The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-02


sci for prisoner he was requested to write
bis name on piece of paper he did so,
and then, at request, he wrote Z. F. smith,
st. Adams, VT. this all was written in my
presence and in the presehce of the others
named l acted as prosecuting officer be-
fore magistrate before whom prisoner was
held also acted as coroner and took a
good deal of evidence for preservation
was at the fire about eight o'clock had a
consultation with others, and finally put
guard over the scene of the fire when
examination commenced there was no track
or trace made on ruins we made all en-
animation Of ruins next day by raking
them over carefully; INSTRUMENT pro-
duced) think it was Sunday, while riding
by. my attention was called to another in
strument that had been found Henry
Baldridge found it and gave it to me
kept 1t until the grand jury set and then
gave ii to them never saw such an in
strument before and have come to no salts
factory conclusion about 1t it looks like
steel and to have never had q handle 1t
bears the name of the maker, "Artid," and
"Albany" under 1t, are all that can be made
out of the lettering this Is the same in
strument that was found part of a
Saratoga trunk, pair of scissors, remains
of ladies pen-knife, Ratchet and other
things were found in ruins men were at
work under main part of house at that
time; Mr.. Franklin Billings has the
Ratchet, think, and the other things saw
a razor blade that was picked up but don't
know who found il nothing could be
found of any value, like watches or jewel
ry, but some forks were found that seemed
to be bound up in same way as when pur-
chased.
Cross Xamination-I did not do much
of working over ruins as there were many
there who had the implements did not see
the man who found the razor blade to re-
member who it was, but was there when it
was found. Isaac Smith and Morris Liv-
ingston testified before me at the inquest.
FRANKLIN BILLINGS.
l was one of the selcctmen of the town
at the time of the fire rot to the fire Just
as they took the body out ; got DR.. Allen
and DIR. Mead there and staid during their
examination then got man to watch the
premises; thought it necessary to have the
ruins thoroughly examined next day
about noon got some men and had the ruins
examined; in examining the ruins we
found her shears, her scissors and five old
forks ; also Ratchet and razor (pro-
duced Ratchet and razor y when / got
there the frame of the bed was on sleepers,
but the body had been taken out Ratchet
found very near where the bed came down;
found several keys to her trunks a very
thorough examination was mace and
nothing of value was found; think Warren
ii. Smith found the Ratchet ard that Mr..
Perkins found the razor lived about half
mile by the road from the building, but a
quarter of mile across the lots wood
shed was built after the house was built ;
no cellar under the house.
Cross cxamination.-I employed Mr..
Mccarthy to watch the ruins and Mr..
Simeon Jones to stay while he went to his
meals don't know as | can tell that the
Ratchet was found under where the bed
came down engaged Mr. Mccarthy, Mr..
Steele and others to help; was there when
Mr.. Perkins found the hatchet and know
we were rakng under that spot at the
time did not know there was a skeleton
in the house when it burned we found
parts of her skull in the ruins think from
the house to the Berwick house by railroad
track some more than half mile; it might
be by way of street mile usual course is
by Forest street should say not quite a
mile did not take any measurement of
the house think about % by 30 it stood
on cedar posts, a balloon frame but well
finished was inside of the house once be.
fore it burned but not a frequent visitor
-direct-No bones found there that
did not come from arms or lower limbs
were found where the bed would come
down.
Cross examination. The bones were
burned almost to coal could tell whal
they were.
MRS. NANCY KEENAN,.
Reside on Forest street, first house NORTH
of whnrn Mrc Erao1oio boueo ,,oe l,,r,ol
my husband is John Keenan, lived there
last June; was acquainted with Mrs
Freeze she had been my neighbor about
year she was quite frequently in my
my house have occasionally been in hel
house she used my stove a good deal il
warm weather to make tea was in hel
house Monday morning or day before the
fire; saw and spoke with her it wa.
about 10 o'clock In the forenoon that was
| the last time saw her, or about II O'Clock
| buying meat at a cart in front other house
was at her house frequently on Monday
after wafer in her cistern saw no one
about the premises that day, but hearC
some one talking in the house did no
take particular notice of the voices moth
ing unusual in fact of hearing them there
saw no one go there on Monday saw two
gentlemen so to the door on Sunday, bu
don't think they went in don't know
whether any one else was there when the,
called I; had heard some one talking abou
the house that day; saw Mrs. Freeze tn,
Thursday before, starting from her hous,
with gentleman in carriage did no
notice him particularly and don't think
should know him again don't know wher
she went that day did not hear anythin,
unusual on Monday about the premises
sleep on the south side of the house next I,
her house the first heard of the fire wa
Mr. Mccarthy rapplng on the door h.
said he had rung the hell but had heard IL,
sound; helped take out things down stairs
and there were a number there by tina
| timn I "a thara a.,