Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-20
COUNTY COURT.
ATTORNEYS IN THE 3 ETTE CASE
SPEAK PoR THElt : -lENTS.
Court Room Filled with W crested List
eners Lawyers Foster ballard Ar
que for the Plaintiff an - nwysrs Bur-
nap and Hsscitoa for @ defendant.
is


The case Of Ida Godatts VS.. Mary La
Cbappelle was continued Wednesday in
County Court. Mary Blow was the first wit
ness of the day. She saw the defendant beat
che plaintiff on the head, throw her down on
the floor, kick her, and strike her with the
splinter torn from the table The teacher
also told her not to tell about the affair.
Nellie Paro, the next witness, was some
what confused, aud did not recollect very
WELL but remembered seeing some of the
striking.
Antoine Gojette, father OF the plaintiff,
testified that after the children reported the
whipping to his wife he went to Father
Cloarec and Informed him OF it, claiming
that it was the cause of Lida's sickness;
that Father Cloarec said he would investI-
gate 1t; that he visited Father Cloarec the
second time, asked him II he had seen any
of the girls aud he said he had, but he
wished TO investigate the matter further;
he asked Father Coarec to 60 to his house
and hear the story OF the girls who had told
him and his wife; Father Cloarec did so
but the witness not there; she went
again to see Father Cloarec and asked him
if he satisfied; if so, he ought to dis
charge the teacher, which he said Father
Cloarcc promised to do.
The defendant, Mary LaChappelle, was
the first witness for the defence She testi-
fed that she put her hands on to
1ida's shoulders and asked her to
60 into the next room that
she took one of Lida's hands in hers
and gently slapped it with her otber hand;
that there wes no striking, she did not bsat
her on the head nor back, nor shoulders,
and did nothing to her except as above men
hat Ia hnf "
not excited, that there was nothing about
the q ffAlr to excite her or attract the at
tention of the school. On cross-examina-
tion she declined to say whether or not she
was num- before the examination was
completed court took a recess.
In the case OF State vs. Ramon j. Tup-
per for having liquor OIL hand, the respond
ent pleaded guilty to one second offence and
court imposed fine OF $40 and costs and
20 days i'll the House of Correction. Shsr
ih Reeves took him to Rutland Thursday.
In County Court Thursday the defend
ants in the case of Goiette VS.. LaChappelle
introduced several witnesses and the plain
tiff recalled one.
at the opening of court DR.. Tipkham was
recalled by the plaintiff to state more fully
the present condition of the plaintiff. He
testified that he carefully examined her
Wednesday for the first time in
from four to six months; he
was unable to discover any i'm
provement in her during this time; but
on the other hand he discovered some up-
favorable symptoms. On cross-eXamiua-
tion he stated that she had med cal treat
ment during the time she had failed to i'm
prove.
Miss LaChapelle, the defendant, then
took the stand, and cross-cxamination of
her was continued. Sh5 said that Father
Coarec had entire cont ol over st. Joseph S
school and its te 2cherS and sad who should
toach end should not; she did not go to see
Ida, or her people, after she heard tnat it
was claimed that she had caused Ida 8
sickness, because she was not told to do 50
by the superior of tbs school; that she
heard of this claim June II, 1891; that she
flashed out her term, which closed June -
following, and had not taught since.
In the afternoon Ellen May Devereu1,
ruother teacher in ST. Joseph's school, was
called by tho defendent. her testimony in
substance was that Ida had not seemed
woll for two weeks p'evious to her sickness;
that che teacI were a community whose
lives we're consecrated to teachings and
CtLer good works.
Mrs. Lizzie Mayo and Mrs. Sophia
Brooks testified as to the weather on the
day when Ida was in the cemetery. They
stated that shortly after o'clock it was
cold and there was considerable wind; that
tho renewal Of the body was compile ted
about q O'Clock in the afternoon.
Rene Lavois, the Sexton who removed
the body on the day when Ida was in the
cemetery, testified that it was quite warm
for tho season till 3 or O'Clock in the af
terEoon, VIXEN the wind came up and i
turned cold.
Miss Emma Bernier, one of the teacher,
in the school, said that she called at Mrs
Godette's with Miss LaChspelle during
Lida's sickness on the occasion 10 which
the defendant had referred in her testi
mony, Mrs. Godette then said that sht
thought Ida had caught cold in III, GENE
terry; that she did not get back home til
after 6 O'Clock and alter returning sh
vomited.
Miss MulQueen, also a teacher in th
school, testified to the general accuracy o
a drawing which she had made of the schoo
room, showing the height OF the schoo
benches and Other furniture.
Alice Gleason, "a schoolmate Of Lida g
wNs the last witness; she testitiel that thu
teacher called Ida to the floor, tried e
have her 20 into the next room; that Lids
refused to go; that the teecher punisEo bel
bS o4hPpiEs ucf hanls anu Idu Ltf alC up"i
on the bench; tGut the teacher did not strike
her elsewhere ttan upon her hands and die
not ck her nor u-e any stick; that Lids
was not down o. the floor.
Tho defendant continued the introduction
of testimony in the casa of Godstte VS.. La
ChappeNe IN the County Court Friday
Elizabeth Harvey, the superior of st. Jo
seph's school, was called to fix the tim
when DR.. Wheeler made an examination G
Ida, which she stated was Juno 20 follow
Ing tie alleged punishment
Agnos PoirIer, Bertha Pine Mary Brown
Mary Piuney, Grace Pinney and Alba Pin
put on the stand ia succession and tes
tifed in substance that the teacher aske
Ida to go into the next room, taat Ida d il
not want to go; that the teacher took on
of Lidas hands and slapped it gently tw
or three times; that Ida then by directio
Of tho ths teacher, went and sat down o
the front bench; that they saw no kickin
or anything else.
Joseph Godetto, a brother OF the plain
tiff, was called by The defendant. lie kne'
uothing OF his sisters failing from cha