Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-03

State CS. JOhH Williams This was an in
dictment found by the grand jury against
John Williams for the murder of John Sulli
van. 1t appeared upon the trial of the case
that both the respondent and Sullivan were
| upon the railroad at Jamaica in employ of
Capt Stone. They went to Jamaica in De-
cember last Upon the 22d day of March
last Sullivan, who had been boarding at Lew
is Harris, came to Clark Frenchs to board
where the respondent was. An alteration
arose between Williams and Sullivan about
Sullivan's boarding at Mr.. French's, where
upon Sullivan made an assault upon Will
llams, striking him and throwing the respon-
dent upon the floor, and keeping him down
until other employees separated them. This
occurred short time after supper, and so
near as the time could be fixed between sew
EN- and eight o'clock. The respondent as
soon as he was released went across the room
to the wood-box near the stove, fol lowed by
one Thomas Harrington. Williams seized n
stick of wood, which Harrington took away
and put in the stove. This was repeated un-
til Harrington had put all the wood into
the stove,-from three to five sticks.
Soon after this the respondent left the room
and passed through the kitchen, where Mr..
French and his wife were, outdoors. Soon
after, in about ten minutes, as stated by
some of the witnesses, Williams returned to
the kitchen and borrowed lantern and again
went out; returned again in about five min
utes, passed back through the kitchen into
the sitting room, advanced quickly to Sulli-
van, who was sitting in his chair, and struck
him upon his head with a green, hard wood
maple stick. Sullivan sat motoness for
few moments, then got up and seized Will
liams and beat him until they were again sep
arated Soon after Sullivan vomited several
times. 1t appeared that his head was bruised
and bleeding. The wound was dressed by
those there, aided by Mrs. French. Soon
after Sullivan went to his room attended by
Harrington and Connors. He became very
restless, leaving his bed and lying on the
floor, and was finally kept in bed by force.
About eleven o'clock he went to sleep, us tes-
tilted by Harrington and Connors, and re-
manned unconscious until he died, Monday
evening DR.. Holton was called Sunday
morning, but could not at that time do any
thing to restore consciousness. The appear
ance of the wound did not indicate the ex-
tent of the injury. A post mortem examina-
ton was made conducted by A. b. Bixby of
Londonderry. 1t appeared that the skull had
been fractured for five inches, though there
was nothing external to indicate this, and
under the fracture was found mass of coag-
J ulated blood, quite hard, some five inches in
length four in width, and three -fourths of an
inch in thickness. This caused pressure
upon the BRAN which produced death. 1t
was claimed by the respondent that he struck
in self defence that he returned to the room
. for his hat and coat, and as soon he open
ed the door Sullivan ground his teeth, shook
> his head, and partly arose from his chair.
Williams further said that the stick was in
plain sight There were four other persons
t who witnessed the blow only two of whom,
Harrington IL Connors, were produc ed by
the State at the trial. These witnesses both
. said that Williams had the stick concealed,
. and that no one saw it until Williams was in
, the act of striking; they further testified that
. at the time the blow was given Sullivan was
sitting opposite the door, or nearly So
through which Williams came, with his face
l. partially turned to one side, talking with
'. some of those present, and that he made nc
: offer at this time to assault Williams. Yer
= dict of manslaughter.
/. State rS Dennis RaBtrty.-Ths was nj
indictment for an attempt to commit rape. II
t, appeared that in December last the respon
d dent came in the night to the house of Orlr
J. Whitney in Brattleboro, and claimed to b,
q an old comrade of Whitney's in the army
>, that Whitney let him into the house, CAV
20 him some breakfast, though he had never be
fore seen Rafferty,, and then went away leav
u ing respondent there with Mrs. Whitney ant
y her little boy about eleven years old Sool
4 the respondent gave the boy some money
T. asking him if he liked candy, and in shor
a. time the boy went out to take care of tn
J. school house on Washington street, where h
b. attended school, Rafferty, then made som
=. advances to Mrs Whitney, and finally seize
y her threw her upon the floor, bruisng he
q, arm and back and attempted to commit tn
d. crime with which he is charged. Mrs. Whit
g. ney struggled until she escaped to the gal
er den, and there seeing Arad Hunt driving past
- ran to the road, got into Mr.. Hunts WACO
X and gave an alarm which resulted in Ratfel
ch tvs capture. Verdict of guilty.
h State as. Austin w. Morey Wm. SneeHes
~ Ed. HaH-Ths was an indictment foun
re against the respondents for malicious mi
h chief 1t appeared that in July last the'
on Young men, residents of Massachusetts,, b,
A. then working in Guilford, repaired to IL
pond of Philip F. Franklin in Guilford fC
~ the purpose of fishing. They borrowed will
PC out leave Franklin's boat, and when he d.
ID. manded it one of them rowed the boat acroi
list to him, and while Franklin was bailing o.
mp the boat, he seized him from behind al
- threw the old man head first into the pom
in, They afterwards threw slabs, brush and val
IN, GUS things into the pond and closed their |
IS, bors for the day by rolling two heavy ston
nd from the dam down and upon the fume
b. the mill, breaking and somewhat injuring Il
Il, Aume The boys conceded they were at Il
en- pond that day but denied the injury to Il
re, fume. Verdict of guilty.
1er State gs. Dennis Cain.-This was an
~ dictment for an assault and battery up'
A Mrs. Cain, the respondents wife. The tr
ler was amusing and resulted in the acquittal
w. Cain. When Dennis was inquired of as
81 whether he was match for his wife, his !
80, spouse of "Oh. Lord, mo-" was given WI
tie such JUNCTION and power of expression as
es carry conviction of its truth, as well as to ci
ate much amusement, Verdict not guilty.
our The following prisoners were sentenc
lc nee Tuesday morning John Williams, ten yet
hard labor at the State prison; Dennis Ria
erty, five years hard labor at State prise
Joseph Freeman plead guilty to an indi
iS ment for larceny and was sentenced to
II House of Correction for two years Nath
Howard. IA years of age, plead guilty
aud -. 49,, ,,,to.;,,,, q storo at Cambrid