs
testified | looked at the clock III mas
room, and said Louisa is late; ma said it
is not late yet, and | went down to get
glass of water, and as | went down Louisa
came in; do mean to say that it was
not ten o'clock when Peter came in; it
was not nearer ten o'clock than 20 or at
least Is minutes; my sister went to the,