Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-03-18
The Marsh Murder Case.
The Occurring OF Jury Was Trying Or
deaI and the Trial Has Begun.

ton county court convened last week
Tuesday morning, Judge John w.
Rowell of Randolph presiding. The
case of the state against Isabel Marsh
for murder was called that afternoon
and the work of impaDeling jury was
begun. In anticipation Of the diff
Guilty of securing II men who had not
formed and expressed an opinion on
the case, the officials OF the court sum-
moned a large number of extra jurors
from towns in the county remote from
Mortified and 6S men were examined
before the requisite number were OBJ
tanned, which was accomplished
Thursday.
The Jury as made up is as follows:
f. G. Wells OF Waitsfield, Arthur l..
johnson of Worcester, Archie Hill Of
Marshfield, II. Jerry Thwing Of Bar
re, A. NJ. Newhall Of Middlesex, g. j.
Green Of Waitsfeld, b. l.. Wilder of
Calais, A. A. Batchelder OF Plainfield,
Lee II. Goodell OF Woodbury., Corne-
Illus Eddy OF Waterbury, e. l.. Morse
Of Waterbury and Alonzo Batehelder
of Plainfield.
The facts which led TO the indict-
ment of Mrs. Marsh for numbering her
husband are as follows: Geo. Marsh,
respectable farmer OF Mortified, died
in January, 1896, after painful ill
ness and under peculiar circumstances
There was a suspicion OF foul play at
the time Of his death, but the body was
buried. On February II, lS96,it was
disinterred by order Of Grand Juror
w. w. Holden OF Mortified and the
stomach OF the dead man was sent 10
the chemist at the state experiment
station at Burlington, who found a
large quantity of arsenic in it.
Mrs. Marsh and VIM. BuZzell, their
hired man, were arrested and given a
hearing before Justice Thayer OF
Mortified, which lasted three days.
The evidence disclosed the fact that
Mrs. Marsh and MIR. Buzzell had been
very intimate for many months, and
\ during the last sickness OF Mr.. Marsh
his medicine was invariably admins
tered by Mrs. Marsh or Mr. BuZzell
Both parties were held to await the
action Of the grand jury last Septem-
Der. Both parties were indicted for
murder and have been in Montpelier
jail since that time.
A motion by the counsel for the re-
spondents to try them separately was
overruled by Judge Rowell.
Over 20 witnesses have been sum-
moned by the state and the trial will
be a long-drawn-out affair.
Friday morning Zed 5. Stanton, for
the state, made a brief statement TO
the jury, after which 20 witnesses were
/ sworn.
j. NJ. Bullock, a photographer of
Mortified, testified to having made
pictures OF the house where the alleged
crime was committed, and OF various
rooms therein. G. l.. Pervier, a clerk
in The Office OF Frank Plumley. testi-
fed to making the plans of the Marsh
homestead, which We're exhibited.
DR.. David johnson testified to at
tending Marsh and described his con-
dition from day to day and that Buzz
zell was there nearly every time that
he called. He did not leave any white
powders and never left any powders
in bulk. DIR. Winch was summoned
at the same time as himself, hen they
found that Marsh was dead.
They talked over having post
mortem examination and witness
asked OF Mrs. Marsh that this might
be done on three different times, TO
which request she dissented, showing
npiHnnap Of frtstaf lI,taae, NJ
Marsh at the time he believed Marsh
to be in dangerous condition TO al
low him to have counsel in the case
and suggested the name of DIR. Porter.
to which request Mrs. Marsh replied !
that ''if DIR. Porter cane to the house |
she would kick his - out of doors"
In the afternoon ex-Gov. Dilling- |
ham gave DIR. johnson a severe cross. |
examination, but did not bring out
many new points.
5. p, George testified that he knew
Marsh for some years previous to his |
death. Testified to the sick mans
describing his suflerings to him.
Witness next visited the Marsh home
in company with his wife on the
night of Marsh's death. Found Mrs.
Marsh and Buzzell there. Saw Mrs.
Marsh give her husband what She
called composition" Did not know
from what it was concocted. Mrs.
Marsh remarked that it was double
dose and Marsh exclaimed, ooh, God,
Nell, go accordingto the doctors di-
rections." After the administration
of this, Marsh had bad "spell," like
a dumb brute in pain. Nothing was
done to relieve the patient aside from
shaking him at Mrs. Marsh's orders.
as she claimed that the doctor had so
ordered. For time the patient was
easier ana then had another such
"spell." Returned home and was
absent about 20 minutes and wife
took team and went after the doctor.
Witness was with Mr.. Marsh when
he died. lie died easy. Mrs. Marsh
sat on the back side of the bed and
BuZZell on the front side. Died with
Il.