Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-01-21
on the stand. Several other witnesses show

on the stand. Several other witnesses show
the lustful tendency of the accused. as seen
by his nquiries concerning the Fowler and
Curtis girls, and the scene which occurred
between the defendant and Mrs. and Miss
Watson. Counsel then proceeded to com.
ment upon the evidence Of the witnesses
who testified to La Pages identification,
dwelling particularly in regard to the testl-
mony of Mr.. and Mrs. Towle, as seeing La
Page on the Academy road, with stick In
his hand, the same or resembling one with
which Josie Langmaid was struck down.
We have also shown that search has been
made in all the region, and only one place
where there were similar sticks has been
discovered, and that place on La Pages
road from his home to Joe Daignault :,
where be worked.
If the halter Gault and VIM. Cate have
told the truth and La Page was on the
Academy road at quarter OF nine o'clock
that morning, then he must have murdered
Josie Langmaid In regard to witnesses
seeing La Page way up in the woods that
morning, we have shown that 1t Is but iour
miles from where the murder was commit
ted to Joe Daignault's, and that there was
a beaten path leading to boom across the
river Can you doubt he was at the shanty
at half-pas. one? which would bring him.
as we claim at Daignault's about $50,
| Why did he go out quick when he heard
at Tom Gardners's that little girl had
been lost? Oh, no he didn't want to hear
of it. He knew all he wanted to know
about it. 1t is immateral whether the
knife shown was the one with which the
head was cut off. although those medical
gentlemen say that il could have been done
with this instrument Why then does he
deny ownership of this knife which the OIL
GERS found hid in his house? Why were
there oats in the handle of the knife and IN
La Pages pocket if il was not his Why.
also, did he offer the officers a dull knife
when arrested? 10 regard to the boots and
piece of paper The paper was not intend
cd to show the size of the heel, but to show
the imprint of the nails, and you will see
that these marks as far as they go, fit ex-
actly the nails in this boot. 1t has been
tried on several boots of the same size and
it fits none other but this boot.
The blood testimony was next considered
and portions of Josie's garments shown
covered with blood. That they were hers
there was no doubt The counsel then re-
ferred to the testimony in respect TO the
microscopic examination of this and the
blood found on La Pages clothes. This
clothing was given to the best blood experts
the country affords, and Drs. Chase, Trevltt
and Treadwell were not sent for to come W
here and swear away man : life. but came
here and gave the State the best light
science affords in this matter of detecting
blood.
The defence say that 10 one has ever been
hung on such evidence. Why. Drs- Chase
HAYES and Treadwell have testified in case
where blood expert evidence has convicted
as for example, the Wagner and Sturtevant
cases. If this was animal blood on La
Pages clothing why hasn't he showed
where he has killed some animal? Oh. no
he couldn't. That blood was from the body
of the poor murdered Josie Langmaid. IL
regard to the detection of rape We can only
say that the manner in which the part
were mutilated precluded proper examina
ton. Counsel referred TO La Pages at
tempts to escape from iall. and remarke.
that it is not likely an innocent man woui'
attempt such an escape.
In closing. counsel remarked that offence
will come and they must be punished. Iat
man must have, and | know you will CIV
him, his rights but in behalf OF the pub
lie. and for the protection of the lives o
your daughters and mine. have the RICH
to ask that when you are satisfied that tn
right man Is found you will gave verde
in accordance with the law.
The Attorney occupied two hours and
half in the delivery oi his argument, whiel
was an able and eloquent eHJrt-