The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-06-20

Trial Of Bert Roberts and Henry Bent
for the Asrder Of Louis Waldsr.
The attention Of the county court has
been occupied for nearly week 10 .
murder trial in which great deal OF in
teres, has baen awakened. A jury was
empsnuell,d THURSDAY evening aud COM
posed Of The following gentlemen: L L.
Bolster. r. II pnnltp, Warren Flower,
Fred Poster, Frank Fuller. W. c. Hard.
Il. +. Hay. O. II Myers. W. Ii. Smith. o.
A. Wilkinson. William Hubbard, Andrew
Turner.
The first witness on the part Of the state
and the only eye witness OF the sfiray ex-
cept the respondents was August Walder,
. step-son Of the msn claimed to have
been murdered. ten years OF age He
seemed 10 tell = straight forward story and
though subjected to rigid and lengthy
cross examination his testimony was not
much shaken by this means. His tesii-
mony vas substantially ~ follows: His
father had worked for the respondents in
pay for which they promised TO draw some
poles for Valdez. but for some reason had
not done So Wslder on the day OF the
ARRAY sent word by tho boy that il they
would not draw the poles they must pay
The money. There was also some dispute
shout the amount due, Valdez claimed
sl.25 aud the respondents claimed il
should be less because be did not work .
full day. After dinner Valdez went down
beside the road sbout thirty rods from
the house splitting wood. and soon after
Bent and Roberts came down with . load
OF wood on = dray aud commenced load
log II from the dray To . wagon. being 1t
work across the road and nearly opposite
10 walder. After the load had been most.
~ transferred August came down from the
house on the way 10 store below, and bis
father requested him to stop as they
we're having trouble. They were having
words back aud forth. the respondents
also accusing Valdez Of stealing Q wrench
which they had left beside the road which
he denied. After "qnarrelling" 10 this
manner short time Bent handed Roberts
= dray stake or stick Of wood about four
feet long aud told him 70 strike Valdez
which be did twice on the left shoulder
tho last blow slancing of and tho stick
fell out Of bis hand. Valdez then waved
bis Al little" u Roberts aud prevented
bis picking mp the stick when Bent said
''Hsre. Bort. take this long pole (hsudins
him one Of the dray poles about twelve
foot loasl and will take the short one. >
Roberts took tho long pole and struck
Walder on the head and Bent struck him
on the bead about the same time, while
ke vas attempting 70 run away from them.
He vent side~syss little and fell An.
eust then called 10 his mother that
his father vAs killed. Bent and Rob.
bsrts vnt 70 hitching their horses 10 tho
wagon (shsy hsd three horses). and we're
thus occupied when Mira. wslder csme
down. Soon after August Was sent 10 the
neishbcu for help. According 10 the
testimony Of AngnA aud Mn wAlder,
Beat and Roberts made no stfor, Of assis
tsnce, and Mrs. wsldgr testified tia, Rob
efts asea threatening and insulting Ian :
eusge to Der. in snsser 20 some remark
ths, she would have them punished. The
distance from sbs stick CT wood where
wslder vssAt work when the stfrsy com.
meseed 10 The spc. whore be lay after be
icll. ss measured by witnesses on the part
Of the state vss about 81 feet He vss
isksc 90 sled TO his house by some OF
Tbs nsiehbots and DIR. Jennings Of Ben.
siagion seat ior. he came soon after srd
sxsaia.d the man. He foand two scalp
voseds on The bead 90 the right aad lei,
aide, and little 70 the irout Under the
vousd on The lsf, aide be found the skali
badly frsriarsd rendering . sarsical opsr.
s,,cn n~cs@sy. He scot messenger V
Dr.. Rogers Of Bsnnington vho came With
iastra nsnis add together they examined
Ne nsn. and rAssed mp The fractured