Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-02-27

printed in the Grand Island papers and sent
on here 1t has been said for instance, that
dhring his fathers illness Frank acted very
rlrangely," and showed great indifference to
hib fathers condition, seeking to be left alone
with him, as was freely conjectured, Tor
murderous purpose. After his fathers death
Il was said that Frank purposed to bury him
n The potters field, and was only dissuaded
from doing 80 by the efforts of the undertake
or 10 induce him to change his plan. SINH
lar sensational stories were also told in regard
20 the reasons given by Frank for the pur-
chase of prussic acid, and in regard to his
reckless and Indifferent behavior in the jail.
Within three or four days letters have been
received from Frank by friends here in which
he denies all these reports, and tells an APP
parently consistent story for himself. He
SAYS, for instance, that he did not tell the
Grand Island druggists that he wanted the
prussic acid to poison dog, but that he
bought two portions of the acid from one
store neither of which had any strength, and
the article was so poor that the druggist
would take nothing for it, Afterward, at
another store, he bought some acid and took
he says he never thought or asked about
such thing as potter's field, but that he
did ask if there was a receiving tomb in the
place where his fathers body could be placed
until it could be sent on east On finding
that there was not, he bought part of a lot,
paying six dollars for it, and had the body
buried there. In regard to the life insurance,
Frank says that one of the policies on his
fathers life he had been carrying for some
years (as was stated by MS last week.; the
other policy, which his father took out in
Chicago he Frank knew nothing of until
they reached Omaha, when his father showed
II 10 him, and Frank, in reply, chided him
for taking it out, and told him he was afraid
it was money thrown away.
Mr. Sidney Miller reached Grand Island
last Thursday or Friday, and letters from
him, SO far as they touch the points here re-
ferred to, corroborate the statements made by
Frank. Mr.. Miller reports the local feeling
against Frank TO be very strong, as stated
above but says that the more he learns of
the matter the more reason he finds to be
lieve in Franks innocence. Frank himself,
he says, is calm and entirely confident of an
aequittal. His lawyers are competent men
Of good standing. They believe fully in
Frank innocence, and will make stout fight
for him, regardless of pecuniary eonsidera-
lions. The spring term of the court meets
next week, but the trial will undoubtedly be
put over to the fall term. Mr.. Miller is prob
ably by this time on his way eastward with
Mi. Lawrence's remains.
Such, in brief, are the facts in the case SO
far as they are now known. The combina-
hon of circumstances against young Law
renee is evidently strong and unfortunate
one, but, with all the added light they get,
bis friends here believe more and more
Strongly in his innocence. 1t is certainly to
Be hoped that, when the feeling at Grand Is
hnd has had time to cool off, such facts may
Be arrived at as will establish the young
mans innocence