The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-22
COUNTY CnnRT

Hon. Jonathan Ross, Chief Judge; Hon. Geo. J..
Bond Hon. A E. Burton. Assistant judges:
Edward j. Hail. Clerk; Henry S. Wilson, Sher,
i'll; F. c. Archibald. S ate's Attorney; Chas. S.
Chase, Stenographer
The December term of County court
ended Wednesday morning with the SEN
tence of Mcdowell to twenty-five years
at hard labor in States prison. Aside
from few cases referred to the court.
the murder trial was the principal bust
ness done since our last weeks report.
The trial of William Conroy alias Henry
Mcdowell, began Thursday afternoon,
was continued through Friday and up to
Saturday noon. In the afternoon, the
bottom of the cause dropped out by
Judge ROss's charge to the jury that
verdict of manslaughter be returned.
After an hour, the jury came in with
that verdict and the case was ended with
the sentence of the prisoner as afore-
said. The insanity of Mcdowell has
been suggested for defense from the
first. Friday, DR.. L. B. Minis of North
ampton, Mass. came here, and his re-
port to the court was that the prisoner
is undoubtedly insane and has been so
for long time, and probably was crazy
when John Crowley was killed by him
in 1891. This led to an agreement be-
SuOI0lJ
this case to the jury without pleadings
and that manslaughter should be the
verdict if found guilty. The defense
submitted no evidence. The crime was
committed in Glastonbury near the
Salisbury line. Crowley and Mcdowell
were woodchoppers and occupied the
same cabin. McDowelrs antecedents
are unknown, but from his dress it has
always been supposed he deserted from
British man -of-war He has been in
all quarters of the globe.
On the afternoon of the murder. Nc
DOwell and Crowley had been to South
Salisbury and had been drinking.
What led to the alteration will never be
known. but the body of the victim
showed the shocking barbarity of his as
sailant Prints of CrOwley's face were
left in the mud and slush. Mcdowell
coolly left his companion, walked into
German Mattisons house near by and
told them they would find old John
down in the highway. He then went to
another place in the settlement, stayed
all night and next morning walked into
the woods on the Green Mountains and
disappeared. He was apprehended in
South Norwalk, Conn, last February, in
response to $500 reward offered by the
town of Glastonbury, was brought here
and tried at the June term of court at
Manchester. The jury disagreed. We
wish to say right here that the authOri-
ties of Glastonbury deserve commenda-
ton for presistently following up this
case. If other towns would do as we'll
there would be less escaping the just
penalty of crime. The prosecution was
conducted by States Attorney F. C.
Archibald, assisted by j. /. Martin of
BrattleboTo, while Batchelder and Bar
Der defended Mcdowell. The prisoner
received his sentence and as he left said
that he should appear to his prosecutors
even if he had to do so in spirit form.
This trial has attracted good deal of
attention, crowds coming from sur
rounding towns and especially from the
| mountain town, Glastonbury, where
Crowley lived and was greatly respected
as a citizen.
Robert Flynn of Manchester, an in
mate of the Bennington Jail at the time
of the escape, November 10, of William
Shaw, in Jail pending trial for arson, and
of Henry L. Sergeant for DEMONSTRATING,
was sentenced to eighteen months i'm
prisonment at Windsor. His Offense
was for striking aud holding Jailer Reed
as he opened the Jail door to set in bod
| of coal for the prisoners. Sheriff Wilson
and Deputy Sheriff Godfrey took Conroy
and FLYNN to the State prison Wednes,
| day morning.