Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-09-16
THE CUSHMAN HEARING.
Evidence Thus Far Shows a Weak
Case Against Davis.

Lincoln, was begun Friday morning
before Justice ii. p. Sherwin at Bris-
tol. States Attorney Fish and
w. II. Bliss appeared for the state and
f. W. MeGettrick OF st. Adams rep
resented Davis. w. w. Rider of
Bristol took care Of Brittell's interests,
4. w. Tultle Of Vergennes appeared
for DR.. ii. 5. Jocelyn and Joel Baker
of Rutland was counsel for Norman
Henry.
The hearing in the cases of Brittelle,
Jocelyn and Henry did not come up
Friday. All depends on what is prov
en- against Davis. The attorneys of
the above parties were present and
took notes of the evidence in the Davis
case.
There were IA witnesses examined.
William Brittell, DAVIS friend, gave
the most damaging testimony against
him. He said on Friday night they
got to Davis room about midnight
and Davis put a 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 staid with him about
three-quarters Of an hour Brittelle
knew Davis and Dora were going to-
gether and knew she used to write let
ters to Davis. Dora once gave, him a
letter, not sealed, to take TO Davis.
About o'clock Saturday morning
Davis said: "l've got something in
my pocket that will do the business
and some day it will be money in
your pocket" Davis also said to him
one day, "I'm bluer than h. One
day, about three weeks before Dora's
death, Vivian Barrett, Dora and Davis
were all in to see CDR. Smith" Brit
telle said he took Vivian to Warren.
Poland gave Brittelle a Hoyt's GEL
man cologne bottle with reddish col
ored liquid in it with instructions to
give it to Davis. Britielle knew that
Davis and Poland had been talking
over the telephone that day. Poland
told Brittelle to tell Davis that two
teaspoonfuls should be taken in alco-
hol as hot as she could stand it. Davis
mixed the medicine in brandy instead.
Davis asked Brittelle il Poland said
how often the medicine should be used
and Brittelle said mo" Davis never
told Brittelle who the medicine was
for and never used Dora's name in
connection with the matter. Satur-
day afternoon, the day of Dora's
death. Davis told Brittelle to see Dora
and tell her TO meet him in the pas
ture as he had something important
70 tell her. Brittelle went to Dora's
house and after he got there he told
Dora. Dora then went to the pasture
and Brittelle returned to the house.
Willis Clark, the Free Press report
er. who claims 10 have obtained a con-
fession from Davis at the time of his
arrest, was the next witness. The jail
interviews were related and the last
visit of the first day was when Davis
told of DIR. Jocelyn's connection with
the case. Davis claimed that the doc
tor gave him the instrument on the
Thursday preceding the day of Dora's
death. The scene on the bank after
Dora took the instrument from his
pocket was told. Davis stepped oil
about 10 feet and, turning, he saw
Dora fall and he rushed TO her side.
lie thought she had tainted and
famed her with her hat. lie saw she
was diving and deserted the girl who
was passing into the world beyond.
The visit of The next day was told.
Davis tried TO squirm out OF his con-
fession by saying he had no recollec-
ton of the conversation.
DIR. Arson NJ. Norton, a graduate
of the U. V. NJ. was present at the
autopsy of Dora Cushman, conducted
bv DIR. 10 II. Linsley of Burlington.
"The autopsy, which was held at DIR.
Cushman's Office" said DIR. Norton,
"showed foetus of three months
growth. An examination of the girls
body, previous to the autopsy, dis
closed mass Of matted leaves adj
herring to the left hip, evidently re-
tanned bv some sticky substance.
In the cross-examination by At
torney McGettrick Dr. Norton said:
"As a result Of the autopsy we found
no indication of the cause of death.
All of the organs of the body were re-
moved but we came to no conclusion
as TO the cause Of Dora's DEATH t least
| did not. We found no evidence of
an attempt of abortion and no evil
dence of a mechanical operation to
produce abortion was apparent. In
my notes there is no expression of an
opinion as to the cause of Miss Cush-
mans death. The genital organs
were normal, no injury by instrument
having been introduced. We found a
stain of blood on the right cara slight
wound as though the head had struck
upon a stick, but not one indication
that a blow had been struck. The
spinal cord, brain, aescophogus, lungs,
stomach. liver, kidneys,spleen, uterus,
ovaries and tongue were removed. No
examination was made of the contents
of the stomach then. No evidence OF
poison was discovered at the autopsy.
The result of the autopsy, so far as 1t
was made there, is that | am unable
10 give the cause of Dora Cushmans
t-aare old and