Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-10-07

south OF engine house just before the
train pulled in. When the train passed
[ saw him in the caboose door. L did
not go to Barstow's house that night.
Johnnie Sinclair testified the same as
Wayland Sinclair.
Harry Wellington: Have been con-
fined in Orleans county Jail during the
past summer. Wrote the letter shown
me by Lathe's dictation. Returned
letters to Lathe and did not see them
till shown them by L. D. Miles.
Frank Bedell: Have charge Of Jail
and prisoners. When Jail was repair
ed last summer found the lett ar con-
cealed over the door in the cell where
Lathe had been confined for five or
six months. The letter was address
ed to Troy, VT, land was marked 'per-
sonal." It read as follows:
My Dear Wife:-I want you to make
three copies of the enclosed letter and
have them mailed, not any nearer
than Richford, and send one to L. d.
Miles, one to States Attorney Annis
and one to Lena Barstow, Barton Viii
after you get this letter and it will be
sure to make me a free man. Be sure
and do this yourself, and for Gods
sake depend on no one else.
(Then followed this letter.
RichJord, April 5tb, 1895
From Whom You Can Find Out
Having found out that you now have
under your keeping a man which you
are keeping to answer the charge Of
assault on Mrs. Lena BarstOw at Bar
ton Village, take the extreme liberty
to write to you to let you know that
that man which you now hold is not
the guilty man. I myself swear that
[ am the guilty man who done the
shooting, and [ have not the heart to
see another man punished for the
crime [ have done. [ leave this above
place by tie time you get this letter
and then you can try and find me if
you come. [ remain your man at
large, FRED COLE.
Id. Miles sheriff of Orleans Co tes-
tilted that Lathe escaped from jail
January 22d and was recaptured in
Troy and recommitted to Jail Feb. Sth,
that he again escaped May p and was
recaptured at Johnson and recon-
mitted May 20. At this point the
state rested.
VIM. Lathe, the respondent, then
took the stand: | was a brakeman on
the c.. P. Railroad two years ago. Last
fall [ worked at Westfield. Then |
came to Newport and boarded with
a man named Bedell. I went to Bar
ton times in December last The first
time was the Sth, went there on the
18th and on the 18th. On the 14th /
went there on a freight train reached
there about $3.50 p. m. My revolver
was loaded on the 8th, but not on the
18th. went first to D. r. Hunts; he is
my uncle [ staid here till to 5p. m.
I went in Percival's office, | wanted to
get a job, 1 did not see Mr.. Percival.
From there | went to Barron & Hamb-
let's store. [ went nowhere else.
Went back to Hunts and had supper,
and staid there till $50. Then | went
to take train. Hunt went with me.
We went first to the passenger station
and then to Blanchard's grocery from
there we went to tub shop; we found
the Waterman, Mr.. Martin, there. We
staid till about 1925, then l heard
whistle of train coming. [ told Hunt
[ must be going. Went up the track
20 % cars length beyond engine, L
got on the van on the west side. l
went into the car to get a ride to New
port. I said "How doyou do" to Mr..
Dawson, the conductor. He grum
oled out something. I did not ask to
ride to Newport. l went outside and
closed the door and stood on the
steps till we came to old depot; l
jumped off and walked down as far
as the new depot, then [ walked in
the street till 1 came to the first cross
ing north of the village. An engine
passed me near bridge at o. Hawkins.
A passenger train passed me a mile
south at Coventry did not see Mrs.
Barstow that day or evening. 1 did
a revolver at Mrs. B. or any other
person that night. Did not discharge
a revolver at all. did not know any
one had been there until Grow told me.
I did not see Duff Longeway that
night. 1 escaped from Jail because the
ventilation was bad and it was too
dark to read. 1 felt was innocent and
did not want to stay there. did not
90 to Peerless in Barton on the 18th.
I was there on the 18th. The respon-
dent rested.
F. w. Cutting of Barton, manager
of Peerless Mfg. Co testified: that on
the 14th of December Lathe was at the
Peerless. He identified him by the