The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-20

years after the injury, and who got into
a wagon and was carried away immedi-
ately after receiving the injury.
States Attorney o. NJ. Barber deliver
ed the opening argument for the prose-
cution and Hon. X. Batchelder closed
Seymour Van Santvoord. Esq, opened
for the defense and Hon. Loveland Mum
son closed and after the charge of the
court the case was submitted to the
jury.
Special Despatch to The Banner:
MANCHESTER, June 90. 3 p. NJ.
The jury went out at 1890. They
have not come in yet,
BENNINGTON COUNTY COURT.
Hon. j. W. Rowell, Chief Jndgei Hon. F. L.
Bowen, Hon. w. r. Dean, Assistant Judges; o.
M Barber, States Attorney; A. j. Pike, Sher
iff L. j. Hall, Clerk; Chas. S. Chase, Steno-
grapher
Our court report last week closed with
the laughable episode of the POwnal
witnesses. Our regular reporter under
date of Thursday says
In the Bennington County Court to-
day brace of bibulous individuals hail
ing from North Pownal were brought up
to show reason for some of their peculiar
actions the day before. 1t Ianspired
during the hearing that the men had
! been called as witnesses in case TO be
tried the day of their arrival. 1t was
delayed, however, and in the interval
the two witnesses proceeded to celebrate.
They procured some liquid, and soon af-
| tor thar GniritG hunaY, IN riun
ter invading the entire vicinity and
making a war path of the usually quiet
roads of the mountain village, tn were
arrested. A fine of $50 each furnishes
the sequel to their little spree, and they
returned to the regions whence they
came.
The second budget was caused by a
stubborn witness who utterly refused
the mandates of the court and could not
be induced to testify. At last accounts
the tOngue-tied fellow reposed in Jail
and the lawyers were threatening him
with three years, more or less, trip tC
the workhouse If he did not speedily re.
fresh his memory.
In the afternoon, the case of State vs.
Bent and Roberts, the respondents being
charged with the murder of Louis Wal
der, came came up, but owing to the alb
sence of some of the counsel no materia
Roadway was made. The work of Sc
Letting jury was concluded at an even
ing session. The jury is still in session
but is about through. Seven true bllI
have been already brought in.
MANCHESTER, VT, June IA, 1SS9-Tht
empaneling of The jury for the case oil
the State vs.. Bent and Roberts was com
pleted late on Thursday night, and under
the direction of the sheriff the l2 walked
INTO the room and ranged themselves on
the right of the judges desks. Theil
names are f. L. Bolster. Winhall
Thomas II. Dunlap, SALISBURY; War
rem Flower, Rupert; Fred Foster, STAN
ford; Frank w. Fuller; SALISBURY; w
G. Hard, Manchester; L. F. Hay, Ru
pert; George N. Myers, Pownal; w. H
Smith, Manchester; Andrew Turner
Sandgate; o. A. Wilkinson, Peru; VIM
Hubbard, talesman, Manchester
The lawyers, States attorney anC
clerk took their respective places, anC
the usual routine was performed for the
recording OF an Indictment found by the
Grand Jury against Henry Bent and By
ron U. Roberts for the killing of Louis
Valdez of WOodford on the afternoon
of Dec. IL, 1888. A moment later 4
thrill of excitement passed through the
audience, and then amid silence only
broken by the echo of footsteps the two
prisoners with firm tread passed down
the aisle, and were seated on the righ
of their attorneys. Neither OF the meI
would be taken for a cold blooded muir
derer, nor are they until it is so proven
by the trial. Bent is thick set man
with dark hair and Eyes. His face j.
rather oval in shape. and he ware darI
grey clothes. Roberts is hardly more
than ii boy. He is OF light complexion
with a sharply outlined face of which
the nose is the most prominent feature
He was altired in black cutawsy coat
with vest and trousers of the same color
Both men appeared slightly nervous, oc
casionally smiling, but more often
glancing with darkened faces toward
the witness stand, and listening intently
to the stories of the witnesses. What
their thoughts we've none can tell, nut
Judging from the serious expression Of
their faces, they could not have been
over happy.
The prosecution for the State rests in
the hands of States Attorney o. NJ. Bar
her of Arlington, and he is assisted by
Hon. j, X. Batchelder of the same place
ard Mr.. Joseph G. Martin of Manches-
ter Center. The defence is represented
by w. B. Sheldon of Bennington, assist
ed by Hon. E l.. Waterman of Brattle
boro. Seymour Van Santvoord of Troy,
and Loveland Munson Of Manchester.
After administering the oath to the
jury, the State presented their testimo-
ny. This occupied the entire day, dur
ing which time six witnesses were ex-
amined. The first and most important
one was August Walder. who said he
was the step son of the deceased. aged
10 years. AS he was the only eye wit
ness to the killing, the lawyers question
ed him very closely. His story is in sub.
stance as follows
His father was chopping wood and
Bent and Roberts were loading wood on
the opposite side of the road. The
trouble commenced" he said, with
some quarreling over a sum of money
which Bent owed father and hot words
ensued. Bent gave Roberts a club
which the witness thought was one Of
the sled stakes and he Roberts struck
father twice on the left side OF the head +,
the last blow glancing off and hitting
the shoulder, and then the stick fell to
the ground"
Witness then described the subsequent
events of two men coming along and
picking his father uD and carrying him
home, and of his death four weeks and
one day later. Under cross examina-
ton nothing new was learned, and the
boy stuck to his story for the most part
with remarkable accuracy.
The second and third witnesses were
E. G Bacon and Samuel Mallory, who
testified as to the distances and general
surroundings at the scene of the assault.
Mason Knapp also testified upon the
same subject and of the removal of Mr..
Walder to his home.
Mrs. Valdez. the widow of the de
ceased, then took the stand. The testi-
mony treated of the condition of her
husband, his being brought home, and
many facts Subsequent to and preceding
the fatal stroke. Quite dramatic scene
was enacted as she left the stand. Al
though bearing up until then, Mrs. Wal
der suddenly dissolved in tears and
throwing up her hands, staggered down
the aisle weeping and sobbing in most
touching manner. She was finally led
from the room by one of the officers, and
the spectators heaved sigh of sympa-
thy for the poor woman.
Martha Valdez, the step daughter Of
the victim of the assault, was next called
and described her actions previous to
the bringing home Of her fathers body,
also Of the location of the house and the
place where the murder was committed.
The girl was evidently frightened and
bashful, and the court experienced no
little trouble in hearing her replies on
account of her low and indsinct speak
ing. The days proceedings ended with
the testimony OF Sears Smith, who told