Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-12-31
MAKESLOYE
in COURT
Mrs, Moffat Weeps on Her
Husbands Neck.
IN POISONING CASE.
Joseph Mears, the Principal Wit.
ness, Brought Here Today
from Windsor Prison.

The trial of Mrs Mofat Of Sandgate
for the alleged attempt 70 poison her
husband proves even more interesting
than expected.
Mrs Moffat appears in court wear.
ing brilliant blue velvet gown and a
new hat of the latest pattern.
When the testimony appeared to
tend strongly against her, Mrs Moffat
leans over and weeps on her husbands
shoulder. Although she Is accused OF
trying to murder him by most cruel
and diabolical method, her husband
comforts and caresses her.
Mr. Moffat, during his examination
by Mr. Batchelder, told the circum-
stances Of the alleged poisoning.
In January, he, Mrs Moffat and JOS
eph Mears attended dance in Shu
shan. Moffat returRed home late at
night but Mrs Moffat refused to accom-
pany him aud reached home the next
morning In company with Mears
Moffat discharged Mears and Mrs
Moffat left her husband.
With the hope of getting his wife
back home, Motfat took Mears into
his employ again. Mrs Moffat then
visited her husband occasionally, but
did not come to stay; she s'Aen liy-
ing at Mr. Conkey's in Sandgate.
Mears did the cooking. In the early
part of February he prepared some
pancakes for breakfast. Moifat ate
them and shortly afterward became ILL.,
After breakfast Mears emptied what
was left of the pancake batter into a
brook which runs near Mofat's house.
Moifat, however, recovered.
1t is charged that "rough-on-rats" f"
was mixed with the pancake prepara-
tion.
Friday night, February 2lst, Mears
returned from trip to Shushan and
brought with him bottle of whiskey
which he gave to Moffat
Moffat took good sized drink when
be was going to bed and in short
time was attacked with nausea and
cramps
He took an antidote which gave him
relief but he continued to feel unwell
until Monday, when his married
daughter came to the house and sent
for doctor. The doctor arrived
Tuesday and symptoms OF poisoning
by corrosive sublimate were discov-
cred
Moffat seems inclined to favor his
wife aud 10 throw the entire guilt onto
Mears.
During Moffat's examination by Mr.
Batchelder, the defendants attorney,
Mr. Moloney objected to almost every
other question.
Several witnesses testified as to the
relations between Mrs moffat and !
Mears.
Ray Bentley, Sandgate constable,
assisted in the arrest of Mears aud
testified that Mrs Moffat was violently |
agitated when Mesrs was taken into
custody, and shed many tears.
Mrs Stella Conkey said in tes flying !
that while the respondent was living
at her house, Mofiat came there and |
asked Mrs MoRat to return and live
with him and II she did not, he would |
take a dose which he had fixed up.
Clarence Mears, brother of Joseph |
hears, testified tnat he came TO Ben
nington with Mrs Moffat to see his
brother and that on their return they
walked from Arlington to Sandgate,
a distance OF seven miles.
He also said that Mrs Moffat gave him
money to help pay Joe's lawyers and
that she paid some of the witnesses.
The trial of Mrs Alice Moffat was
begun Tuesday morning.
States attorney ]. ]. Stakeholder
is assisted in the prosecution by James
X. Batchelder.
The respondent Mrs Moffat, is de-
Tended by Thomas W. Moloney, Of
Rutland.
After several challenges from the