Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-08-21
THE CHAOuETTE MURDER TRIAL.


the court room is tested at every session.
The State rested its case last Friday
morning and the remainder of the testi-
nony was given for the most part by
medical men more or less expert. Doc
tors Grinnell and Clark of Burlington
and DR.. Draper of Brattleboro gave their
views regarding the mental condition of
the respondent. Doctors Draper and
Grinnell are of the opinion that Chaquette
is sane. Doctor Clark holds the some
what peculiar view that the prisoner had
no moral Obscurity of intellect as regards
the acts of others, but that his mind was
obscure regarding the moral bearing of
his own performances he might have
understood that it was wrong for others
to commit crime, but not for himself.
The most Importance attaches to the tes-
timony of DIR. Draper, who for the past
eighteen years has been superintendent
of the insane asylum at Brattleboro. The
following hypothetical question put to
him by the State, and his answer to it,
contain practically the gist of its whole
case. The question contains the story of
Chaquettes life from the time he came
from Canada in 1888, being digest of
the evidence introduced by the State.
Such being its Importance it is herewith
printed in full:
The evidence tends to show that the
respondent came from Canada about June,
1883, and went to work for one Botsford,
] in IL.
five months; that while there he was
pleasant, neat, without profanity, did not
indulge in hunting or fishing learn
ing to read English, not away evenings,
corresponded with his people in Canada:
that thereafterwards in the fall of 1883
he went to work for one Mcintyre. a
blacksmith. residing in Bristol, some ten
miles from Nergennes, claiming to him
that he had worked at the business for
about three years, aud subsequently in a
few weeks disclosing that lie had not
worked but abOnt three months at that
trade that while at McIntyre's he board
ed IN his family, was of good habits, tidy,
little contrary once or twice. close in
money matters. good deal worried
about some money he had sent to Cam
ada by express while in Nergennes. pune
tual about religious matters. used no bad
language, bought a mouth organ and
watch, and was trying to write and speak
English. lie worked for Mcintyre about
two months, and at the breakfast table
one morning became involved in a con-
troversy with Mcintyre relating to
the latter's yeracity concerning GER
tain statements made by Mcintyre to
him respecting the money he sent to Can
ada, and concerning request made by
him to Mcintyre to pay him his wages
which resulted in the attempt on the part
of the respondent TO strike Mcintyre with
a chair: that he settled with Mcintyre,
left his service, and is next shown to
have been at work for one Allen in Fer
risburgh about seven miles from the
place where Minnie Pigeon, the grand
daughter of one Antoine Anse, resided;
that he worked for Allen six months, be-
ginning November, 1885; that he was
good man to work, particular about his
meals, regular in going to bed. strict
Catholic. attended no entertainments,
learning to write English, corresponded
with his people in Canada, saving in
money matters. spent money only for
clothing. INDUCED in no sport, neither
had moi used any firearms. nor went fish
ing, although in the vicinity of Lake
Champlain, that he was good average
workman, did his work we'll. used to
think he could do work best his own
way, thought on one occasion he was
earning more than his wages, twenty
dollars month, disputed with his en-
ployer about it; clean in his habits, used
no tobacco or liquor, took good care of
his things. secretive. not reticent. was
not put to for the use of words had but
little education, and declared that he was
not going to get married until he had
few more hundred dollars so as to buy
l,l sod To-, 4
called himself either twenty three or
twenty-six years of age: that from March,
1856, to September, 1857, he worked for
one Strong in the same part of the town
of Ferrisburgh in which Allen lived that
during all that time he had no absences,
unless possibly for a day that he was
very efficient, did his work well. liked to
have his own way, technical in his man
ner of doing things, too much so to be
pleasant to employers, did not like to re-
ceive instructions, not good to work with
other people, neat in his habits, pleasant
IN the house, insisted upon having his
meals upon the minute, not easily con-
trolled, of good intellect for man in his
station in life, far above the average,
very skillful, took excellent care of his
clothing, INDUCED in no amusements or
sports, did not hunt or fish, rather flu
ent talker at the beginning of his SER
vices, more so than later on, never out in
an evening; talked about having home,
very close in money matters, wanted his
money at interest, expended money only
for clothing and church, stood for his
rights pretty sharply, had some conflicts
with other employees, reticent, not COM
panionable, but the reverse, at first very
familiar with help, then dislike spring
ing up, talking very little with them,
Z GOOD Sharn fallnW stnhhnrn nr1arlx
systematic, not particularly courageous,
aud quarresome with help; that in Sep
TENDER, 1881, he went to work again at
Nergennes for said Botsford, hiring out
for a period of six months, and there eX-
hibitng the same traits which he had
exhibited when first at work for said
Botsford, and while there had a cOntro-
versy with his employer about splitting
wood, in which after being directed to do
so and declining he was told that he
would either have to do 1t or have to go,
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