Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-02-17
Windsor County Court.


shooting Judge Seaver was verdict o.
npuilty OF assault with intent to murder ,
which YVES rendered Friday afternoon.
The case excited considerable interest
and each day saw a court room packed tc
overlooking with large audiences. While
none had an idea that there was any justi-
tication for the shooting,it was very man.
ifest that in his domestic difficulties the
respondent had the general sympathy OF
the community. Lawrence and his wife
had disagreen ents and she left his home
at the little village OF Prosper, or English
Mills, in the town of Woodstock. The
parties had q little daughter, Mabel, and
soon after Mrs Lawrence left her husband
she secured possession OF the child. Her
counsel, j. c. Enright, OF Windsor com
menced divorce proceedings for her against
her husband. While these were pending
an application was made to the probate
court at Woodstock asking for guard
ianship over the little girl. Judge Seaver
granted the application and appointed as
such Mr.. EDright, the wife's lawyer.
Soon after this was done, Lawrence saw
his little girl on the street, took her in his
team and conveyed her to his home. The
guardian began proceedings to recover
the child, retaking her and giving her to
her mother, while Lawrence himself was
arrested and in default of bail was COM
mitted to Jail, where he lay for month
until bail was secured. Then an action
OF trespass was brought against him in
the name of the little girl, prosecuted by
Mr.. Enright, the lawyer-guardian. An
Injunction was also procured, enJoinlng
Lawrence from meddling with the child.
At the last term of the county court the
trespass case was heard and a verdict for
the plaintiff for $3.50 damages and $3.50
| costs was given. Later in the same term
the divorce case was heard by the court.
A full trial was had and Mr.. Lawrence
appeared as his own counsel. The result
/ was that the petition of Mrs. Lawrence
was discussed. and the court said the wife
had no ground for leaving home; that the
evidence was too slim to grant separa-
ton upon. The court said Mrs. Lawrence
\ by leaving her huso band had broken up
his home; that her duty was to return
and take care OF his home and their child.
Judge Start, as chancellor, also dissolved
the Injunction restraining Lawrence from
interfering with the child. The chan
cellor said it would be an unwarrantable
use of the powers OF the court of chancery
to keep the Injunction in force. These de-
cisions were rendered on Thursday, Aug
ust 18th.
On Saturday, Lawrence obtained from
the clerk a certified copy of the order dis
solving the Injunction and believed that
he was entitled to the custody of his child.
He went to the house where the child was
supposed to be and learned she was at
Judge Seaver's, at whose house Mrs. Law
renee lived and worked as hired woman.
On Sunday, August 22d, Lawrence went
to Judge Seaver's with the order OF the
court. He presented it to the judge who
glanced through it and handed IL back
without WORD, attaching but little i'm
portance to IL as he said. Lawrence said,
SIS my girl here? Seaver said, "Yes.n
Lawrence then said, 81 want her and have
come for her." Judge Seaver, said "You
should see her guardian about it," Then
Lawrence said, 81 have seen Enright and
he says he don't know nothing ABOUT IL
and want my girl" Judge Seaver then
pointed to the door and said, $50 !" Law
renee Immediately got up ana went out,
Seaver following him. Thus far tue sto-
ries agreed. When they got outside, Judge
Seayer said that he did not follow the re-
spondent down the steps, tut that the lat
ter drew revolver and said, "If you lay a
! finger on me l will put bullet
through your heart" and Immediately
fired the shot taking effect in the breast
OF Judge Seaver. A second shot was fired
which passed through the right shirt
sleeve OF Judge Seaver, who had taken of
his coat. Then Seaver went into the house
and the respondent got into his team and
drove to the jail. He gave himself up to
Jailor Thomas saying, Il have shot Tom
Seaver; / went after my child and ne
would not give her up, and damn him, /
shot him." The respondent claimed the
shooting was done in self defense; that
Seaver was following him in an aggres-
sive attitude; that he said. "If you come
another step will shoot you; that Seav-
er came at him with bound, aud he did
fire.
The state relied as showing intent on
the facts that Lawrence had purchased
cartridges the night before the shooting;
had oiled his revolver and satisfied him
self that it would work. This the re-
spondent said was done to shoot some
skunks around his house.
Judge Seaver denied making any move
to attack Lawrence.
States Attorney J. @. Harvey and L. NJ.
Reed appeared for the state and Frank
Plumley for respondent. There are very
few exceptions in the case and sentence
may be given at this term of court.
State VS.. Isaac w. Rush. This was also
a charge OF assault with intent to kill and
murder. The respondent lived at Weston
in July last and on the 4th Of that month,
Sunday, about 9 O'Clock at night Que
Phillip Bull accompanied by man named
hunt called at the house where respond
ent lived with Mrs. Edgerton, a widow
and sister OF Bull. IL seemed for some
reason that Rush did not want to have
the parties come in, but they got in; as
the state claimed they were let in by Mrs
Edgerton while respondent claimed they
broke in, anyway Bull got in and about
as soon as be entered the door. bang |
went Isaacs' gun the bullet lodging 10 |
Phillips right arm, near the elbow; the |
bullet is still there. Bull nothing daunt- |
ed rushed upon Rush and tussle ensued. |
Mrs. Edgerton got the revolver away and |
the men were parted. Rush claimed that |
Bull came at him first and attacked him |
and the shooting was in self-defence.
w. B. G. Stickney defends, and l.. NJ. |
Read assists States Attorney j. q. Harvey
in the prosecution.