Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-12-30
Reported expressly for this paper.l
TRIAL OF
JAM ES B. WlNM,
For Manslaughter at Woodstock, w.
Dec 23, 1874


by the roadside, on the hill just west
of Mr.. Cyrus Wheeler's house Febru-
ary 4th, 1874. 1t appears that SOL
of Mr.. Donoghue who was on his way
to his grandtather's house, and ap
preaching the brook in the ravine at
the foot of the hill, discovered his
fathers oxen drinking, and, looking
for'his father, asked a neighbor, Mr.
James B. Winn who was near, where
he was. On reply that he was back
on the side of the road, he asked what
the matter was, to which MIR. Winn
said, "the same as usual" meaning, as
it was understood, that he was intoXi
Gated. The young man drove the OK
en- back and found his father lying by
the roadside, with his hat partly GOV.
ering his face On raising the hat he
discovered that his head and face
were bloody. He lifted the body to
the sled and supported it as well as he
could, till he reached home. The sin.
gularity of the circumstances in which
the remains were found and of the ma
ture of the wound, in connection with
certain other circumstances, awak
ened suspicious of foul play. A legal in
vestigation was resolved upon; ano
on Friday morning an autopsy was ia
ken of the body in the presence O.
Grand Juror Winn, and others, by
DR.. E. +. Phelps, Of Windsor, thu
Coroner's inquest before Thales B
Winn, Esq, Justice Of peace, acting
as Coroner, took place Feb. 6, 1874
which resulted in a verdict of deatl
by blow received at the hands o
j. b. Winn, who was arrested and ar
raigned for examination before justice
j. A. Pollard, on complaint of tn
Grand Juror II. B. Vim, for murde1
in the first degree. The most impor
IT, .~o.:.,o--. ,~:-~. -l-4 -" NJ
lydia Wheeler.
The examination was waived b,
the respondent The legal paper
were executed, and the responder
was taken to the Jail at Woodstock
At an extra session of the Grand Jur,
at the last May Term Of court a bill
was found against Wlm tor man
slaughter. Mr. Winn procured bal
Alfred Hall, Esq, of Windsor, bein
his bondsman.
JURY TRIAL IN FULL.
His trial commenced on tn
afternoon of Dec. %, 1874. A full al
count of which we hasten to presen
to our readers Long before the oper
ing of the court the audience room
was crowded with spectators eager t
hear the trial, there also being sewers
ladies. Walker, S. A., Johnson an
Goddard appeared for the State, an
Edminster, Denison and French fc
the respondent. About J hour wa
occupied in empanncling the followin
Jury w. A. Slack, Samuel Hltcl
inson and Henry G. Burton of No
wich A. J. Graham, Lyman Chill
Daniel Owen, Norman Fowler and .
G. Bennett of Bethel; Peter X. Spau
ding of Cavendish Joseph w. l.
: land of Baltimore Geo. w. Davis.
Chester, and Joseph W. Pratt ofPon
fret. The Indictment was then rea
by the clerk and James Winn tt
respondent was arraigned, and plea
''not guilty"
3 The case was opened by w.
Johnson who stated to the Jury
y brief account Of the tradgedy. III
5 following witnesses being called in b
hal of the State
A. B. Harlow was called upon
take photographs of the localiti
took three. (rhese were shown
the Jury also map of Windsor sho1
: ing the road passed by Winn al
I Donoghue previous to the murder:)
HenryB. Cody. Livein Windso
2 mile from Wheelers. Remember Il
occurrence. Saw Winn that day abo
FIVE o'clock, going afoot towar
home. Spoke with him Thoug
from his talk he had drank a litt
Think his voice no louder than col
monty, but rather loud. Heard Dc
oghue short time after seeing VIM.
d [Cross ex.] About 10 or 20 ro
rs apart. Didn't see Donoghue. Hea
him. Winn had quite a load of ba
Oh common OK sled. Oxen in goo
+ order. Donoghue's oxen light,
j. good working order.
: Gurus Wheeler. Live in same d
trict 60 or 80 rods from Fla!
school house. Knew Douoghu