The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-20
Washington County Court.

A full report Of proceedings in the Brew
ster murder trial up to Saturday morning
may be found on page two.
Mrs. Charles #. Collins of Montpelier was
the first witness called Saturday morning.
She testified that she had done dressmak-
ing for Mildred Brewster. In April 1897
she made a dress for respondent, who told
her that she could not eat or sleep, and that
this condition had existed for some time.
A. N. Blanchard, photographer, in Wal
ton block, stated he knew Mildred Brew
ster, She came to him last April and ask
ed to have him take her photograph on Sun-
day. He did so, taking four negatives.
She acted very sober and nervous in way
that would attract the attention of strang-
ers. He thought at the time that she was
not right.
George Summers of Newport, formerly
lived in Starksboro and Bristol. Knew Ar
mold Sherman in his lifetime. Saw good
deal Of him when he lived on his farm.
Was at Sherman's house the day he COM
mitted suicide. From his acquaintance
with Sherman witness could not say wheth-
or or not he was sound mentally.
d. ID. Haley, merchant tailor, was next
sworn. Mildred Brewster worked for him
two half days, this was the week OF the
shooting. She did not do her work proper
ly, and was talking all the time about love
and marriage.
Alex W. Chimney was next called. Lives
in the same tenement with Patrick Nc
Bride. Met Mildred Brewster In his house
about Christmas, 1896, when she was room
ing in MoBride's part of the block. She
used to sew evenings in his.rooms, with his
wife. Some nights she would be full OF
fun, other times she would act as though
something was troubling her. She said she
was eating only one meal day, because
she could not afford three. Sometimes she
would have lunch at his house. The
night before the shooting she was in wit
ness rooms. She wanted some papers to
do up vases she was packing. She said she
was going to her home in Huntington She
played on the organ and sang that night at
his house. She sang "Put away the little
dresses" "What a friend we have in Jesus"
and other hymns. Respondent asked wit
ness wife to 90 up to the bill boards to- see
her shoot. Witness told her she would be
arrested II she went shooting inside the city
limits. Respondent showed witness car
tridges offered them to him, said she had
more like them in her room. Later the
Clay girl and respondent came to his rooms,
they sang and played on the organ ,.onsoa
school with Mildred Brewster lived neigh
Dor to her in Huntington. Later he often
saw her on Barre street in Montpelier.
Sometimes she would speak to him, at other
times would not recognize him.
Charles e. Campbell of Montpelier testi-
fed that he worked in the shop of Ledden
& Campbell. Became acquainted with
Mildred Brewster in May, 1896, when she
came there to learn the trade. She did her
work well at first, but after while she was
very forgetful and did not do her sewing
properly. She was finally discharged for
this reason. This was about two or three
| weeks before the tragedy. Had often heard
respondent talk about what the easiest and
best way to commit suicide. Witness
thought respondent was wilful, stubborn,
IL. I'll ted Al.A
Miss Jennie Quinn testified that she had
lived in Montpelier for five years. In 1897
she worked for Ledden g. Campbell. Mil
dred Brewster worked there at that time.
Witness became acquainted with respond
emit year before the tragedy. She did not
do her work we'll at Ledden & Campbells.
Would put pockets on outside OF trousers,
and 1t would be necessary to do her work
over. At times she would be in a melan.
choly mood, and at other times hilarious.
Respondent told witness that she was
afraid OF Jack Wheeler; that he had sworn
at her and called her names; that he did
not want her to go with anybody else; that
he used to care for her, but she was afraid
he was changed. Respondent told witness
that Jack Wheeler tried to make up with
her at the glass blowers exhibition; he re-
peatedly followed her around the hall.
Witness always thought respondent was a
queer, stubborn girl. The night before the
tragedy witness walked home with respond
emit. Saw nothing unusual in her appear
ance. She said she was going home the
next day.
John F. Goodenough OF Montpelier tes-
titled that the former home of his wife was
in Huntington. First met Mildred Brew
ster at his home in February. 1896. She
was then working in the family OF 8. G.
Shurtleff. She often came to his house to
see his wife's sister, Mamie Phillips, now
Mrs. DeCollaines. Respondent first met
Jack Wheeler at his home Easter Sunday,
| 1896. After that Jack and Mildred kept
company. They were together at witness
home two or three times week. Their
actions were lover like. After Miss Brew
ster returned from Northfeld in May, 1896,
she went to witness house to board, staid
| there until the first Of December. Jack
| Wheeler and Joe Rodgers came there to
board the first OF October. Witness and his
wife visited week that fall In Huntington.
Mildred was not we'll when they returned,
seemed weak, pale and sick. She left his
house in December. She was sometimes
| jolly and again was melancholy.
At this point recess was taken to Mon
day noon.
court came in at two o'clock Monday after
noon. He testified that he had advised
Miss Brewster to get married. She had
| told him that there was man in Hunting
tsn her father wanted her to marry, but she
| did not want him. Witness testified to two
| oSSooAoio w hoh hO hhOV "a cesSsA "
being in her room, once Saturday night,
and once Sunday afternoon.
Julia Mcmahon of Burlington testified
that she was living in Montpelier at the
time of the shooting. The night before the
| tragedy witness saw respondent on the
street and noticed that she looked fright
ened. While respondent was talking with
witness she kept looking over her shoulder
as though she thought somebody was going
to grab her. At this time witness had nc
thought of witness being insane.
e. r. Coon, police officer Of Burlington,
testified in regard to respondents peculiar
appearance while she was in Burlington
He thought at the time her mind was un'
balanced.
Mrs. Alice Ross of Barre formerly lived
in Huntington where she knew Mildred
Brewster Lived about four miles from
her. Was intimate with respondent there,
Miss Brewster visited her in Barre during
the winter of 1897. Respondent visited her
Saturday, May %. and May %, last. On
the first occasion respondent wanted wit
ness to go with her to have her fortune told
She told witness that she wished she was
happily married. On this occasion respond
emit seemed sad and nervous. Witness de-
tailed the interview with the fortune teller
The day before the shooting when re-
spondent was at the home of witness she
was pale and excited. She said she had to