Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-11-30
A Trial for Murder.

The trial of Charles Doherty for the
murder Of Fred Murphy at Bolton
Falls February Is last, was commenc.
ed in Washington county court last
week Monday afternoon, Hon. John
II. Watson presiding. An extra
panel Of jurors was summoned from
which TO get a complement of twelve
men. A brief outline Of the case is
as follows, Charles Doherty and
Fred Murphy were last February in
the employ of Contractor Ward at
the Bolton Falls dam. Both Doherty
and Murphy were enamored Of a girl
named Julia Rock. Bad blood had
existed between these two men for
some time. On Saturday, February
Is, they quit work at 5 O'Clock. When
they reached the Pixley boarding
house, where the Rock girl worked,
they had an alteration over her
which eliminated in Doherty's draw
ing revolver and shooting Murphy.
Murphy lived for several weeks and
finally died at the Mary Fletcher
hospital in Burlington. The day af-
ter the shooting Julia Rock made
this statement: ~ am eighteen years
Of age and my home is in Morristown.
came to Mr. Pixley's from Montre-
al, where | had been working. | have
known Fred Murphy about two years
and have been engaged TO him over a
year. | never knew Doherty before
he came to j. f. Pixley's to board. |
never spoke to him three words in my
life. lie never made any advances 10
me or tried to. deny all the news
paper accounts which have been TO
the contrary
Julia Rock cannot be found.
She is wanted as state wit
ness in the case. II is believed that
she has gone TO Liverpool, Eng.
"Wednesday the jury visited the
scene Of the crime at Bolton Falls.
Charles Doherty, the accused, did not
care to accompany them.
The examination Of witnesses began |
and James McCale was the
first witness called.
On the evening of the tragedy, az
ter the men had reached the Pixley |
boarding house, he heard Doherty say
be and Murphy were going TO settle
things that night. Doherty and
Murphy went TO the barn. Witness
McCale heard pistol shot soon after
aud saw Mr.. Pixley supporting the
form of Murphy. Doherty then asked
Mrs. Pixley for the 500 which she
had been keeping for him. Before
Doherty left the house he inquired OF
the witness about MurphY's condition
aud said that he was sorry that he had
shot him and that he shOnld not have
lone so had he not been imposed up
On BY him. Julia Rock stayed in the
room with Murphy and cared for him
he night Of the shooting.
jeremiah Mccarthy OF Boston
worked on the dam with Doherty and
Murphy and boarded at Pixley's.
Heard Doherty call Murphy q dead
beat and state that he could hex him.
William Sullivan, foreman at the
Bolton Falls plant when Doherty and
Murphy were employed there, saw
Doherty at the dam on the evening OF
he shooting. Doherty told him he
rad shot Murphy and was going TO
lill himself. Wanted witness TO take
,harge of his money and effects and
end them to his brother, John
Doherty at Salmon Falls, n. II. Do
,ertv said he shot Murphy because he
ollowed him mp and threatened him.
Dahertv told witness a few nights
,efore the shooting that Murphy was
n a room at Pixley's occupied by
lula Rock and that he was going to
lie the doorknob with a rope and
hen call Mr.. Pixley's attention to the
tate Of affairs.