Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-05-07
STATE AFFAIRS.
MRS. NAsoN's EXAMINATION ON THE CHARGE OF
POISONING HER son IN LAW.

MRS. MASON 8 EXAMINATION ON THE CHARGE OF
POISONING HER SON IN LAW.
The preliminary trial Of Mrs. II. L. Mason chArg-
ed with poisoning her son-in-law, Don c. Parker,
opened at the house of correction at Rutland before
Justice Bailey, Tuesday afternoon. The rs witness
who took the stand was Prof. Witthaus Of Buffalo, n
Y, well known specialist, who has made specially
of chemical analyses for poison in the past ten years
aud was the expert witness In the trial of Mrs. Meak
of Waterbury, who was hung few years ago for
poisoning her little granddaughter with strychnine
Prof wthaus explained in careful detail the method
of analysis, and distinctly said that he found in the
parts of young Parkers body sent him traces Of
mic enough to have caused his death.
The Herald says that Mrs. Mason appeared cool and
collected at the hearing but her face flushed OCCASION
Witthaus's testimony. Mrs. Parker, the l7-years-old
widow Of the victm was present with her little broth
er, and calmly listened to the evidence. She took
pains to carefully arrange her elaborate mourning
garb from time to time, and pouted smiled the
evidence seemed to please or displease her.
The examination continued Wednesday,
when the justice, before whom the formal inquest
Parker's remains was held, gave his testimony, and
the several physicians who saw Parker during his ILL
were put the stand. All agreed in describing
the symptoms, and they such attend arseDical
poisoning. The Herald says of the in the jail
ton [of the autopsy proceeded, aud Mr. Seamans told
how they went at Parker as If he had been a beef
critter and sawed his skull open to look over the
BRAIN Mrs. Parker gave way to her feelings in out
burst of tears. Mrs. Mason looked stOically how
ever without exhibiting the slightest indication Of
feeling, excepting, perhaps occasional twitching Of
the mouth. BY the side of the accused woman sat a
friend of from Bratteboro-A straight slender,
cynical looking maiden Of so years, wearing gold
bowed spectacles On her Mrs. Mason leaned at times
and she had pencil aud notebook In hand with which
she occasionally jotted down parts Of the testimony.
bell rang often during the hearing, calling the war
den keeper to the door below TO admit spec
tator or witness, who had to be ushered up stairs
through the hospital and past s. NJ Waites cell to the
chapel above"
Al Thursdays session several witnesses testified to
facts about young Parker's sickness, including his
mother anda nurse.
MORE BODIES ExHUMED.
The body of Mrs. Mason husband was exhumed at
Gorham N H. last week, at the instgation of States
Attorney Kendall, that of Mrs Mason nephew,
the infant son of o. II. McKeen of the same place.
Horace f. Mason died at Sutherland Falls Sept 49,
1882, and was buried in Gorham three days later,
while the little of Mrs. Nasons sister died at Cor
ham about six months ago. Mrs. Mason was visit ne
her sister at thu time and the suerings of the child
led the doctor to believe that it poisoned The
little boy named Don, after his cousin there can
he motive alleged why his aunt should poison him
unless she had mania for the business. Notwith
standing the long time after death, Mr. Nasons re-
mains found remarkably well preserved, and the
liver aud parts of the other organs TAKEN sealed
and will be submitted to chemical examination fol
poison.
Rutland has voted TO light its streets by
electricity.
Gov. Pingree will deliver the Memorial.
day Grafton for his native town of Salisbury,
N. H.
The Pavilion hotel property at Montpe-
lier has been sold to f. A. Duuton of st. AL
bans for something less, it is reported, thar
$40, 000
Gov. Robinson of Massachusetts has
signed the appropriation bill whereby the
state contributes $40, 600 towards the Ben
nington battle monument.