Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-01-13
He died Wednesday evening about
midnight.
-
WINDSOR COUNTY COURT.
DECEMBER TERM, 1899.


Selim II. Bugbee, who is charged
, with the murder of Robert Emertor
at Norwich on Saturday, Nov. 49,
was placed on trial Tuesday morn
ing. :
) Bugbee was fish dealer and it i!
alleged that Emerton was stabbed
J with a fish knife following word,
, fracas between the two men, the al
tercation starting in the store of l
N. Giles, Emerton's father in-law.
Emerton was an employe OF the
Dartmouth college heating plant.
Bugbee WAS arrested soon after the
tragedy and has since been confined
in the state p rson at Windsor.
Upon the reading of the complaint
Bugbec pleaded not guilty. The
morning was taken up with the ex-
animation OF tale smen, hut by noon
the panel was completed.
The first two witnesses included
Sheriff SpAfford and one of his d ep
uties, who testified regarding the
arrest of Bugbee and the finding of
his fish knife near his cart. Their
evidence also went to show of the
bloody condition OF the clothing on
the body of Emer!on, which was
splashed in many places about the
left breast, shoulder and elsewhere.
Wednesday morning Angus Nc
Caulev took the stand.
He testified that he arrested Bug.
bee at his home at Wilder. Bugbee
at that time did not appear to realize
what he had done, but when witness
told him that he had killed Emerton
he replied: 81 am glad that he is
dead, but am sorry that l had to kill
him. Witness stated that he deliv-
cred the defendant into the custody
of the sheriff.
independence N. Giles, known as
"Pen" Guild, testified that he keeps
the store at Norwich Depot, in front
of which Emcrton was stabbed.
He said that Bugbee was under the
influence of liquor when he came
into the store, and Immediately be-
gan quarreling with Emerton. Wit
ness went out on an errand, and
when he returned he found Emerton
prone on the ground in front of the
store. 80
Charles J. Linton testified that ON
Nov. rs, the day Of the alleged muir
der, he accompanied Emerton to
Giles store. He waited outside the
door while Emerton went into the
store, but he afterward went in and
found Bugbee and Emerton talking.
Emerton said to Bugbee, 81
don't want you to say anything to
me unless l speak to you," when the
respondent replied that he had not
said anything. Enerton then said:
"You did"
Mr.. Linton then testified that he
took Emerton 10y the lapel of his
oat and said to him, "Let's come
out and put up our horses" and they
went out together. the respondent
following.
Gas l turned from him Il mo.
ment," said the witness, ''and looked
through the kitchen window, where
Giles was getting their lanterns, |
heard some words, and, turning in
the direction of the two men, saw
the respondent down on the ground
and Emerton leaning over him.
Emerton then arose, and had hardly
reached standing position when he
fell over backward. I looked at
him, and saw him roll up his eyes
and heard him gasp.
"rurning to the respondent l said,
you have done nice thing to
which the prisoner replied, you,
I'll serve you the same
IL turned and faced Bugbee and
saw Il large knife in his hand. He
then got on his team s1astd drove
away"
He went to the house of Mr.. Bout
we'll in Hanover. Mr.. Boutwell,
and his two sons testified to state
ments of the respondent to the effect
that he had stabbed man and had
killed him, and that the man he had
stabbed had previously cuffed him
two or three times"
DR.. G. w. Hoffman, deputy sher-
iff, the fl st witness Thursday morn
ing, testified as to the arrest of Bug.
bee and the latter's joviaI demeanor
after the tragedy. Sheriff Spafford,
witness said, suggested that the affair
was not Il subject for mirth and the
prisoner replied:
"Well, the things done and
might as we'll laugh as cry"
The medical testimony began with
the examination of DR.. Goss of Hart
ford, who performed the autopsy.
He testified to the nature and effect
of the wounds on Emerton's body.
There were eight, but only one, wit
ness said, was fatal--one in the
heart. Emerton must have expired
almost instantly.
G. w. Rand, undertaken, testified
to the condition of the body after
the tragedy.
DR.. Guss was called tor cross-ex-
animation in the afternoon, and was
followed by Dr.. jackson, the latter's
testimony, also that Of DR.. Emerson,
health officer at Norwich, CORRIDOR
attn that of DR.. Goss. Dr.. Emerson
said there was NJ trace Of ulcohol in
the heart, nor traces of disease in the
body.
The test n,ny Of a. ]. Connors,
policeman, substantiatel that of 9th.