St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-07-08
COUNTY COURT.
Landlord Eastman Convicted - The
State Presents its Evidence i'm the
Fast Hardwick Murder Trisl.

Sndi SSu Will hSC plIS q ulSOTOeTIy mouse
the jury returned a verdict Wednesday
afternoon of guilty. The respondent:
bail was raised during the trial from
$1,000 to $500. After the verdict the
court raised the bail to $4,000, and Mr.
Eastman is in the county Jail awaiting
sentence.
The case of Statev. Mrs. Jennie Aldrich
for the alleged murder of Mrs. Joseph
Massey at East Hardwick. April IL,
was started Thursday. Most of the
time that day was spent in empanelling
the jury, "a being challenged. The state
is represented by States Attorney Morse,
assisted by his law partner, Mr.. Billiard,
and Alexander Dunnett. The respond
ent is defended by Taylor & Dutton,
assisted by Guy Hill. The trouble
between the women arose over quar-
rel among the two Massey boys and
another lad. Both mothers appeared on
the scene about l O'Clock on April II,
and clinched, Mrs. Massey being thrown
down. About II hours later Mrs. Mas
sey died. The state claimed that she
died as result of injuries. The defense
is attempting to prove that Mrs. Adrich
acted in self defense and that Mrs. Mas
sey was subject to frequent attacks of
heart failure.
]. S. Perham testified as to the location
of the alleged murder as result of his
measurements, and Photographer jerks
exhibited number OF pictures of that
locality.
Joseph Massey, the husband of the
deceased woman, said he lett his wife in
good health on the morning OF April IL
and was called home at noon by his
boys when he found her in great pain
and agony. DR.. Harvey came first and
late in the evening DR.. Weeks was called.
Ernest Massey the son of the deceased
woman, said Guy Aldrich threw stones
at him while he was fishing, and he sent |
his little brother home so he would not |
get hurt. Soon after he saw his mother |
crawling home on her hands and knees.
Gilman Magoon and w. II. Davis both |
testified that there had long been trouble
between the two women.
Mr.. Magoon related Mrs. Aldrich's &C.
count of the ARRAY in which she told him
that when Mrs. Massey approached her
with a stone in her hand she spanked her
and threw her down the bank.
Mrs. Emily Goodrich testified that
Mrs. Aldrich came to her house after the
ARRAY to see her husband about insur-
ing the house for fear Mrs. Massey
would burn it down.
W. H. Davis, Mrs. Gilman Magoon
and Charles W. Ransom all testified that
there had long been trouble between the
two women. After the ARRAY Mrs. Al |
drich told Mrs. Magoon that if Mrs.
Massey hadn't got enough this time she
would give her some more.
Selectman Stamford OF Hardwck de- |
scribed the autopsy and spoke OF discol-
orations on the intestines probably
caused by internal injuries.
DR.. Stone OF Burlington reported his |
microscopic examination of the lungs of |
Mrs. Massey and said there were no |
traces OF bacteria OF pneumonia. An in
teresting episode occurred Saturday |
morning when Jerry Massey, the year
old son of the deceased, took the stand.
Objection being raised to his testimony
on account OF his age, Judge Stafford |
excused the jury and asked the boy what |
he proposed to tell. The little fellow |
quickly replied, THE States Attorney
told me TO tell the truth" The court |
considered him competent witness and
in the presence of the jury he described
the incidents that led up to the assault.
He reported to his mother that Guy
Aldrich was throwing stones at him by
the river and his mother came out to
stop the trouble. Witness said he saw
Guy Aldrich throw stone at his moth.
err and next he saw Mrs. Aldrich roll his
mother down the bank. He then ran
tor help and on returning found his
mother on her own veranda. MONDAYS
testimony in the murder trial of State
VS.. Mrs. Aldrich was entirely devoted to
expert medical testimony which was of
little interest to the general public be-
cause of its technical terms. DR.. Harvey
who signed the death certificate said he
wrote that death was caused by con-
gestion of the lungs which might have
followed an external injury. He found
the heart, liver and kidneys normal, the
lungs congested and discolorations upon
the lntestines. DR.. Darling, health officer
OF Hardwick, corroborated DR.. Harvey's
testimony and gave in detail the results
OF the autopsy and post mortem.
The defense began their side yesterday
afternoon, introducing Guy Aldrich, the
son OF the respondent, as the first wit.
ness. He described the events of April11
and said when Mrs. Massey came tow
ards the spot where he and Perley Wat
erman were throwing stones at a stump.
she told Perley now that she had caught
him she would kill him. Witness ran for
his mother and when they came back
Mrs. Massey threw stone and hit wit.
ness in the back. Mrs. Aldrich then hit
Mrs. Massey with her hand. The next
the witness saw of Mrs Massey she was
sitting on her own piazza.
Mrs. Maggie Allan testified she had
known Mrs. Massey Tor nine wears and
often seen her four or FIVE times week.
Mrs. Massey had often complained OF
pain about her heart and shortness of
breath. Once when passing was called
IN and she was having a very bad time
with her heart. Face and hands had
bloated up on more than one occasion.
Once in picking raspberres she had a
very bad spell with her heart, and an.
other time she had to lie still 10 minutes.