Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-28
BEAN CONVICTED.
Jury in Windsor County Court
Returned Verdict of Muir.
der in Second Degree.
The RESPONDENT UNNERYED
Unable TO speak When Asked II lie
End Angling 10 Sny--Srntcpccdt to
Prison for Iifc-Cnsc VIII Go
TO Supreme Court---McrinO
sheep breeders Meet.

Woodetock Jan. 25-rhc closing arsu-
mont for tho def,uso in the tr4i OF Jo-
sCph Lean on the charga Of killing
II hiram .. Root w1s made hy W. l.. G..
- tchnty Of Bethel in Nlnd>uc county
court TINS afternoon. Ho si.Na foi over
two hourr and the cour. room was crowd
cd 10 ffocation during the whole ssion.
He saiG the evidence showed that Bean
was miles away at The Unle Root was
Killed and beside the abb claimed By th"
ucicns,. after carefully reviewing tno
testimony, he urged that ;uero was ro
proof that Root had been killed by a
human agency. In support Of his argument
he had several horse shoes on tho table
by his side which he fitted to the wounds
or Roots skull to show that death might
have been caused by a blow from
horses hoof
James G. Sargent will close for the
State tomorrow forenoon. To-day the
respondent showed more emotion than he
has hitherto and was very Nisibly moved
during the latter part Of Mr., Stickncys
argument.
Woodstock Jan. 26The closing arGu-
meit IN tie Bean murder trial was made
by j. q. Sargent this morning IN windsor
county court Judge Muuson then charg ,d
the jury who retired at l2.31 and is still
out.
Mr.. Sargents argument took up most OF
th,. morning session. 1t had been the whcl
effort of tn. respondents counsel, he said,
20 bcfog the issue and avoid the vital
points in the case The evidence from the
beginning was reviewed and the story told
by testimony was followed up to the time
of the tragedy. He dwelt or tho state OF
mind OF the respondent as shown by the
testimony. Bean was always talking
about Root and sChemnG to get rid OF
him. He prophesied trouble tor Eoot and
Mrs. Green and 1t came in tho death OF
Root The attempt to prove an aiibi coun-
gel disni.scd us absurd The bloody knife
the tell tale foot prints and The shoes that
fitted them fixed tho crime On the respon-
dent beyond "A reasonable doubt.
In his charge TO the jury Judge Nuns NJ
said there were three vordiCts allowable
under the indictment either guilty Of mur-
der in the FIRST degree, second degree, oi
| acquittal
Woodstock Jan. 1.-THE jury in the
trial Of Joseph Bean for the alleged muir
der Of Erhraim Root Al West Rochester
October II. 1903, at 10 this morning re-
turned a verdict of murder in tho second
degree. The jury WAS poled and tnen
! diScharecd.
Shortly before noon the respondent WAS
| arraigncd for sentence but was so uu-
/ nerved and weeping he was unable t.
| speak when Judge Munson asked him il
he had anything to say why sentence
should not te passed upon him. W. l.. G.
| Stckncy, ono of his counsel addressing
| the court, said Bean felt as he did only
becouse he WAS an inno-ont man. Bear
WAS then sentenced to hard labor for lft
| in the states prison.
Tho case goes II supreme court and thC
! execution of the sentence Is RESI- itcC
pending the preparation OF Il more lorna
! bill OF exceptions.
This trial, lasting over three weeks
/ Is one of the longest ones in Windsor
| County Court records. The verdict Is 9
surprise here as it was expected Bear
would he acquitted oi found guilty o.
| murder In tho first degree.
County court adjourned for the tern
TODAY.