Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-05-29
Trial of Moses B. Sawyer
CHARGED WITH TIE
Murder Of Mrs. alma Emerson,
AT Piermont, N. H., Jan. ~, 1875.
Third llay.

Murder Of Mrs. alma Emerson
AT Piermont, N. H., Jan. %, 1875.
| Third hay.
PLYMOUTH, MAY 10.
At half past two the court resum.
ell and the trial continued.
DR.. Noses Carbee was called and
sworn:
live at Haverhill; am q physi.
cian; | knew OF death of Mrs. Emer-
son was there about 4 O'clock in
afternoon Of the day Uf murder;
was also there in evening of tie
same day, there was then an exam
| / s--'-- =" ''''. ""''.,, -'.~st,ou l,uU
the body in the colliu thin', Tho
charge entered the head u little he.
hind the left ear; l found the neck
was burned under and behind the
left ear after the head was blown
off the blood would not squirt more
than Z or s seconds.
Albert Rogers called and sworn:
reside at Piermont half a mile
north from Enerson'S; knew Of
the death OF Mrs. Emerson last
Jam; was informed of her death
10y boy named Ohild's; | had /;
slight acquaintance with Sawyer;
had conversation with him that
day he said he was ut wood pile
and Emerson was at barn when the
gun WAS discharged; l asked him if
Emerson and his wife had any trou-
bic, he said no they were always
happy, they had kissed each other
that morning; Sawyer said it was
suicide, that nothing would be
done about it, although her folks
might make some talk about it
the muzzle of the gun was pointing
towards the chair in which Mrs.
Emerson sat ; blood was upon both
sides Of the gun on the floor.
Cross examined 6y Col. George
When first went to Emerson's on
the day of murder supposed it
was a case of suicide | had been
so informed before going there
Sawyer said he didn't hear but
one report after examining the
position of the body and sur
roundingS l was satistisd it could
not have been suicide.
Redirect craminati0n-I remember
Emerson had on short frock and
pair of overalls; [ noticed no blood
on Mr.. Sawyer's clothing.
John p. Emerson recalled by the
defence;
When | went to Bradford with
Sawyer | drove over the village to
show him the place; borrowed ten
dollars of Sawyer while he was at
Piermont and a short time after
paid it back to him; borrowed the
money to pay for repairing my
watch; my wife was afraid Of
gun; there was another gun in the
north front room, it was loaded and
cap on tube; l loaded it to shoot
fox with Sawyer said if | would
load the double barreled gun he
would shoot the cat; l never knew
of Sawyer having fired a gun; it
was about fifty rods from the barn
to where | cut the ice for watering
my cattle; | had but one axe wnen
| and Sawyer went out OF the house
the last time before the murder l
went to barn and did some chores,
he went to choppping wood Mt wood
pile ; came back to the wood pile
and got the axe Sawyer was using
and went down fifty rods from the
barn and cut out the ice where |
watered my cattle, and brought the
axe back to Sawyer; | never knew
that Sawyer was particularly deaf.
Noses LedrAdrd-callcd and
sworn:
l live in Piermont about 100 rods
south of Emerson's l work Oh a
farm am acquainted with John Z.
Emerson, have known him from a
boy knew of death of Mrs. Emer-
son ; John Flanders informed me of
her death | Immediately went to
Emerson's, there were several pres
ent when | got there; Mrs. Emer-
sons head was blown off and blood
and brains scattered about the
room a piece of the skull bone lay
on the lounge; l examined the
tracks from the back door and there
was track as of some one running
from the door to the road | had
some con :ersatiOn with Sawyer on
afternoon of the day of murder;
asked him if lie and Emerson came
out of house together, lie said they
md, and it was five minutes after
they went out before he heard the
Of the gun; he said the
next he saw OF Emerson he was run
ming up on north of house.
Cross examined by Col Georse-l
heard nothing said Oh the day OF the
about lynching Sawyer
blood and brains were scattered
about the room.
Frank Il. 1Owle called and sworn !:
| reside at PiermOnt about half a
mile from Emerson's Mrs. Emerson
was my niece /; had known her from
John Flanders informed
me of death of Mrs. Emerson L
went Immediately to Emerson's
l;I