The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-04-07
RAY MULLEN
GOT ARSENIC
Bought Poison Twice at
Drug Store.
ARSENIC CAUSED DEATH
Mullen Gave BatCheIder a Sand.
wich Just Before he Was
Taken Sick.

Barre. April 6.-Ray Mullen VINO
claims to DE "a Red Cross nurse anu
who was arrested March 26 on the
charge OF causing the death OF Fred
Batchelder of this city, March 10, was
brought into city court this morning
and hearing was held before City
Judge A G Fay which was concluded
this afternoon, when Mullen was
bound over TO Washington county
court without bail. The evidence
tended to prove that Mullen had pur.
chased arsenic shortly before Batchel-
der's death under false pretences.
Atty Gen Clark c Fits of Brattle
boro and States Attorney S Hollister
} Jackson OF this city, appeared for the
state and w A Lord of Montpe lier
and NJ NJ Gordon of this city for the
respondent.
WE Lampman the first witness teS-
titled that he was drug clerk in the
store of c II Kendrick 4 Co OF this
city. He said he became acquainted
with Mullen about one week before
Batchelder's death. Mullen purchased
arsenic of him on two different occas-
ions and he thought both were made
March IA but he was not sure. He did
not make an entry in the poison book
until after Mullen was arrested.
Mullen gave as reason for pur-
chasing the arsenic that Mrs G { Page
his boarding mistress, wanted him to
mount bird. He claimed that he did
not get sufficient quantity IN the first
purchase and came, the witness thought
about an hour later for more.
Mrs C G Page was called. She said
Mullen had boarded at her house, reg
istering as nurse She denied that
Mullen had been requested to set up a
bird for her and said she never mem
TONED the subject to him.
DHCutler testified that he conducted
the house where Mullen and Batchel'
der had roomed.
Mullen came to his house February
u and occupied room adjoining
Batchelder ). A week later he moved
down stairs and Roy Sykes came to
room with Mullen. The morning OF
March Is he noticed that Batchelder
did not 20 to breakfast and went to
the latters room. He found Batchel-
der in bed and complaining of violent
pains in the stomach. Batchelder did
not know what caused the trouble but
said he had eaten freely OF chocolates
the night before with friends in Mont
pelier. He had also eaten sandwich
in Mullen's room before retiring. Null
len was present at the time and said
Eyes called him into my room and
gave him a sandwich "
Dir W f Lazelle who attended Batch
elder during his illness was the next
witness. He said he was called the
morning of March 10 and at 9 O'Clock
that evening found his patient no bet
Ter. He was called at , O'Clock the
next morning and had the nurse come
and get some medicine
He went again at o'clock in the
morning and found Batchelder in a
dangerous condition. Ats O'Clock in
The morning he was called again but
Batchelder was dead before he arrived
He thought the case was suspicious
one and ordered that the body should
not be touched until an autopsy was
performed.
At this point Prof H l. White OF
Burlington chemist at the state labora'
tory of hygiene, was called. He said
that by different tests he had found
about one-half grain of arsenic in
Bstchelder's stomach and as far as he
had proceeded in the examination OF
the iutestines he had found signs OF
the same poison, although he had not
proceeded far enough to state positive
ly in regard to the contents of the in
testines.