Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-05-05
NEARING END.
BREWSTER TRIAL WILL PROB
ABLY CLOSE THIS WEEK.

BREWSTER TRIAL WILL PROB
ABLY CLOSE THIS WEEK.
The State Offers Over 90 Wit
nesses in observation-disclosures,
That Mildred Was Not Insane
Experts for the State.--Brie
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Be
gin.--Cost of the Trial.
All last week was occupied by thu
State in rebuttal, trying to prove thai
Mildred Brewster was not insane al
The time she killed Anna Wheeler
About 60 witnesses who were &C.
ouainted with Miss Brewster and hel
family gave testimony Most OF them
said she had bad disposition, was
ugly and queer, but not insane. Many
testified that the mother was sane.
Attorney Lord for the defence was
taken sick last week and George w.
Wing had to be called in to assist.
Thomas Sheridan of Montpelier tes-
tilted that he saw Mildred the night
before the tragedy and saw nothing
peculiar in her appearance. Mrs.
Clarence Bugbee testified that when
Mildred came to her house the morn
ing of the shooting she remained about
an hour and % minutes. The witness
conversed with her On various SUBJ
iects and noticed nothing strange in
her appearance. Clarence Bugbee
testified to the appearance of sanity
on the part Of Mildred on the morn
ing of the shooting. He looked close
ly at her while the two girls were
standing on the piazza OF her house.
She appeared perfectly sane. Mary
A. Mcleod, nurse in Heaton hospi-
tai, testified that she had charge of
Mildred for six weeks at the hospital
last summer, taking care of her from
at night until Z in the morning. She
heard her speak of Jack Wheeler.
Mildred showed the witness pictures
Of ''her fellows" and said only one of
them was in Montpelier Miss Nc
Leod considered Mildred sane while
she was in the hospital.
Marion Dewey, a nurse in Heaton
hospital, testified to her belief in Mil
dred's sanity at the time she was at
the hospital.
Miss Emma Witty, matron of Hea-
ton hospital, testified that Mildred
was conscious about the time Anna
Wheeler died. She was in the same
ward with Miss Wheeler and in the
next bed. Miss Witty heard Mildred
crying that evening. She asked her
il she wanted to see her father and she
said no, she was not fit to see him or
say one. Miss Witty considered her
sane while she was there. Miss Nora
Mcdonald, nurse, corroborated the
matron's testimony in regard to Mil
dred regaining consciousness the day
Of the tragedy. Miss Mcdonald uid
not think her insane. Mrs. Margaret
Pierce, nurse, had charge of Mildred
when she was brought TO the hospital.
The afternoon of the shooting Mil.
bred asked her where her revolver
was. The next day Mildred told her
that Anna Wheeler was dead and she
wanted to die, too. About three
weeks later Mildred said she did not
mean to shoot Anna Wheeler; she
meant to shoot herself. The witness
considered Mildred sane.
Mary O'Neil testified to seeing
Mildred the day after the shooting.
Mildred asked questions which
showed her recollection of the events
Of the tragedy. Marian James testi-
fed to seeing Mildred after she was
discharged from Ledden q Camp
bells. She told of spending the night
with &ildred and of taking breakfast
and supper with her. Mildred and
she visited Middlescx short time be-
fore the tragedy. AT that time there
were no symptoms of insanity. The
day Mildred purchased the revolver
the witness took dinner with her. She
thought she was sane. During the
last Gays before the shooting Mildred |
was very sad and depressed and told
the witness she cried all night. Josie
Brown of Montpelier testified to COM
ing from Barre with Mildred Satur-
day evening, May %. Mildred talked
with Jack Wheeler's brother in re-
gard to an engagement she had failed
to keep with j. Rogers. She was
cheerful and appeared happy on the
rlp. Josephine Ducette, recalled,
testified in regard to seeing Mildred
al the spring before the shooting On
Decoration day, 1896, Mildred visited
Miss Ducette in company with a ca
Oct from Norwich university. Miss
Dncette always thought her sane.
MORE EXPERT TESTIMONY.
DIR. s. E. Lawton, superintendent
Of the insane retreat at Brattleboro,
was called by the state and qualified
as an expert. He testified that he
was called by States Attorney How
and three times to examine Mildred
brewster. The first time was July
y at Heaton hospital. DIR. c. I.