Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-08-26
ATTEMPT TO BURN THE TROTTER
HOUSE.


Hearing on the Charge or Arson,
Al about o'clock on Sunday morning a
alarm OF fire startled our slumbering villag
mud II was announced that the Trotter Hous
was ON fire. On investigation the fire WI
discovered in the attic of tho ell part, In rca
OF the main building, and II few pals Of wa
ter sufiiced to put 1t out, though fifteen miu
ntes' headway would have given It such
start that probably tho whole business par
of the village would have burned. The fir
was evidently the work of an incendiary
AMI this taken with the fire which was set IL
the cellar In May, aud other attempts to fir,
the building which were proviaentally frus
trated, caused considerable excitement ant
apprehension on the part of not only tn
inmates of the house. but Of citizcns general
ly. After M Investigation into the origin o
this fire, by those interested, on complai ut o.
Grand Juror Andrew Sargent, Justice JOIN
b. Pickett issued II warrant for the arrest OF
Mrs. Matte 3. Stevens, wife of n. u. Stevens
IN which she was charged with the crime o
arson. High Sheriff T. X. Berry WAS sent fol
aud eaIly Monday morning he arrested Mrs
| "
Hall. on Tuesday afternoon, where II large
concourse of people assembled.
The prosecution was conducted by Oiil
Gambell, Esq, assisted D., y. II. Watson, Esq
while Col. r. Farnham and Col A. NJ. Dickey
appeared for the Respondent. Justice j. h.
Pocket had invited Justice Il. K. Aldricll to
sit with him on the case. We give below II
synopsis Of the testimony:
c. N. Stevens testified rs to Mrs. Stevens
having some alteration with his little sister
Emma In the carly part OF the evening Sat
urday she then called for her husband. and
used some hard language because he did not
como where she was. She then went up to
her room, on the second floor, No. Q. He went
up to his room, opposite No. Q. shortly after
and Mr.. N. b. Stevens and Mrs. Stevens were
in No. and having some unpleasant talk 1t
was nothing unusual for her to talk in that
way to him. Mr.. Stevens went down stairs
and she threatened to lock him out If he did
not 60 to bed. She locked the door. but soon
aft er came out and called to the clerk wales
Watson) for the key to No. 10, which is on the
third floor. The then locked her door aud
went mp ON the third floor, where he heard
her walking around in the hall and in the
vicinity of No. 49, N. b. Stevens and Emma
went up into the upper hall and slept in No.
81. When they were going up the stairs heard
Mrs. Stevens running towards No. 10 aud talk
ing in n whisper as though talking to herself.
Sat with my door open till about one o'clock
md know that Mrs. Stevens did not come
down to her room. Then placed my bed SO
that the door could not be pushed fully 'open
and put my valise in the door way 80 that the
door could not shut. Then went to sleep and
was awakened by the alarm Of fire. Got up
and found my door closed tight. Dressed as
quickly as possible and ran out with my pitch
or of water and started for the upper hall.
Saw Mrs. Stevens standing in the door of No
9 opposite my room and shc called to me,
"The fire is not up there; it is out here )"
pointing towards the ell part. Assisted in
putting out the fire, and found that it was set
on a cross beam at the end of the ell part
where 1t joins on to tho main building and
runs up hes ide stud and on window which
was boarded up, and in the partition between
the garnet and No. where Nelson and Emma
slept Found on the beam a lamp with the
wick out and nearly empty. At about o'clock |
next morning saw Mrs. Stevens come out of
her room No. 9 and look around the hall and
go to the stairway and listen. Then she went
back and came out again with lamp in her
hand the chimney of which was broken and
smoked up. She went along the hall and set
the lamp on q what not near Mrs. Lucia Peas
lees door, No. 3. Afterwards took the lamp
to my room and went with Mrs. Peaslce to
the stairway over which the fire was set and
found pieces of lamp chimney, 1.-THE pieces and
lamp were here shown and the pieces fitted
On to the broken chimney making perfect
ft.l
Wales Watson, the clerk was the next wit
ness. He corrobo rated Charles testimony in
r egard to the trouble with Emma Mrs. Ste
vens calling for the key of No. ID and he and
+ rank Stevens both testified to hearing some
one open the door between the dining room
and kitchen about eleven o'clock nd that
when they went up to bed on the third floor,
when going up the last fight of stairs Watson
heard some woman walking in the hall and
going into No. 10. And Frank after going In
20 Watson room went to his own room, and
blew the light out, leaving his door open part
vay looked out afterwards and saw
woman crouching down near the balustcrs of
he stairway. There was no light iu upper
nall but was one turned partly down i'll the
over hall. The next morning in conversation
With Watson, Mrs. Stevens said she knew
when he and Frank went to bed. She saw
Frank 60 into Watson's room. and she coul d
rot have seen him from the second floor.
Mis- Peaslee and Watson also carroborated
Charles as to his leaving his door open, and
Mrs Peaslee heard Mrs. Stevens in the eve
ming threaten to foreclose her mortgage OH
he Trottcr House.
Two of the girls employed in the house testi-
" that Mrs. Stevens came to their room and
inquired for Mr.. Stevens, and said she would
make it hot for them before morning."
Watson also testihes that the mex t morning
after she was arrested, she spoke of going to
Chelse Jail and said ~ will fix this house be-
ore go"
Mrs. Peaslec also testified, to hearing her
ay that she would make it the hottest time
Bradford ever saw Monday or Tuesday.
One of the girls testified to hearing noise
n the stairway to the garrett aud the break
ng of glass about fifteen minutes before the
,larm.
After the state rested, Mrs. Stevens testi-
led, She knew nothing of the setting of the
fire. Was in her room No. 9 after Nelson
went out till the alarm was given, and then
went out with pitcher of water to holp put
out the fire.
The case was ably and lengthily argued by
The counsel OH both sides and the Court after
considering the case. held Mrs Stevens to
,ail in the sum of$7000.
OXFORD.