Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-26
SUICIDE OR MURDER?


Vermont Town.
WINDSOR, VT May 19--There is great
excitement in the neRhboring town Of
Weatherslleld, and in face throughout this
whole section, over the finding of the dead
body OF Ruben Leet in an orchard, few
rods from his home, and the possibility of
his having been murdered.
The suicide or murdered man, as de-
vclopmcnts may determine, was farmer,
Lbout 10 years old. Last Monday the
testimony was writing from his wife, who
was witness III case in court att
Neathersield, that she and Mr. Lect were
not legally married, although they had
lived together twenty-five years and We're
the parents of two sons, ID and 10 years
old, respectively
Edward H. Weatherby, about ~ years
old, has been boarding at the LeetS for
some time and stories have been circulated
regarding Mr. Leet's jealousy on Weather
by's account She admits that they have
quarreed frequently of late, and says that
they had a spato on the night before tue
tragedy, but claims that they went to bed
IT'S usual. At daybreuk yesterday morn
ing she says her husband got up. rs was
his custom, and said he was going across
20 Webster Reeds, his brother-in-law, and
would be BACK early.
At o'clock the family arose and ate
breakfast About the time Leet was OK
pectCd she went out to meet him. and
going through the orchard she saw smoke
rising from beside brick wall. She
changed her course somewhat to lnvestl-
gate and found her husband lying dead,
with gunshot wound back of the left
car. The clothes had caught fire and the
IL l1o
lay beside the body.
Dr. Marden of Ctaremont, " H., exam
ined the body, and Lawyer Enright acting
for the state, examined witnesses, which
resulted in the arrest of Weathcrby,
| charged with murder.
CLARENoST, \. f.. May % The au
topsy on the body of Reuben +. Leet wal
| finished last evening under the direction
| of Dr. Richmond Of Windsor. The bod,
seemed Oh different parts, to be covere,
with some kind Of oil The left side wa
| burned to crisp, and in many place
bones protruded through the skin. Their
was wound back OF the LETT car which
| proved to have been made with n shotgun
| The hole measured two inches in dept
and reached to the beginning of the vcr
|
by the force of the charge, and large guam
titles of shot were found embedded in tn
bone.
The neighOors all seem to favor tn
! murder side of the case The wound wa
at direct right angles with the body, an
it seems impossible that I4ect should hav
held the gun in such position as TO pro
duce a wound like this 1t would seer
| bo- OH, e
held in close proximity would of ncce,
sity tear its way clear through the head
il not blow the head off Again. it seem.
if the charge had come from Il distance
| would have scattered some aud made NOR
than one hole.
The mysterious part of the affair is I'll
apparent saturation of Lect's garment
with some kind of oil. Some believe tn
greasy substance came from the burnu
fat but physicians believe this impossible
The affair lisa yet shrouded in mystery
State Attorney W. W. Stickney arrive
yesterday, and the examination Of wi
nesses began before Justice Thrasher. I'll
first witness called produced quite an q
element in the od-fushioned kitchen
used as the court room Mrs Lydia Lee
wife of the dead man, was first calico
All She knew was that Lett left the hoU,
early, aud at Q a. IN. she went to meet hiI
and found him lying in the field, h.
clothing blazing and gun lying By h
side. Altogether she produced quite
, dramatic scene.
, The Oldest boy told a Straightforward
story. He woke on the day of the TRACED.
wa, sleeping with Wethcrbec. They arc.
together, went to the barn, did chores, al
, breakfast, went to the field together an
knew nothing of the trouble until h
mother came to the field, telling him ii.
father had committed suicide. The su
pectcd man, Wctherbcc, has always bon
rather poor reputation. Altogether Il
, affair creates intense excitement among.
the farmers of the vicinity and Il dee
mystery hangs over the case.