Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-01-04
ADDISON COUNTY COURT.
Henry Bushce Tells How Adelbcrt Hicr
Fired the Hancock Barns.

Fired the Hancock Barns
MIDp1EBrRY. Dec. 2S-In State vs.
Adelbcrt HER for arson the prosecution got
into the heart of its case yesterday. Henry
Bushec, correspondent with Her who has
turned States evidence. was put on the
stand in the morning and as far as he was
able gave the job away. According to
Bushee, HER was at the bottom of the crime
and its instigator, making the preliminary
arrangements and getting Bushee to procure
a horse and go along with him. Her. he
said, had a grudgc against Robbins. Her
and Bushec worked together in the saw
mill in Salisbury and while at their
work planned the burning of the barns.
Letting him tell it, Bushcc had no active
share in the crime, but simply went along
with HER. The whole aim of Bushee's story
was to make it appear that HER and not
himself was the active perpetrator of the
crime.
The State rested its case at 1870 o'clock
this morning One rather important piece
of evidence was produced. N was. a note
written for Hicr to his wife in the common
room of the Jail during the noon RECESS yes
terdav. and in it HER directed his wife to
have Mr.. and Mrs. George Palmer of Sails
bury come here this morning and testify
that he was at their house at half past nipe
o clock on the night of the fire, and they
could have "half of that stack Of hay
Mrs. HER and Mrs. Palmer are sisters and
the former brought the note TO the latter
last evening. John DufTany, who boarded
at the Palmers'. got hold of the note and
brought il to the States attorney this
morning. and accordingly MIR. and Mrs
Palmer were got here to testify. They OK
planned about the receipt of the note and
hat M Mt IN
the night in question. The letter was writ
ten for HER by W. A. Brown, n fellow pris-
onor. who is charged with forgery.
The defense was begun promptly and was
devoted to an attempt to prove an alibi.
HER was put on the stand in his own behalf
this afternoon. He detailed his movements
on the night of the fire with n view to show
ing that he could not have been ON the way
over the mountain with Bushee, as claimed
by the State. The evidence is nearly all
in and the case may be given to the jury
tomorrow evening.
States Attorney Fish to-day filed an in
formation against r. Nudoon of Ncrgennes
charging him with the illegal sale of intoXi
eating liquors. Mr.. Muldoon appeared in
court and was admitted to bail in the sum
of $500
MIDDLEBURY. Dec 29-The evidence in
the arson case of State ". Adelbcrt HER
was closed in short order this morning and
three of the pleas to the jury were got in
during the morning session. f. H. Button
making the opening argument for the prose
cntion and G. f. Kingsley and Judge Slade
following him in order for the defense.
Judge SHADES argument was an unusually
/ strong one. and he made all there was of his
clients case.
a. 4 |, ,Io :
against the respondent this afternoon, talk
ing for an hour and "A half, and making an
able plea for conviction. Judge Munson
charged the jury in a clear and i'm
pressive manner, and at 4:31 o'clock
they retired to consider their verdict
| There large crowd in the
court room during the delivery of the pleas
and the charge. and the number of people
present this afternoon was larger than at
any previous time thi, term
The imYmcn not engaged upon this case
were excused this morning until 10 o'clock
n. m. next Monday. The court after the
Her jury had gone out. took recess until
9 o clock tomorrow, but announced that
they would hold themselves in readiness to
come in to meet the jury at any reasonable
hour tonight
/ MIDDLEBCRY, Jan. 1.-The County Court
rc-ronvened this morning and the case of
state vs.. W. A. Brown. charged with for
gerry, was to have been begun, but the States
Attorney stated that an important witness
was not present. although he might he in
/ town. After visiting a short time and do
/ ing nothing. n recess was taken until this
afternoon. The missing witness was j. :.
Hicks OF Chicago, whose name it is claimed
was forged to the check on which Brown
obtained 500 from the Middlcbury bank.
and whose testimony was necessary to the
/ State to secure a verdict.
| Mr. Hicks arrived from Chicago on the
I fycc at noon and the trial was begun in tie
afternoon, W. W. Rider of Bristol is
assisting Mr.. Fisher in the prosecution
and the counsel for the defense are
Messrs. Stewart and Wilds. with W. II.
! Button assisting. Brown counsel dcmurred
to the first count in the Indictment. which
charged him with uttering and Publishing
the forged paper. and the prisoner pleaded
not guilty to the second count. After half
an hours argument as to the sutiicicncv of
| the first count the demurrer was overruled
and an exception was taken 1t took an
other hour and half to get jury, Mr..
/ WildS for the defence questioning the tales
men quite closely, and it was 1870 o'clock
| before the first witness was put upon the
stand Cashier Charles L. Pnncy of the
Middlcbury National bank testified
that Brown came to him with
the check at the bank on tho
afternoon of December %, 1892 and
/ be paid Brown the 800 upon the check 5
being endorsed by himself and Curtis T..
/ Samson, well known Cornwall man. 1t
was learned the same afternoon by telegraph