Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-24
CHAPTER XIV,

THE trial of Herbert made n great
(r. He was young, good-looking and
|telligent. and possessed that telling
lquiste of the tirst-class murderer
was a member of one of the best
miles in the state. For several
eeks the case had been lost sight OF,
d now that it was actually set for
al for the first Monday in Febru
V, it became again the sensation Of
q day. The general impre seion was
at if Herbert frankly admitted kill
9 his unnatural parent, the iury's
rdict would have been--tO quote the
reverent language of Frank Hills
an: well done, good and faithful
rvant; go and kill him some more"
The popular sympathy was with
IN, though the popular Judgment
nsidered him guilty. Curiosity sent
lndreds of people, among them
lmber of ladies, to the court house
witness the trial.
Those who were present made
entail picture of the scene with de-
lis like these; That the face Of the
dge was ominously severe and
Tenn; that the prosecuting attor-
~ was easy and self-satisfied; that
e voice of the clerk was rasping
id Unconditional in is staccato-like
unciation, reading an indictment
+ murder as if it were a railway an
bunccment TO dinner; that lawyer
terett looked ruddy and uncon-
rned; that Col. Franklin, who sat
hong the attorneys present, frowned
Favily, and evidently disapproved
ny heartily of the accused; that the
(isoner seemed to have no apprccia-
pa Of the gravity Of his situation,
It was apparently more uncon-
rned than anyone else in the court
|om; that his wife was well-drcssed,
lump, rosy-checked, and evidently
~ well cOnteutcd with her hus-
nd, herself, and the world at large,
|cept that she was a tritle excited
being so conspicuous in the court
ON. This was the picture pretty
lily outlined.
y
Foyed since the day when he en-
red the office of the chief of police
I'D told his story of the finding of
S fathers body. He had been well
ken care of by his friends at the
il, supplied with wholesome food
Pd dressy clothes; and now, we'll
foomed, clcanly-shayen and scrupu
usly neat, he looked the gentleman
had always been.
"A few hours were consumed in
blaming the jury, the prosecution
plng the major part of the challeng-
g, the defense apparently being
ling to try the case before any II
en i'll the court room. While there
ERE 10 outward signs of it, the
osecution was not IA little sur
Used at this manifest Indifference
Lawyer Everett, who was usually
most painstalling critic of the inn
melting of a jury.
The jury selected, the indictment
|as read and the trial was begun.
The case against Herbert Wright
JAS presented with what appeared
be miraculous completeness. II
as proved that on the day before
|e murder there had been quarrel
ktwecn young Wright and his
Their; that the former had asked
pr money, which had been refused,
hd that he had gone away in an
hgry frame of mind; that his wife
as sick and without the necessaries
life, and that he was utterly des,
Prate. 1t was then shown that Her
ert was seen shortly after five
clock near the place where his
Their had been murdered. Half an
bur later he was in the city pawning
gold watch, pair of sleeve buttons
hd knife which had belonged to
bhn r. Wright, and which he had
bout him when he was murdered
When the prosecuting attorney got
pis far he announced that he could