Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-26
The Gravelin Murder Case.
Statement of Facts.

situated in the town of Weathersield, and
owned by Horace Weston, of Windsor, were
totally consumed by what was believed to
be an incendary fire. The property de-
stroyed was subsequently adjudged to be
worth about six thousand dollars, and was
insured in the Farmers Mutual, Of Montpe
lier, for twe1ty-seven hundred dollars. Ow-
ing to an existing feud between Mr., Weston
and one Henry Gravelin, wealthy French
man living in the neighborhood, and to pre-
viously uttered threats on the part of Grave
lin, suspicion at once fastened upon the lat
ter as the incendiary. He was arrested, and
after preliminary examination before Jus
tice VIM, of Windsor, was bound up for tria
in the sum of six thousand dollars. At the
time of this examination it began TO be sus
pected that Gravelin had some agency in the
mysterious absence of one Herbert o. White
a neighbor of his, against whom he held
grudge for having testified against him in q
previous suit with this Mr.. Weston. Search
being made, the dead and mangled body of
White was found in an old well on Grave
Inns premises. Gravelin was then held for
murder, of which crime he was duly con.
victed at the succeeding term of the county
court, and sentenced to be hung two years
thereafter. The evidence upon which this
verdict was based is understood to have
mainly consisted in perfect chain of cir
cumstances, all pointing Enthusiastically to
Gravelin as the murderer. Besides, perfectly
reliable parties testified to Gravelin's admis
sion of his guilt.
Sometime after Gravelins sentence, he
appointed Mr.. Albert Preston, thrifty
farmer and business man living in his
neighborhood, as his agent and attorney for
the custody and disposition of his property,
comforting upon him full discretionary powers
in respect to the same. (Gravelin's property
was variously estimated at from $4,000 to
S25,O00). Mr.. Preston had also for some
years acted, to limited extent, as agent for
effecting assurances in the Farmers Mutual
and in that capacity insured the property of
Mr.. Weston which had been destroyed.
When the matter of Gravelin's trial for the
burning came up for action, Mr.. Preston,
Gravelin's agent and attorney, submitted the
testimony in the case to Hon. john f. Deane,
of Cavendish, Gravelin's senior counsel, who,
after thorough and critical examination,
gave it as his opinion that there was not
one chance in hundred for him to escape
tbic ipInp,ant aud
ommendation Mr.. Preston decided to make
no defence in the arson case, and judgment
was accordingly taken against Gravelin for
six thousand dollars, and his property set of
on execution.
Thus matters remained until Just prior
to the late session of our legislature, when
the excitement attendant upon the Phair case
seemed to have begotten determination to
apply to the general assembly for a commu-
tation of Gravelin's sentence. This action
was not taken by the leading counsel of
Gravelin Hons. John +. Deane and c. N.
Davenport-who, as we have been Informed
and believe, refused to have any agency in
the attempt to obtain Communication. But
one j. w. Deane, young lawyer alternating
between Cavendish, VT, and Claremont, N.
H., seems to have undertaken the task of
managing the case before the Legislature,
and Z. Morton Smith," a somewhat noted
ca correspondent OF the Boston Journal
assumed the congenial service of doing the
sensational work in the papers After care
fully hearing and sitting the testimony in
the case the judiciary committee of the two
houses, sitting jointly, unanimously decided
that there was no cause for interposing in
the execution of Gravelin's sentence.
The evidence chiefly relied on in asking
for Communication of Gravelin's sentence
consisted of most remarkable affidavit OF
Mr.. Albert Preston, Gravein's agent and at
torney, which was read by Mr.. Deane before
the committee and was as follows:
MIR. PREsToN's AFFIDAVIT.
81, Albert Preston, of Weathersfied in the
county OF Windsor and state of Vermont, being OF
lawful age, upon oath depose, testify and say, a.
follows viz: That in the trial of Henry Grave
ln of Weathersfed, for the murder of Herbert
o. White in October A. d, 1876, one Tim Hanir
testified in behalf of the state in said trial to the
effect that said Hanlin had obtained from the
said Gravelin confession that he (Gravelin
participated in said murder, and to other matter'
and things appertaining thereunto. know and
have every reason to believe that said Ilann il
the said trial, was directly in the employ of the
insurance company in which the buildings o.
Horace Weston in said Weathersfed were in
sured. I was at that time, and am now, thu
agent of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Com
pany, of Montpelier, Vt, and that as such agent
effected the insurance upon the buildings Of til,
said Horace Weston; and that, on the night o
the 10th OF October, A. d. 1876, the said building
were destroyed by fire, and that the said Henry
Gravelin was suspected and arrested on tn,
charge of setting fire to the same. The treasure
of the said Farmers Mutual Insurance Company
Samuel Wells informed me at the time of tn,
trial of the said Gravelin for the murder of Her
bert o. White that the said Hanlin was in TIL
employ of the said company and was thei
trusted agent; and further, that he the said Han
lin, obeyed implicitly the orders and direction
received from him, the said Wells, aud followe
strictly the directions given him, and that letter
passed between himself and the said Hanln
while they were working up that matter daily
And further was informed by the said Well
that Hanlin would not dare to prove in any wa
false to the interests of the company, as he wa
completely in said company's power, for Their
were no less than six indictments out against tn
said Hanlin, any one OF which could be precip
tated upon him at any moment. That they ha
certain service for him to perform, and he woul
be shielded in its performance unless he commit
ted some new robbery or depreciation. That sal
Hanlin had been employed by the said compan
number Of years in other transactions Of III
same nature and further ! say, that Horace We
ton, OF Windsor, in said county, has the sam
knowledge and understanding Of this matter ha
have and to the same effect as above STATED
and further say not. ALBERT Preston
Subscribed and sworn TO before a notary pull
lie September 30, 1873"
When the substance of this affidavit cam
to the knowledge of the directors of tn
Farmers Mutual, they appeared before tn
committee, as did Mr.. Weston, Sheriff Am
den and States Attorney Paul, who wei
officially connected with the prosecution {
Gravelin for murder, and testified to tn
utter falsity of the charges therein containe
against the insurance company aud its lat
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