The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-24
THE BRADFORD ARSON CASE.
hrs. N. D. Stevens Held for Trial-Bonds
$4,000,

S7,0OO,
The excitement occasioned by the arrest
of Mrs. Matte (Balch) Stevens, formerly
of Rutland, for setting fire to the Trotter
house at Bradford, has awakened great
interest, both at that place and In Rutland.
The examination of Mrs. Stevens for arson
closed at midnight Tuesday, and proved
one of tho most interesting and exciting
ever held in that section. At two o'clock
Tuesday afternoon the case was called at
The town hall in Bradford, which was filled
to OVERLOOKING. Many persons from ad-
Joining towns were present, and the ex-
citement did not reach its hight until the
close ard final disposition of the case by
the court. Several witnesses were exam
ined, and all of the principal ones sub
iected to searching examination by
opposing counsel.
THE EVIDENCE.
The principal points in the evidence for
the state consisted in the prisoners own
statements, admissions or threats, as the
prosecution claimed, aud in the testimony
of Charles N. Stevens, who testified that
last Saturday evening respondent got pro-
voked at her stepdaughter Emma, IL years
old. wanting her to go to bed. The girl
refused Hard words then passed between
Mrs. Stevens and her husband. She went
10 her room and wanted her husband to go
TO bed. He would not, and after having
more hard words with him she locked him
out of the room.
The respondent was found going from
room to room in the house, and about ten
o'clock in the evening told two hired girls
in the house, after inquiring for her hus-
tapd and Emma, that she would make it
hot for tnem before morning. AT half
past eleven o'clock she was found prowl-
ing about in the third story of the building,
on the same floor where her husband and
Emmashad retired for the night
At two o'clock in the morning an alarm
of fire was given. Fire was found within
about two feet of the beds in room where
the husband and Emma slept. The fire
was put out, and after daylight the re-
spnndent vas seen to come from her room
with a kerosene lamp and broken chimney
ward pieces of lamp chimney were found
where the fire was set, which fitted exactly
t, the lamp chimney which she lett in the
hall.
Wales j. Watson testified that he was
awakened by the thunder and fury of the
storm, which was beating into his room.
lie arose to close the window, and in
doing so saw light in the l., or, as it
reamed through the crevice, between the
l. and the ma IL building. lie immediate
~ gave the alarm, and in company with
n. b. Stevens, got water in pals and
threw it on the fire, and thus put 1t out in
"a few minutes.
lie described the rags, cotton and other
combustible material found there, all satur-
aed with kerosene oil, and identified a
lamp exhibited in court, and spoken of
and identified by Charles N. Stevens. He
also corroborated certain portions of G. n.
Stevens testimony as given above. Wed
nesdaY at dinner in the dlning-room, the
respondent asked him to come over to Chel-
sea to zee her if she went, and added sbc
would fix the house before she went
Col. John G. Stearns, general insurance
agent, testified as to insurance, TOR whose
baucfi and to what amount the house was
insured
Other testimony for the state was given,
but it was principally an elaboration of the
above.
THE DEFENSE.
In defence, Mre. Stevens, the respond
ent, testified at some length, and gave an
account Of her Transactions and where
sbouts during the night of the fire, and also
explained in regard TO each and every mat
ter spoken of by the prosecution, and ee-
peoially so in regard to the supposed
threa,s and words "will make it hot for
them" which were construed by the state
to mean threat to burn the house. Her
connection with, or any knowledge of the
hand lamp spoken of by Chas. N. Stevens
she denied in toto, saying it was false and
uDjustifed in every particular.
THE ARGUMENTS.
At 5.15 p. M, the testimony was all in
and the court adjourned to meet at half
past six o'clock. Before the hour arrived
the hall was completely jammed with an
| anxious crowd, composed of both ladies
and gentlemen, eager to witness the clos
| ing scene in the drama and TO hear the able
| arguments OF the eminent counsel engaged
on both sides.
AT o'clock the court came in, when
John II. Watson opened the case in behalf
of the state, and occupied fully one hour,
reviewing the testimony and rules of law
applicable in this CASE He was followed
by Col. A. M. Dickey, in behalf of the re-
spondent, who spoke for one hour and
forty minutes, and made most thorough
and searching argument, and fcarfully ar
igned and denounced one of the witnesses
for the prosecution.
Col. Farnham followed, and the case
was closed by Osin Gambell, who made an
able argument In behalf of the state.
| THE RESPONDENT HELD FOR TRIAL.
Justice j. B. Fcckett had requested JUS
tice f. X. Aldrich to sit with him, and sf-
ter consultation for few moments together
they announced that they should hold the
respondent to bail, and fixed the sum at
$1,000.