Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-03-28
NOT A SUICIDE.
Ida Fosburg's Death Evidently Wen
Planned BY Another.

mat Miss lua fOsDuIs, o. Tug
woman who was supposed TO have
committed suicide at the home of Min
er Jones in Shoreham March II, was
the victim of murderer who sought
to carry out his scheme through the
mails, there is little doubt.
Aldaee Vondette of West Rutland
YVES arrested at his home March 10th
and brought to Middlebury and lodged
in Addison county Jail, charged with
being the man guilty OF the above
crime.
That Miss Fosburg was killed by
| the contents of the mysterious letter
| she received was determined from the
viscera taken from the dead woman's
body and sent to the state pathological
library at Burlington TOR analysis and
examination.
The doctors admit that the woman
was in a delicate condition and that
/ fact of course suggests a motive Tor
self-destruction on her own part or of
her murder by some one else 10 shield
| himself from the consequences proba-
BILE to ensue. Her condition was a
surprise as she had always had good
reputation.
Mr.. Vondette is an intelligent, clear
headed man of French descent, having
been born in Montreal So years ago.
For nearly 50 years he lived in West
Rutland until little less than a year
ago when he received an appointment
as superintendent of marble works at
Canon City, Col, where he went with
the highest testimonials from his for
mer employers. He is widower, his
wife having died some 10 years ago, and
,, Is the father OF six children.
Vondette secured Thomas w. Ma
loney OF Rutland as his counsel. lie
turned over TO the officers large
number of letters which he had receiy-
j ed from Miss Fosburg. In one inter-
view be said, This is an outrage, put
ting a 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 woman he IN
tended to marry
! Miss Fosburg had expected a letter
for several days before the poison-nll-
ed envelope was received, and that
day she asked Nelson Jones, son Of
e her employer to 90 10 Shoreham post
l office, three miles away, and get let
], ter. lie said he did not wish 10 drive
. that distance but Miss Fosburg, he
: saws. insisted. On the way to the
# postofiice young Jones met neighbol
e bringing back mail, including the let
d ter for Miss Fosburg.
d When the boy returned with the let
S ter Miss Fosburg was in her room, ant
), he delivered it TO her. lie went L
I. the barn to help his father unharnesi
/, the horse and some ten minutes later
7. as the two came to the house, the,
a heard single cry from Miss Fosburg'
e chamber.
, Opening the door, they found he
d living on the floor, apparently dead.
lie +. G. Spooner, a Brandon druggist
,e received March 9TH letter postmark
is ed Shoreham and signed Ida FOsburg
which asked him to send her som
"A strychnine to use in killing sparrow'
- The letter does not bear the slightes
~ resemblance to Miss Fosburgs hand
- writing and was evidently written b
! man. Mr.. Spooner sent the strycl
II nine in a regulation prescription paper
- placed in another envelope. The O
1, Ulcers have theory that his paekag
!, was intercepted in some manner an
u then sent to Miss Fosburg in anothe
IL wrapper.
:. The envelope which contained tn
= poison and the envelopes used by Nol
~ dette in his correspondence are ne
=, alike, but an envelope procured at IN
y, home OF the Jones family in Shorehau
:, where Ida lived, is exactly like the on
Of which brought the poison.
- Vondette was arraigned at Mlddi'
be bury Monday, but the hearing vs.
~ postponed indefinitely and he has bee
~ released on bail.
~ Ii is said that on March I'd Miss 10
nt burg was in Middlebury and in con
~ panv with Nelson Jones OF Orwell, 50
~ of her employer, visited several dine
- ent places. among them the old Piert
nv House. where she remained over nigl
~ and registered rs Miss Clark OF lIcol
IN deroga. She consulted doctor
Pittsford next day.
The man suspected of interceptlr
Druggist Spooner's letter to Miss 10
burgh is under surveillance by the G
re, ficers.
at States Attorney Donoway of Middl
to bury and DIR. w. ID. Berry and g.
ne Wood of Waterbury went TO Pittsio
rst Friday and exhumed the body Of l.
sh- Fosburg and portions of the lungs Al
other organs were removed, but i
~, Berry said it would be weeks befo
fth they could make report
it'll Ida Fosburg was a relative OF Z
ian Fosburg girl whose murder
The Pittsfieid. Mass, few months ago d
tracted such widespread attention.
at The arrest of Nelson Jones OF Orwe
the man who brought Ida Fosburg
led Middlebury early in March and w
of brought her the fatal mail packag
IAN was made Saturday night and he
10 now in Addison county Jail to avn
~ examination. w. b. G. Stickney
ich Bethel has been retained by him
vas counsel.
I'm The third man in the case volunt
his rily came 10 town Saturday when