The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-10-17
WILL GO TO ASYLUM
PROBABLY FOR LIFE
Prisoner Was Charged With
Numbering Fred Batch
elder In Barre On March
Is by Administering Poi
son.

Shortly before noon today verdict
Of not guilty BY reason Of insanity
was returned in the case Of Raymond
Mullen, who was charged with murder
ing Fred Batehelder in Barre on March
10, 1906, by administering arsenic to
him in sandwich The case has been
on trial in Washington county court
during the past five days. This verdict
means that Mullen viii be placed in the
state insane asylum, probably for life,
unless released sooner by order Of the
court. The jury was out forty min
utes.
In giving the charge to the jury
Judge George NJ Powers stated that it
was necessary for the prosecution to
prove that the respondent had admins
tering the poison to Batchelder and that
he was in his right mind at the time.
In determining the facts they had been
dependent quite largely on experts, and
the experts on both sides Of the case
We're quite agreed on the mental eondi-
ton of the respondent. In arriving at
verdict the jury should not take into
consideration the statement that Null
lent is dangerous man at large; that
does not enter into this case.
On the resumption Of court this morn
ing the closing arguments were made
by W. A. Lord for the defense and At
torney General Fits for the prosecution
They reviewed the evidence, laying stress
on the fact that no attempt had been
made TO establish motive and that
there had been no specific denial Of the
crime charged. They concluded at i0:30
O'Clock, and then quarter hour re-
cess was taken, after which Judge Geo
M. Powers charged the jury, who retired
at ILLS O'clock
Mullen Declared Insane by Expert.
Expert and medical testimony given
late yesterday afternoon closed up the
defense. Those who testified were Dr.
d. W. Mitchell Of the Danyers. Mass.
insane asylum, and Drs ID. G. Hawlev
and +. T. Clark Of Burlington Each
of these, in response to a hypothetical
question, gave his opinion that Mullen
Is not safe man to be at large, ard
DIR. Mitchell went SO far as "a state
that if Mullen were 10 be released he
(the expert) would confidently expect
to hear Of his commission Of crime
as bad as, If not worse than, the one
charged TO him In this case.
IF Mullen administered the poison to
Batchelder, as alleged, should say that
be is not guilty BY reason Of mental
irresponsibility," was the statement
made BY DR.. Mitchell
rs Mullen safe man to be at largcs"
he was asked
NBy no means was the response.
Mullen is built on an entirely differ
ent mould than most men He il 40
constituted that there is no hope OF
bringing him 70 the normal standard. /
predict that il he were 10 be set at
liberty he would commit crime as had
as, II not worse than, the one charged. =
The doctor said furthermore that the
blow would fall on whoever happened
to be nearest to Mullen.
Ask il Mullen was sane or insane.
Dir Hawley of Burlington replied.
''IIe is insane, and Is not safe man
to be at large. should expect to hear
from him again
The same question was put TO Or.
Clark Of Burlington and ther was sim
liar response, the witness adding that
he considered Mullen q mental and NOR
al degenerate.
During all this evidence the prisoner
sat as II in more or less of trance,
seemingly taking no interest in the pro-
ceedings. His glance would rest on The
ceiling for long period and would then
wander slowly around to some ether
object. TO rest there for a long time
When the attorneys opened their argu-
ments, however, he appeared TO be more
concerned in what was going on in the
court room. He followed the attorneys
with his eyes and seemed interested in
what they were saying. Former States
Attorney jackson opened for the state
and NJ. NJ. Gordon for the defense, each
speaking for about fifteen minutes AZ
the close Of their Arguments, the court
took adjournment for the day