The Newtown bee., 1903-05-29


 pass to that other unfortunate subject of investigation, Mary Britton. Here she is at home, and from those among whom she has lived, and who are familiar with her deplorable history we must obtain an estimate of her character. Her mental capacity is at tackled by Keith Joice, Frederick Day ton, Hendrick Wildman, Clarinda Durgy. John Durgy, William T. Hew- lett and John J. Treadwell, and is de- tended by Theron Richmond, a wit ness for the state, George H. Knowles Alonzo D. Eastwood, Henry J. Dayton, George B. Olivett, Hattie Wildman, Edward Treadwell, Martha Conklin, Evelyn Hatch, Isaac s. Knapp, Ed win Chase, Betsey Chase, Benjamin Sears and Minnie Tingler. The testi- mony of Joyce and Dayton relate solely to the ;domesile occupied by her subsequent to her marriage, to- gether with her associations, from which unfavorable inferences could be drawn, Hendrick Wildman expressed positive opinions concerning her lack of mental capacity and testified to fa- vorable opportunities for observation afforded by his official character as school visitor, and his former relations to the prosecution of the complaint against Peter Meyers, as we'll as his general acquaintance. To weaken the force of his testimony defendant introduced evidence of a conversation between the witness and AlOnzO D. Eastwood and defendant, Edward Jen- nings, relative to the Meyers case, which are inconsistent with his testi- mony in this case; also statements made to Edward H. Pearce and the l Merten Brothers, concerning the de- fendant, Backer, for the purpose of affecting his credit by showing an an tagonism to said Backer. and aninter- est in his conviction. Clarinda Dur gy's testimony is equally positive to her imbecility, as it is also to- her in. efficiency as household servant. in which she is supported in some particu lars by that of her husband, John Dur. gy. In their examination both of these witnesses exhibited some prejudice against Mary Britton, attested by theil rather violent disapproval o1 her, when taken to her house by defen dent, Backer. Theron Richmond Evelyn Hatch, Martha ConkIin, Edwin Chase and his wife, Betsey Chase, D1 Wade and Hattie Wildman all contra 1 dicted that portion of Mrs Durgy's tes. l timony relating to her inef1iciency and testify to similar duties rendered sat. isfactorily within the personal know ledge of the several witnesses. Will. liam T. Hewlett, the grand juror, who | brings this complaint, includes the whole Britton family in Ills condem. nation. John J. Treadwell is another school visitor, who has had official re- latiOns with schools she attended, and bases his opinions upon observations obtained in this way, together with what he has seen since of her. Henry Wildman, who employed her for five | weeks, does not think she has mind enough to get a living for herself or t( understand the marriage contract. He also tastitieS as to her failure as ser want, which part of his evidence must be considered in connection wi tn that of Theron Richmond and the others mentioned before. It developed dur ing MT Williams examination that Mary was sent away before the expira tiOn of her period of service, under suspicion of having appropriated some of MT Wildman's property. It is g question whether this suspicion may not have created prejudice in his mind. Theron Richmond found hel services satisfactory, in taking entire charge of his household and the care of his sick wife and emphatically de- nies her imbecility. George H. Know. les, Alonzo ID. Eastwood, Henry J. Dayton, George B. Olivet, Hattie Wild man, Edward Treadwell, Martha Conk lin, Evelyn Hatch, Isaac s. Knapp Edwin Chase, Betsey Chase, Benjamin Sears, all express an opinion against her imbecility, in addition to others Eastwood, Dayton, Olivett, Hattie Wildman, J. R. Hatch, Fred E. Knapp, Edwin Chase, Edward H Pearce state that they never knew the subject of her imbecility to be dis cussed. The latter evidence is purely