Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-03-27
ADDITIONAL COURT REPORT.
The Case Against Julius l.. Porter for
Attempted Train WrcckIng now on
Trial.

The Case Against Julius l.. Porter for
Attempted Train WrcckIng now on
Trial.
State rs. Julius L. r.-Information
filed by the states attorney for placing OBJ
structons on the railroad track of the Yer
mont valley railroad of 1871, in Brattle-
boro.
The evidence on the part of the state
tended to show that as a freight train was
passing over said railroad from Bellows
Falls to Bratteboro, when at a point near
ly opposite the dwelling house OF Mr..
Goodalfe in Brattleboro, on the night of
October 2S, 1895, the locomotive struck
some obstruction lying on or near the
track. That on making investigation it
was found that large tool box. filled with
the tools of the section men, had been rolled
from the bank near the west margin of the
track on to or so near the track that the
engine struck it, and in a slight degree in
jured the engine. That mems S tracks were
discovered, and on arrival at Brattleboro
notice was given to the officers, who started
out upon an investigation. which was con.
tinued that night and the following day.
That is was ascertained that the respond
ent and his two brothers, Herbert J. and
William, had been seen in Brattleboro viii
lage during the evening in somewhat in
toXiclted condition, and that about | ! or
half past ii o'clock that evening they had
been seen going north toward Chesterfield.
IAat they were followed past the West
river bridge a short distance, when the
tracks left the highway and led into the
lot easterly towards the railroad track, the
same tracks being again discovered on the
track of the railroad at the point where
the obstruction was placed on the track,
and then northerly to the suspension bridge
across the Connecticut river That the
three Porter boys arrived at the house of
John Connell, about one mile east of the
suspension bridge, near ? o'clock in the
morning, where they procured refreshments
and left from ? 1-2 to 3 o'clock That
from there they went to the Liscom shanty.
so-called, on the Chesterfield gulf road.
where the lock of the door was found to
have been broken and a window broken in
William Porter, who had confessed the
whole story a few days after his arrest.
was placed on the witness stand and gave
detailed account of the nights proceed
ings, that the respondent rolled the tool
box over on to or near the track, saving he
was few rods in advance, and had he
known that the box or chest was so near
the track that an engine would come in
contact with it he should have gone back
and removed il.
That they returned TO Brattleboro about
q o'clock the next morning, went to re-
spondents room on Elliot street and slept
until S or Q o'clock, when they went out
upon the street and got breakfast in
saloon and remained about the village until
some time in the afternoon, when they
1, . l. 4. =
were after them. She took the three
brothers into wagon and carried them to
their fathers in Chesterfield, y. H., where
they remained until the afternoon of the
next day. Herbert returned to Brattle-
boro and the respondent and William
started on tramp for Fitchburg, Mass,
where they took the cars and went to South
birmingham, Mass, where William re-
sumed his work upon the railroad, from
which he had taken few days vacation
on his trip to Vermont and New Hamp-
shire. The respondent went to Worcester
for employment. In the course Of few
weeks William was arrested at South
Framingham and was taken TO Vermont,
whereupon he made full confession to
Deputy Sheriff Mcclure and John A. Ma
loney, the special detective of the Boston
Il Maine railroad company, who had by
good work traced the matter home TO the
"Porter boys" and discovered their where
abouts, and secured, subsequently, the
arrest of all of them.
The court had an evening session, and
at the close of the testimony of William
whichllwas not finished until about 9:45
last evening, the state rested its case, and
court took a recess until $3.50 this morn
ing. 1t is believed that the case will be fin
ished today. The defence will undoubted-
ly be denial, and from the course of the
cross-examination of William by respond
ent's counsel, it is assumed that both the
respondent and Herbert j., who is also in
Jail charged with stoning another train the
same evening, will endeavor to swear the
commission of the offence upon William.
Fits, states attorney, and Waterman
for prosecution.
Robb and Joseph G. Martin for the re-
spondent.
The other panel of jurymen has been
discharged, and the case now on trial will
be the last for this term. 1t is expected
that after the close of the case the court
will take recess until next Tuesday morn
ing, when it will again resume session for
the disposal of court issues, chancery cases
and other business.