Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-30

MoNY.
The testimony brought out in the prelimi-
nary examination last week, of Ezra p. Smith
of Vergennes and Mrs. Mary E. Champlin of
Birmingham, n Y, charged with the murder
of Smiths wife, by poisoning in August last,
stamps the case as one of unusual interest,
and if the allegations are sustained on trial,
prove the crime TO have been one of the most
revolving and diabolical that ever occurred in
our State.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Ezra p. Smith, the principal party in this
affair, was at the time of its occurrence "A we'll
to-do and highly respected resident of Yer
gennes. His family consisted of his wife,
Cordela, his son, Frank. aged u, lately mar
ried, who lived on his fathers farm, daugh-
ter, Mary, about 10 years old, who was at
home, and Ira Il. Mills, boy of 10, the or
phan son of Mrs. Adelaide Mills sister of Mrs
Smith. The Smith family had always been
considered entirely respectable. Smith had
been born and reared in the adjoining town
of Addison, as was also his wife. The father
of Mrs, Smith and three married sisters and n
brother lived at the time of her death in Adj
olson Smith owned valuable farm in Adj
Olson, was member of n well known stove
and tuwarc firm doing business in Nergen-
mes, and owned IA neat place on an attractive
street of the latter village He was "A mem
Der of the Baptist church in Vergennes and
when living in Addison had been deacon of
the Baptist church in that place Financially he
was considered good, worth perhaps $50, 900.
| His age is ii.
Mrs Mary +. Chnmplin the woman in the
case, is 81 years old. bright, but not striking
| ly handsome. Her husband worked at Essex,
| y. T., and generally spent about one Sunday
in the month ut home. He is II Woodworking
mechanic a member of the Methodist church,
and is respected wherever known. The Cham
| plins have four children. the oldest n lad of
| lG, the second girl Of /, and the youngest
girl about >.
Mr. Champlin left his wife some five years
ago, ON account of an intimacy which was
| found to have existed between her and II North
| Adams lawyer but the trouble was patched
up and the family moved to Ncrgenncs Al
! though the Champions have lived for nearly
! two years near the Smiths Mr.. Smith seems
not to have become acquainted with Mrs.
| Champlin until January last. The ncqunint-
ancc was brought about at a church sociable
held at Smiths house. While old and young
were playing an old-fashioued game Mr.
| Smith. rs forfeit was sentenced to kiss Mrs.
| c. lie lays all his troubles to that kiss Since
his arrest he has stated that up TO this time,
| he had been true in thought as well rs in
deed. to his wife.
Mrs. Smith died on Sunday, August II, af-
ter an illness Of eight days. Her disease was
called cholera morbus She was taken sud
denly with violent pains in the pit Of her
stomach, accompanied by purging and vomit-
ing. During the week she seemed 10 have
been alternately subject 10 extreme suffering
and to periods Of conyalescing. Until the day
| before her death. the father or other relations
Of the sick woman were not informed of her
sickness and danger notwithstanding the ia
Their and two Of her sisters live within four
miles of Ncrgennes. When the father discov-
cred his daughters condition he called in Drs
Hopkins and kdder, who visited her hate Sat
urday afternoon. The next day at II o'clock
the woman died. under new symptoms
passing away in spasms.
On Mrs. Smith's first attack Mrs Champ
lin was sent for, and assisted in nursing her
until her death. During the week that Mrs
Champlm lived at the house of the Smiths
many little things were noticed by the neigh
bors which caused gossip, and, finally, culIni-
mated in scandal. This caused Mr.. Champlin
To determine on removing his family to Essex
with his children. This seemed 20 fan the
flame and things became so warm that Mrs
| Champlin left town. In few days Smith
left also, and, during his absence, which last
ed about two weeks the circumstances of the
death of his wife were canvassed and susp-
con that all was not right gained ground
The father, Mr.. Gully. secured the services of
Scion T.. Burroughs as detective and num-
| Der of letters between Deacon Smith and Mrs
Champlin and other evidences were secured
which left no doubt that criminal intimacy
had existed between the parties for months
| Evidence was also secured which made il eX-
tremoly probable that Mrs Smith had been
| poisoned 1t was about this time that the af-
fair first became public through the newspa-
| perS. The evidence obtained was laid before
the States attorney, but he for some time
| failed 10 take any action, presumably because
| of tia responsibility of the parties implicated
Smith in the meantime had returned; the
body Of his wife had been taken mp, and Prof
| Collier Of burlington, who had examined it,
with view to a more critical examination, if
the appearance Of the stomach warranted it,
had reported that the stomach had been sub
ject to the action Of an irritant poison and
advised thorough chemical analysis. Still
the States attorney refused to act. II was f.
nally determined TO have II chemical analysis
| of the remains mt private expense, and other
portions of the body were forwarded to Prof
Collier for examination.
FURTHER EVIDENCES OF FOIL PLAY.
Two weeks previous to the last illness of
Mrs Smith she had taken one of a number of
powders, which had been prepared for head
ache, and the symptoms were 30 pronounced
that she herself declared she had been poison
cd The powders had been easy of access,
both to Mrs. Champlin and Mr. Smith. Mrs.
Champlin's brother, Wilbur, who lived with
them had pacticed taxiderny on a limited
scale and had in his possession quantity of
arsenic. Mrs Champlin knew where it was
kept, had access to it, and had repeatedly
| spoken of it. The three physicians who Wis
tied the woman during her sickness all testify
that the symptoms indicated poison But per-
haps the most damaging evidence against
Smith is his own attempt to stop the nvesti-
cation. Burroughs had ingratiated himself
into the good will of the deacon. and every
move Smith made was conhded to the man
employed to secure evidence against him.
The effect of not finding poison in the body
was discussed, and finally it was arranged to
buy off Prof. Collier, if possible. DIR. Kid
der was first to be propltiated, and Smith
| preached the subject to him. That there
might be no mistake in the conversation, at
DIR. Kidder's request, Burroughs was struggled
into n back office and heard every word of the
conversation. 1t is at this meeting that the
conversation occurred which the deacon re-
| peated to Mrs. Champln i'll one of his letters
to her The doctor insisted that the deacon's
offer should be put in writing. The follow
ing is a copy of the offer in Smiths hand
writing
DIR. Kidder-If you can effect stay, or, in
other words, stop the analysis that is suppos-
ed to be in progress in Burlington, you can
have So, and more if that is not satisfactory
T.. p SMITH