Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-12
The Ar
sonCase.
EVideuce Of the State
Being Heard by
Judge Barney.
MANY WITNESSES ARE
EXAMINED.
Hearing Will be of Long
Duration.

The trial of Phillip Bell and Mrs.
Robert j. Denning, charged with arson,
began yesterday afternoon at 1920 in the
city court room before Judge w. f.
Barney. Richard A. Hoar represented
the state and John w. Gordon and w.
w. Lapoint appeared for the respond
ents. The trial will last about week
and will be one OF the most Interesting
held in Barre for some time;
James Harvey was the first witness
called He said he was an exrressman
and carried some goods from house on
Prospect street to the repository by re-
quest of the lady of the hesse. 1t was
box and bundle. lie paid Mr.. For
svthe 30 cents for two months storage.
The lady of the house gave him dollar
and he gave the change to Bell Tues
day morning as Mrs. Denning was not
in. Saw Mrs. Denning write "Mrs. r.
.. Downing on the box but no name
was put on the bundle untfl it was de-
Iivered at the repository. He delivered
the goods on Monday afternoon between
four and five o'clock.
Cross examined by Mr.. Gordon. Did
not know the name of the lady at the
time he took the box and bundle. The
woman gave him no instructions.
Did not act peculiar. Wit-sss did not
know Bell. He was not there when he
got the goods.
Mrs. William Page said she lived on
Prospect street, Had lived there eight
wears. Mrs. Dennipg occupied the house
next to her. Knew there was fire
there on Tuesday morning. Her atten-
ton was called to it by the cracking OF
flames in the shed. The flame was
quite large. Witness gave the alarm TO
one Perrin. Said Mr.. Page rung in the
alarm. Saw Mrs. Denning in her
Pace's) house. Mrs. Denning had a
Sheet around her and children were with
her. Did not see Bell. Said there was
door passed between front room OF
Mrs. Dennlng's house 10 another room
Saw a fire near that door. Saw Bel
after the fire.
Cross examined by Lapoint. Said the
children had on night dresses when Il
her house. Witness said Mrs. Dennlne
felt badly. Mrs. Denning told her She
thought it was a man who had boaroe(
there that Sc, the house on fire. Sale
Kate Hughes, the hired girl, was pres
ent in the room with them during th'
: conversation.
Stephen Forsythe said he was one o
, the partners who owned the reposilor,
:. where the goods were stored SAID h
Il had seen the box before and had put tn
}, taos on the box and bundle. Express
man told him tho owners name wa
Deming.
Cross examined by DIR. Gordon. Sal
that after they had reasoned together
they concluded the name was Downing
Did not know where the bundle ami DO
came from. Witness said that when b
read in the papers about the fire, h
thouuht about tho box that had bee
10 left there. -
to Mrs. Mary McKeefe of Northiiel'l sal
ii Bell was her brother. lie came
:, Mortified about II o'clock Monday ev'
- ming. There was gentleman vii
him. Both stayed until 4 O'Clock IT
next morning. Bell told her that Mr.
Denning was going away and wantt
her to run the boarding house. il
an two girls were in the house when th'
as had ihe talk. Witness said they bo
-, came on foot and went away on foot.
y Cross examined by Mr.. Lapon
er Said she had Just gone to bed wh'
ng tho men called. Bell went to bed
Q 30 and she woke him up at $50. 1!
v. other person went to bed De1ore 20 20
~ Said Bell told her that he might ma
-" about twenty boardecs ana wah'co IL
he to come Saturday,
Frank Carrigan said that he work
M in Rice's livery stable in Northhel
Bell and another man got to Northlle
about 1l.45. Witness said they Cal
to the stable and then drove arou
town about an hour. linen return
and put their horse and team up. =,
Cross examined by Mr.. Gordon. );
he was positive that it was lao u
ter thev arrived and not l0.45. Said til
lgo cot back the second time at IL
trv Nearly always looked at the clock VIII
~, = tcam drove in during the night. Gov
=" NOT remember whether any one call
aul there Sunday evening. Another perr
a was at the stable that night but "
d. asleep. o,
F. Il. Langley said he was ne'
paper man and went to the iire' ma
talk t with Mrs. Deming. She told /
that the first she knew OF the nre
,hnt her oldest girl came and woke
pts nm and said Mr.. Pages house was
-, fire. She went to the door and the 70
Up w,s filed with smoke. Told him
''oi climbed ont the window with her g
dren. Did not toll him about going