Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-12-23
ALLARD is GUILTY.
Murder in the Second Degree
Gets a Life Sentence.

The jury in the case Of Wilman D
Allard at 2 o'clock Friday returne,
4 verdict of guilty of murder in tn,
second degree. He was immediate
ly sentenced by Judge w. w. Mile
to state prison for life,
Allard had nothing to say before
sentence was imposed.
Allard will probably be taken tc
prison today,
AlIard on Trial.
Wilman d. Allard, who killed
Thomas Mccormick at Allard's
house in Woodstock, on the Curtis
Hollow road, was put on trial Tues
day morning, pleading not guilty to
the charge OF murder in the second
degree. The affair occurred Satur-
day, Dec. 2, and the respondent was
arrested the same evening. AT a
hearing Dec. 4 Allard was held for
the grand jury, but on Dec. 7, at his
request, the states attorney filed an
information charging murder in the
second degree.
The jurymen are: James G.
Bingham, South Royalton; ]. E.
Aldrich, Norwich; Edison Emery,
Bethel; Abraham L. Divoll, Wealth
ersfield; F. A. Demond, Cavendish
Platt Il. Marsh, Chester; Volney ]
Wood, Chester; Chas. H. Wood
ard, South Royalton; Amos E.
Nichols, Reading; Orrin { Ken
dali, Chester; James O. Sawyer,
Andover; Thomas T, Robinson,
Springfield.
Acknowledgement Fits, for the
prosecution, in an opening statement
to the jury, said the state did not
claim that it was a premeditated
killing, but that it was malicious and
without provocation,
About twenty-five witnesses were
summoned by the state.
Mrs. Addie Allard, wife of the re-
spondent, was the first witness, re-
citing the events leading up to the
tragedy, and testifying to McCor-
mick's threats while the two men
were drinking together.
Mrs. Allard said Mccormick tried
to enter her sleeping room the night
before the murder, but the door had
been nailed up The tried to break the
door in. She related a conversation
with her husband after the murder,
in which he claimed he acted in self
defence. He had been pretty drunk
but had got over the effects at this
time.
On cross examination she said she
had lived with Allard six years and
never had any trouble with him,
Mccormick. had made insulting re-
marks TO her the day before the
After she left the stand
Allard whispered to her.
Twelve witnesses were examined
Wednesday forenoon. Several told
Of hearing the respondent say in
Sprague's house, after the killing,
that he had got rid of tramp who
would not be seen Tor year or two.
One witness said that Allard admit
ted that he had killded Mccormick,
and wanted help to drag the body
out. Another denied that Allard
said he had killed the man. 1t was
further stated that Allard said Nc
Cormick had threatened his life.
One witness saw Allard bring a
stick three OF four feet long into his
house and place it behind the bed
room door.
Several witnesses told of the in
toxication of both Allard and McCor-
mick, the latter being in the worst
DR.. Charles o. Boyden, of Bridge
water who performed the autopsy
on McCormick's body with DR.,
George Holbrook, of this village,
testified that all the organs were
healthy except a few old scars in
the top Of one lung, The skull was
exhibited with the face and forehead
gone. There was fracture Of the
right temple. The witness explain
ed the injuries. There was a pro-
tuberance of the flesh at the back of
the skull evidently caused by falling
and there was blood on the brain.
D cath was caused by blow in the
lace.
Constable A. H. Pinney, of
Bridgewater, identified the pieces Of
club and and the axe used in killing
and the rope found
around the mans neck.
DIR. George Holbrook of Wood
stock said he performed the autopsy
on McCormick's body, assisted by
DR.. Boyden, his testimony being
substantially the same as the latter's.
The blow was struck with the side
Of the axe.
Deputy Sheriff E A. Thomas
was called, his testimony varying lit
tie from that given at the prelimi-
nary hearing, and w. H. Moore
told of an interview with Allard,
as has already been
published.
THE DEFENSE.
The defense called seven wit
nesses, using them to prove the
claim of self defense and also to tell