Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-02

THE DUMMERsToN INCENDIARY FIRE-AR-
REST AND EXAMINATION OF THE sUs-
PEcTED PARTIES STONES CONFESSION
DOTH MEN BOUND UP FOR TRIAL.
Last Friday, Edmund Stone and Harri-
son Townshend Of Dummerston were ar
rested upon the charge OF burning the
buildings OF Asa Stratton of Dummerston.
They were taken before Justice Tyler, and
the bearing was postponed until Monday.
Owing to the illness of Judge Tyler the re-
spondents were brought before Justice
Newton at that time, and the investigation
Of the cases was closed Wednesday. A
great deal of interest was manifested in the
trial, as evidenced by the number of per-
sons who attended the hearing, which was
held at the town hall. The case against
Townshend was heard last, and the confess
sion made by Stone, WHO was called as a
witness against Townshend, after he had
been bound over for trial, is given in sub
stance below. No evidence was introduced
in behalf of Mr.. Townshend amer Stones
testimony, and he was placed under 5000
bonds, which he failed to obtain.
THE EVIDENCE.
The following is an outline of the leading
testimony which was introduced during
stones examination on Monday and Tues
day:
The complaint against Stone for setting ERE to
tac barn Of Asa Il. stratton, Of Dummcrstop. The
buildings Of said stratton, including barn. shed and
dwelling house, destroyed by FIRE on the night Of
the Ilth Of February. Edmund Stone was arrested
upon complaint Of the States Attorney last Friday
and was arraigned, a. already stated before Justice
Newton on Monday Of this week.
The nrst witness in behalf Of the State was Asa H.
stratton who testified that his buildings burned
the night Of FEB. H. together with the following
personal property One pair cattle, two cows two
heifers pair yearlings and calf, one colt two
hogs aud fourteen sheep, is tons Of hay 80 bushels
Of corn 10 bushels Of oats and most Of prov.ions in
house. The fire was discovered about ten O'Clock Z:
some Of the Witnesses set the time Of the alarm little
later.
appeared by witnesses introduced in behalf Of the
State that Asa sraton lost his watch dog the Sunday
preceding the nre, and more Of him until the
Friday following Another circumstance proved in
behalf Of the State the break out Of near
by the corner Of the burned barn and extending 70
brook where Harrison Townshend watered his stock.
II was claimed this was suspicious circumstance, be-
cause no road was ever known to have been broken
before leading TO said brook 1t further appeared and
claimed as evidence Of guilt that dance was
going At the dwelling house Of said Townshend, the
evening Of the re that Stone was At the dance and
appeared with cloth shoes at one time At smother
with boots instead OF shoes and part Of the time had
nothing upon his feet but stockings Several wit
and Q headache, that he was absent from the dance
twice during tie evening and returned breathing
hard and with flushed face aud that after he came
into Townshends house the last time mentioned, he
was to converse with ToWnshend in low voice.
II furth shown that when he arrested upon
the complaint and warrant, that he endeavored to
elude the officer.
Mrs. II. TownEheud was called a. a witness in be-
half Of the State an testified follows Soon after
strAtton lost steer (some three years ago) Stone
came into our house and said " he damned glad Of
IT, and strAton did not look out be would lose an
other. Said If any crossed his path he would
have his revenge he had to wait ten years for it,
Said II Asa Stratton did not look out he might wake
up some morning and ind his buildings burned over
his head"
The testimony in behalf Of the respondent tended to
show that he at the dauce mentioned during the
whole evening, and that he not absent at any one
time long enough to go to STATIONS premises and
back that the distance from the premises Of Towns
bend TO the barn burned VI by the main road
and Ice rods by the road broke through the lot by
respondent that the respondent broke said read for
the purpose Of drawing some wood which he, with the
help Of hired man, proposed to cut upon his prem
ses. That he did not attempt TO escape from the off,
Ger who arrested him, but that he went TO one
Herrick, in Dummerson, about getting some wood,
and that he went no further than necessary TO
perform his Grand
1t further appeared that upon other there
had been gatherings at the house Of Townshend for
dancing and that the dance upon the evening Of the
l4h had been talked about for week ten days pre-
vioua TO the Are.
At the close of the hearing the respondent was held
for trial and his bonds hxed at S25OO which be failed
70 ftafn