Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-13
STATE VS.. lHH SH0TOH.
Defendant Accused Of Murder
Poison FO9ssd---FOWS ray
Somewhere!
INTENSE EXCITEMENT AMONG
THE PEOPLE.
PRELIMINARY EXAKLNATION

which this remarkable trial has arisen,
are somewhat a. follows: MFR. Thomas
Shotton, husband of the accused, died
some twelve years ago, leaving Q farm
and some personal property in the town
of Clifton. His heirs lived in England.
Letters of administration were issued by
the county court to Smith R. Gum, who
obtained an order to sell the Premises
and did so-Mrs. Shotton bidding the m
10 for q nominal consideration. She
continued to occupy the farm, and hired
George 8. Belts to work for Der. She
afterwards rented the farm TO him for .
year or more. Mutual confidence sprung
up between them, which resulted in the
transfer of the property to him, on con-
dition of her receiving q support sill
death. The rent of the farm being
ample to support them both, they remov-
ell to Prescott where they resided till
May, 1868. At this time Belts met with
an accident which fractured bis leg, and
after few days confinement, died sud-
denly. His two brothers soon came to
look into the affairs Of the deceased and
claim the property, if he left any
From that time to this there has been a
ceaseless litigation between them and
Mrs. Shotton. We understand that Mrs.
Shotton's attorney offered to arbitrate
the whole matter, which was declined.
After this, the heirs of Thos. Shotton
made application to set aside the proceed
ings Of the first administration, which
was granted by the county court, thus
leaving the property that had belonged
TO Thos. Shotton, to his heirs in England /.
The deed to Belts having no other foun-
dation than the administration acts, of
course, fell with them. Subsequent at
tempts on the part of tho Belts brothers
to get possession Of the property, have
thus far met with but indifferent success.
Tho sudden death of Mr.. Belts led to
the disintorment of the body, Oh suspicion
of foul play, and the stomach was sent
to DR.. hoyt, of Hudson, for examination.
The analysis developed considerable
quantity of strychnine therein. This led
TO the arrest of Mrs. Shotton on Tuesday
last charged with having poisoned the
deceased, and an examination is now 90.
ing on before +. nj. w ilson, Court Com
missioner.
The counsel employed in the prosecu-
ton, are Hor. Seagrave Smith, of Has
tings, and Messrs. Wise d. Hough, Of
this place. J. 8. White, Esq, of this
city, is engaged for the defense.
With this brief history of this very
very interesting case, our readers can pc.
ruse the testimony and proceedings OF the
trial more understandingly. We give
below verbatim report furnished BY our
special reporter:
REPORT OF THE TRIAL.
Court opened Tuesday p. NJ j. S. White,
for defendant. objected to beiEg arrested and
brought into Court by a non-officeial, though
willing to voluntarily appear to the charge.
Objection overruled. The Court was asked
If the District Attorney had been notified to
appear. The Court held that it was not nec-
essary, as he would recognize Messrs. Wise
Hough and Smith as attorneys for the State,
those gentlemen having appeared. Some i'm
portant witnesses being absent the Court was
Adjourned till the next morning.
"Wednesday. o'clock A. NJ Court called.
Proceeded to take testimony.
DIR. COTTON SWORN.
Have practiced nine years. Was acquain-
ted with George Belts He died at Prescott,
pound fracture of limb leg broken April
22d, 1868. First called on that day. Atten-
ded him generally twice each day. Was
| there when he died. Dressed his limb about
one-half an hour before his death, and was
there five minutes before his death. His gen.
eral condition of health was good aside from
| fracture. Gave opiates-morphine and whis-
| ky-quite large doses of morphine, to quiet
him. Eugene Newell called me previous to
his death. Belts was unconscious when 1
| got there. His arms were not rigid. EXAM
/ ined chest to note the action of heart Found
| no rigidity there. Had not previously dis
covered any symptoms of heart disease. No
onyulsions-mouth pale-no evidence of
| frothing discoverable. Mr.. Converse, Mrs.
| Farnsworth, and think Mr.. Nichols. were
| there at his death. Neighbors took care of
him at night. Mrs. Shotten occupied the
| house. Don't know that she was alone with
Belts. Gave direction and left medicine with
| Mrs. Shotton. Mrs. Farnsworth was there
a week before lac died and assisted Mrs. Shot
| ton. Made poSt-mortena examination with
! DR.. Young. Examined his chest-removing
| his sternum and removing the viscera of the
thorax-took out the heart. Found in the
| pulmonary artery the cause of his DEATH
His heart normal slightly congested and in
| famed. There was clots of 6lood in the pull
monary artery. This artery conveys venous
blood from the right side of heart to the lungs
The whole artery was occupied by this clot.
1t was semi brinous fuid-quite tenacious
Must produce instant death. His lungs were
normal and not carefully examined. Stom-
ach not examined. Blood coagulated in right
side of heart. Knew Mr.. Belts from Deem
Der previous. He was buried on the 9Th or
| 9TH of May.
Cross Er.-In my opinion Belts death was
| caused by venous inflammation at or near the
seat OF the wound. The clot being formed
Il hv The inf fal-nn mn hNy tho nfran-