Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-06-27
THE STODDARD CASE.

The late John Foster declared that
Canaan law is different from any other
law" Fosters declaration apparently
stands the test of time. 1t is many
years since Foster uttered those words
which became proverb that has been
frequently repeated until the present
day. The fracas at the home of David
Stoddard last Saturday evening and the
hearing before Justice Garfield at the
Town Hall on Monday afternoon again
brings Fosters declaration to mind.
The whole Foley-Stoddard affair from
its start until it landed father and son
in Litchfield Jail has aroused the in
dignation of many Canaanites who
think the Stoddards have received I'M
just treatment. The circumstances as
near as we can ascertain them are as
! follows:
About 20 p. m. last Saturday cries
of "helpl help! muder! murderl" reach
ed the ears of the people at the Union
depot and vicinity. The cries proceed
ed from the garden in the rear of the
Pequigney house, so called, where
David Stoddard and family reside. The
people within hearing distance rushed
to the garden and found David Stod-
dard and his son, Floyd, engagaged in
a struggle with James Foley. Foley
aud David Stoddard both were holding
onto an axe and struggling for its
possession. Foley was bleeding pro-
fusely from a wound over his right eye
and also from wound near the top of
his head Edward Goodwin, baggage
master at the G. N. E. station, rushed
to the scene and grasped the axe and
commanded Stoddard and Foley to let
go of the axe. They obeyed him, and
Goodwin took possession of the axe. In
the meantime George Van Deusen had
gone after Constable Rhoades at the
barber shop. Rhoades soon arrived,
arrested Foley and placed him in the
custody of Daniel Sweeney with in
structions to take him to the nearest
physician. Rhoades then arrested
David Stoddard and Floyd Stoddard
and placed them in "the cooler" By
the way, ''the cooler" is rightly named
inasmuch as it is cold, damp dungeon
in the cellar of the Town Hall building.
A PERSONS health and life should never
be ieopardized by placing him there.
None of the men resisted arrest.
Foley was led to DIR. Ovens office
aud his wounds were dressed by DIR.
Ovens. He was kept in bed there IN
til Monday and was then allowed to sit
up. He was rather weak from loss of
blood and nervous shock but he never
lost consciousness. He is still there at
this writing "wednesday forenoon) but
not because he is not strong enough to
leave.
The Stoddards were kept in 1.-THE
cooler" until Tuesday forenoon when
they were taken in wagon to Litch-
field Jail by Constable Rhoades.
On Monday at 2 p. m. David and
Floyd Stoddard were brought before
Justice Garfield and pleaded not guilty
to charge of assault with intent to
commit murder. Attorney J. 81. Rors-
back conducted the prosecution, but
the Stoddards were without lawyer to
defend them. Foley was not in court
and the prosecution brought forward
only four witnesses. Edward Goodwin
testified to taking the axe away from
Foley and Stoddard, and he said no
blow was struck with the axe while he
was there. Sweeney testified to lead
ing Foley from Stoddard's garden to
the railroad track and then handing
him oyer to another keeper who took
him to DR.. Ovens Office DIR. Owens
testified that Foley had a wound over
one eye and ragged V shaped wound
on the back of his head near the crown,
and near it was confused wound. He
stated that Foley's wounds were
serious but not necessarily fatal. In
his Judgment the wound over the eye
was made by some sharp instrument
and the wounds on the head by stick
David Stoddard testified that he and
his son. Floyd, were sitting on the FROM
stoop about six o'clock Saturday even.
ing waiting for supper. Mrs Stoddard
was in the kitchen in the basement
cooking supper. Foley went into the
kitchen and commenced to annoy Mrs
Stoddard. Soon such loud talk was
heard 10 the kitchen that Stoddard
went down there to try and persuade
Foley to keep quiet. Stoddard talked
with Foley and apparently had passi
fed him. Stoddard was leaving the
room when Foley sprang at him anG
struck him on the back of the head
he turned and Foley struck him twice
the last blow sending him out of the
door. Just outside the door stood al
axe and in order to defend himself ht
picked up the axe but did not strike
Foley with it. Foley also grabbed hold
of the axe and held on until someone
took the axe away from them.
Floyd Stoddard testified that while
his father was struggling with Foley hi
Floyd gra bbed a pitchfork which
stood near the door and struck Foley
three times with the handle of the fork
The handle broke in two pieces at thu
first blow.
Mrs Stoddard testified that Foley