Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-03


talk wild him. fur he WIS agittin'
ready ter go huntin' de mex day"
What did young Wright do them"
HE jes' crump he hat on he haid
and rush out, an he mos knock me
ODER de hat rack rs he got out"
Did he threa zen his father"
mo. sab: he ddn' say nuthin, but
he ies' look desprit kinder IS il he
didn' know what he WIS doin' an
didn' keer."
London was then excused. very
much to his relief and he left the
witness stand with the air of man
who had Just escaped deadly peril
| The other servants were examined in
routine. but nothing of importance
was aided to Iondon's testimony.
There was perceptible stiffness
in the asscmblagr when the next wit
ness, Herbert Wright, was called. and
all heads turned 70 took at him as he
made his way to the witness stand.
He was not nervous. though he was
the very picture of forlornness. He
appeared To take only a vacant inter
est in the investigation, and WAS
either careless or Obvious of his own
danger. At the moment he took his
seat every mind there was revolving
the probability of his having been the
guilty cause of the present tragedy.
With rather bored air he waited
the coroner's questions. After giving
his age. name and other formal in
formation. such as is required on oc-
casionS of this kind. he was asked the
following question:
You aud your father were not OH
abe best of terms. were your
NO. sir"
"What was the cause of your fall
Ing ont"".
My marriage"
"Why did he object tn your mar
rage"
Il can't see" said Wright. testify,
what my fathers objection TO my
marriage has to do with his murder
1T may haze a grent deal to do
with il, said the coroner, sign tcant-
ly.
ooh. I see" said Wright, with cool
sarcasm. You think that perhaps
this may furnish clew to connect me
with his death. Very well. II the
troubles that have overtaken me and
mine will satisfy your curiosity and
, entertain this crowd. why am ready
to narrate them. Ask me what you
will"
, II will repeat my former question
said the coroner "Whv did your
father oppose your marriage?"
Ills objection WAS 10 my wife?
"On account of her poverty, or any
thing Of that kind?"
"Not that I know Of
, "llis objection was personal one ~
"Hardly that. For she was beauti
full and amiablc ms we'll
, II don't understand then what his
objection 10 her could have been
=, VIII YOU explain i?
"Weil. if you must have e. my
ia ther many years ago got into =
difficulty with bis overseer, Jefferso,
. | Baxter. and killed him. II was very
. unfortunate affair in every way. ant
reference to il was carefully avoided
. in our family. My father was very
, idc,1urn man naturally. and he neve'
. 1
from home a great deal bavin1 beef
sent to college when I was Is. and
never knew the full details of the at
tair. indeed, | only knew that year
ago he had killed his overseer ant
that he had been cleared by jury
To make % long story short my VII
> j. the daughter az jefferson Baxter
ard when my father learned that
was about to marry her he move
! heaven and earth to break off tn
match: but would not listen to hi
objections, and he accordingly disin
herited me and forbade me to eve
? come again into his presence.
e "You have sometimes solicited al
of him. have you not?"
5 Eyes: have been very unfortunai
in business. NV wife's continued II
ness has been the cause of my losin
several good positions. as ! have a
ways thought that my first duty wa
n to her. At times we have been /
great distress, aud hove gone to m
v father to see if he would not rei'n
II and help us. The last time | wen
IT was few DAYS before his body wa
V. discoveIed: indeed. it was the da
II before he was murdered"
Y. Did Won quarrel with him an
X threaten him On that day.
IN "Our interview was little storm
20 Int ! was haf crazy with hunger an
". despair | an certain. however, tha
he ] never threatened him, and neNf
DO entertained any idea Of wreaktnR vel
le geance upon him: for. Of course
lie Was his privilege TO make himse
Vt granite toward me If he so chose.
RS Can YOU think of anyone VIII
o. would have motive for committin
this crime p"
Il suppose could, but declh
MS To give nay surmises for testimony
4. j his answer created conslder5b
N, speculation, but INSIST as they "oul
w the witness could not be made To Ma
whether ne had any suspicious,
?" What they were. his testimony q
es vided sentiment. some thinking hi
an he was the guilty person, others 81
al ing with him because they believe
y" he was innocent, on because th'
it could not blame him much II he ht
p rid the earth OF such a man as dol
I. Wright.
nh The next witness was young ms
in by the name of Frank Bradley, WI
had been out hunting the same ia
as Wright. he was asked wheth