Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-09-15
THE DORA CUSHMAN TRAGEDY.
Hearing at Bristol last Friday-No Evidence
of Poison Just How the Girl Died Still
Mystery-Case viii Next Come Up in Coun-

ty Court.
The preliminary examination in the case
of the state VS. Smith q. Davis, charged
with the murder of Dora E. Cushman, the
15-year- old daughter of DIR. A. j. Cush-
man OF Lincoln, on August A. was begun
in Bristol Friday before Justice H. P.
Sherwin, who adds to his duties of justice
of the peace those of sexton of the village
cemetery, janitor of the graded school, col
lector Of the fire district and tyler OF the
local Masonic lodge, besides being prom
inent worker in the G. A R.
The bearing was held in the town hall,
the state being represented by ate At
torney Fish OF Vergennes and w. IL. Bliss
of Middlehury, while Hon. Felix w. Nc
Gettlick of st. Adams looked after the in
terests OF the defendant.
The hell was full to suffocat'on, while
large crowds outside stopped up the doors
and windows so as to prevent the circula-
ton OF air sufficient to make breathing
comfortable.
A motion Of the state attorney to amend
the indictment by adding count charging
murder generally, without specifying the
means employed, evidently has some sig
nifcance and although Mr.. McGettrick
was retcent as to the meaning of it, it
seemed to indicate to him o weakness in
the states case, and probably m. ans that
the analysis of the organs by the. experts
cannot be satisfactory to the attorney tor
the state.
OF the Is witnesses who gave testimony
for the state four were women, one being
the mother Of ID IRA and one sister.
A brother OF the murdered girl Arthur
Cushman, was called to the stand. On d.
rect examination he said he was 80 years
old and his occupation was newspaper
work, generally speaking" He lived at
home on August 14th. All Of the family
were at dinner that day. Dora was Is
years old last January. Dora was at homa
when he and his father started for his
| fathers farm, two miles distant. When
returning they both saw Smith Davis run
ming in the new cemetery and he asked
him ''it he had become a grave digger
Davis replied ''No" and stopped running
He and his father arrived home about 5 80
P. NJ and learned that Dora had not re-
turned Brittelle was there and he told
Cushman that Dora had gone berrying.
The spot where the body was found was
about 60 rods from the Cushman house
Cushman saw the body of the girl first in
clump of bushes. Mr. Barnard went to
where the body was lying and removed the
bat, which was placed over the dead girls
face. The spot was open for six or eight
feet square surrounded by a clump OF
bushes and three or four rods from the
fence. 1t was place that woul natura ly
be overlooked by searchers. Dora's feet
were toward the brook. Her hat was over
her face and pail with some blackberries
was tipped over. Her face was turned to
the right and her right leg was drawn up.
The two middle fingers Of one hand were
discolored slightly. Her clothing was not
dsarranged, excepting her skirt which was
about 10 inches above her shoes. Her
apron was lying on the ground beside her.
Her eyes and mouth were closed and her
! features were not distorted. Her hair was
loose. Mr.. Barnard picked up a cigar
near her. which was partially covered up
!, by her clothing. Mr.. Barnard took the
hat off her face and placed it over her
head The body was removed to the Cush-
man house about three hours after it was
discovered in the bushes. A jet black was
noticeable to Cushman from the corner OF
Dora's mouth to her chin. 1t looked like
a stain. The witness did not know of the
relations of Davis with Dora and thought
that they were nothing but those of a
fiend Davis had occasionally gone to
the Cushman house for three or four
months. In all, the witness said he never
, saw them together more than half dozen
, | L. &o1J b,,, +hotI n
J ed Dora very much and thought her an es-
Unable girl. He did not know that letters
went back and fourth between Davis and
Dora.
William Brittelle was called to the stand
J and Mr. Fish said: GLOW old are you?'
: IF live until the 18th of November, I'll
t be a years DID," He said he had known
! Davis for about three years. Saw him
Friday night at the Lincoln House about
80 o'clock. They drank bottle of beer
: piece and went to show. The witness
: said he saw box under Davis coat on
' day under the jigger saw at the mill. o
, Friday night they got to Davis room abou.
midnight and Davis put the box in his
; trunk. They arose next morning and after
, breakfast went to the hotel. They went
\ to see DR. Smith or Norman Henry.
: They stad with him about three-quarters
: of an hour They went to Groves hons
again and after dinner returned to th'
r hotel. Bri'telle kn W Davis and Dor;
: were goiag together and knew she used to
write letters to Davis. Do.a once gave
bin letter, not sealed, to take to Davis
r About o'clock that morning Davis said :
0 1--WE got something in my pocket that vii
D do the business and some day II will b.
: money in your pocket" Davis also said t.
] him one day, I'm bluer than h" One
: dav. about three weeks before Dora
q death. Vivian Barrett, Dora and Davi
e were all in TO see ..Dr. Smith Brittell
I said he took Vivian to Warren. Poland
5 gave Brittelle a Hoyt's G rman cologne
} bottle with instructions to give it to Davis.
{ Britttlle knew that Davis and Poland had
been talking over the telephone that day
Pol.nd told Brittelle to tell Davis that two
! lteaspoor ful4 should be taken in alcohol As
E hot as she could stand it Davis mixed tn
: medicine in brandy instead. Davis askt d
4 Brittelie if Poland said how often the med
D Iieine should be used and Brittelle said
5 mo- Davis never told Brittelle who the
lmsdi,i was for and never used Dora's
J name in connection with the matter. Sat
5 urday afternoon, the day of Dora's death,
{ Davis told Brittelle to see Dora and tell