Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-11-15
VICTIM OF PERJURY?
Girl Who Testified Against Weth.
ereII Says Story Was Lie.
Claims Her Mother Compelled Her to
Swear Falsely-WithereI May Es-
cane is Years Sentence.

Court convened again, after a recess of
several weeks, on Tuesday, the 18th inst.
The forenoon was principally taken up in
calling the entire docket, and quite a
number of cases were disposed of, having
been settled during the recess. In the
afternoon the case of state VS.. II. II.
Graves, proprietor of the Commercial
House at Bellows Falls. was called, It be-
ing an information filed by the states at
torney for violation of the liquor law. on
being arraigned the respondent pleaded
guilty to five first offenses of selling. on
his representation that he would not
again violate the law, he was sentenced
to pay a fine of $3.50 and costs.
In state VS.. James Austin of Brattle-
boro the respondent was arraigned on an
information for violation of the liquor
law, and pleaded not guilty. Wednesday
morning he retracted that plea and plead
ed guilty. He was sentenced to pay fine
of 800 and costs. The charge against
Austin is supposed to have arisen through
the discovery that liquor was sent to T.
]. Ferriter. while the latter was confined
in the county jail. The package contain
ing two pint bottles was opened by the
jailer and never reached Ferriter
In Milton F. Perry VS.. Norman d.
johnson judgment was rendered on the
report for the plaintiff; also the same en-
try was made in Martin r. Lawrence VS..
Charles w. Parker and in Caroline S.
Hotaling VS.. William NJ Lewis and 9TH
ers. Several OF the divorce cases were
discontinued, among them being that of
Minnie F. Powers VS.. William A. Powers
of Brattleboro.
Tuesday evening a hearing was given
at the jail-house in Newfane by Gov
Stickney upon the application of Seaman
L. Wetherell, now in state-prison under
sentence of Is years for rape, for par
don. At the September term 1897, of
the Windham county court Mr.. Wether-
ell was convicted of the crime of adultery
with one Nettie L. Walker, and was SEN
fenced to state-prison for the term of
three years. At the same term of court
he was also convicted of the crime of
rape. committed upon the person of Ma
bel NJ. Walker, then about II years of
age. and a daughter of the said Nettie
l.. Walker, both of whom had been living
in the family of Wetherell at Grafton.
Vt For this latter offense, he was sem
fenced to be confined in state-prison at
hard labor for the term of 10 years.
He has already more than served out
the sentence imposed for the crime of
adultery. He now applies for executive
clemency. upon the ground that he was
convicted upon the false testimony of the
girl Mabel NJ. Walker who was the prin-
cipal witness against him. Mabel has
since married a man by the name of
hlNudT. ana now lives III 1TONlutiCe. X.
l., does also her mother.
Mrs. Kindar, who is now Is years of
age appeared before the governor and
testified that the said Wetherell never
made any assault upon her. and never
committed the crime of rape upon her
person; that while they lived in his family
he always treated her kindly, and she
looked upon him as a father, and he al
ways treated her as a daughter; that her
~ hoa nd fol NO
out with Mr.. Wetherell and left Grafton,
went to Providence, r. l., some little
time before Wetherell was complained of.
and in short time sent for Mabel who
Joined her mother in Providence; that she
was Influenced to testify as she did
against Wetherel in the county court in
consequence of the threats which her
mother made to her, saying that unless
she did so, she would have her confined
in the reform school, or would place her
where the dogs would not bite her And
while she was aware at the time she gave
her testimony in the case that she was
testifying falsely, yet she was afraid to
do otherwise by reason of the threats
made by her mother. Since she had be-
come older, she had thought many times
of her false testimony given in the case,
and II had troubled her greatly; that she
first told her aunt in Providence about
her false evidence, and a short time since
informed Mr. Niles of Grafton about
it that she came to Vermont at the re-
quest of Mr.. Niles. and OF her own free
will and accord, and without any promise
of reward held out to her except the pay
ment of her expenses.
A statement was read, signed by Mr..
Wetherell in which he admitted
adultery with the mother of the girl, ac-
knowledged the justness of his punish
ment, but totally denied ever treating the
rg,.T 60
manner; and having served already a
longer period than the term for which he
was sentenced in the adultery case he
asks that the governor may pardon him