Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-03-22
MYSTERIOUS MURDER
IDA FOSBURG KILLED BY POW.
DER SENT THROUGH
THE MAIL.

Letter Was Dropped in Post Office at
Shoreham-Her Fiance in Jail
Mysterious Strangers and Another
Man. Figure in Case.
That Miss Ida Fosburg, 81, the wo-
man who was supposed to have com
mitted suicide at the home of Miner
Jones, in Shoreham, March II, was
the victim of a murderer who sought
to carry out his scheme through the
mails, there is little doubt.
Aldace Nondette of West Rutland
was arrested at his home by Sheriff
Y. Nj. Chapman Saturday afternoon
and brought to Middlebury and lodg-
ed in Addison county Jail charged
with being the man guilty of the
above crime. The arrest took place
after Vondette's return from the
funeral of Miss Fosburg. He was one
of the bearers.
Whether Miss Fosburg was killed
by the contents of the mysterious
letter she received will be definitely
determined for the vscera taken
from the dead woman's body were
sent to the state pathological library
at Burlington for analysis and exam
ination.
The doctors admit that the woman
was in a delicate condition and that
fact of course suggests a motive either
for selfdestruction on her own part
or of her murder by some one else
to shield himself from the conse-
quences probable to ensue. Her con-
dition was a surprise as she had
always had good reputation.
Nnnnnttn iC
headed man, comparatively cool for
one in his position, yet sensitive con
corning the accusation. He is of
French descent having been born in
Montreal So years ago and speaking
English with a significant accent.
For nearly 35 years he lived in
West Rutland until little less than
year ago when he received an ap-
pointment as superintendent of mar
bic works at Canon City, Col, where
he went with the highest testimonials
from his former employers. He is a
widOwer, his wife having died some
l3 years ago and is the father of six
children, the eldest a married son
being in business in Newcastle, Pa,
and the other son and four daughters
remaining at the old home in West
Rutland, next door to the residence
of the Fosburg family.
Vondette secured Thomas w. Ma
loney of Rutland as his counsel. He
turned over to the officers a large
number of letters which he had re-
ceived from Miss Fosburg 1t is be-
lieved that there is no evidence to
show that Vondette has been in Shore
ham recently.
Vondette has talked freely. In one
interview he said: This is an out
rage, putting man in here who has
travelled 2900 miles to marry a girl,
been sick ever since he got here, and
then is charged with killing the wo-
man he intended to marry.
81 have lived in west Rutland for 35
years. 1 have known this girl ever
since she was born. / live next door
to her father Why, | am a man of
reputation and have property | am
no ordinary man that goes about kill
ing women. | owned the fastest
trotting horse in Vermont once, and
have four trotters now, good ones.
The idea of taking me up in this place
for killing a woman"
The envelope was dropped in the
box outside the postoffice between 5
and 8 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
Two strangers drove into the village
from the east and returned in the
same direction about o'clock. No
body saw them at the postofiice, but
a clerk in the hotel which stands
close to the post Office on the same
side of the street saw them drive by
close to the buildings. The street
is very wide and no one would be
likely to- drive near the buildings un-
less he meant to stop at either the
hotel, the post office or the store.
The strangers are described as young
men wearing fur overcoats and caps.
Some people have not given up the
theory that Ida Fosburg committed