The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-05-06
HELD FOR
GRAND JURY
Alfred Mahan In Court Satur.
day Afternoon
HEARING WAS SHORT
No one Present Except The 0ffici
ais and The Prisoners Couns.
eI o, N. Barber

Albert Mahsn. the self confessed
slayer OF his little niece, Ethel Mahan,
vas taken from the county jail shortly
after 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon 10
the municipal court room for hearing
The proceedings we're short and In a
few minutes Mahan was returned TO
Jail 10 await the action OF the grand
jury which meets next month.
Because OF the unusual nature OF
The case and the morbid curiosity that
has been manifested, States Attorney
Meagher planned 10 make the hearing
as inconspicuous as possible. The
fact that the hearing was to be held
vas knoAn only 10 those who had
business with the cbse.
Shortly after 8 o'clock Sheriff Fred
Godfrey and Deputy Sheriff Joho
Nash crossed the street from the jail
with the prisoner and conducted hlln
into Judge Bates Office. There we're
present only the presiding officer, the
states attorney, the sheriff and HE
deputy, and the prisoners counsel, o.
NJ. Barber. Mahan answered the few
uecessary questions asked him aud
vas informed by the Judge that be was
held without bail for the grand jury.
MAhan clearly showed that be has
undergone 4 severe mental strain since
ne was arrested. His cheeks we're hol
low aud bis voice, though distinct,
vas weak. lie was dressed 10 his
working clothes, the suit he wore on
the day OF the crime. on his way
from and 10 the jail his broad brlm.
med brown hat was pulled down As
closely As possible about his face OIL.
most concealing bis features.
In addition 10 the assault incident
mentioned Saturday Mshan's family
has figured In another tragedy which
has been for often and which would
have probably never bssa re.urrccted
but for the horror Of that Sunday
night. IL IL remembered that Mahan's
grandmother, ~ho passed away not
long ago and for whom the prisoner
has grieyed necessarily, was In her
youth identified with an attempted
poisoning She vas 10 no way con
cerned 10 the actual crime but IL vas
claimed At the time Of the Stafford case
nov a half century old, that IL was
because OF lnfAtuation for her that The
husband tried 10 rid himself OF his
wife by putting corrosive sublimate Ia
the morning coffee The man, hoWever
was too anxious 10 do . good job and
the quantity Of poison was 80 large
that the woman aud q hired girl who
also drank the coffee we're made death.
y sick and we're saved from death by
vomiting.
Stafford was arrested and was con.
iincd for a long time In the jail on
Bennington hill but as bis wife refused
TO appear against HIN he was nnally
released.
Then, again, 10 Il asserted that the
mental infIrmiiy 10 the case OF young
Danlsl who was taken 10 the asylum
10 Brattleboro. Wednesday, was no,
brought on by an Injury a. was nj first
stated. To bc sure, his mental dliiicul.
~ vas irst noticed after be had been
violently exercising al game OF
leap frog bot no one recalls that be
received Any injury At that time.
Many argue tha, no sane man could
commit such IN awful deed aud for
this reason they are Inclined 70 consid
er the crime the act a 4 lunatic. IL is
admitted that Gepravity and drunken
ness are not palllating circumstances
aud there are many Who express the
opinion that Mahan should go 10 the
gallows. They insist that the innate
Gu sedness oi the man was responsible
for the act and recall his cruelty 10 the
cattle a, hts fathers home add the fac
that Boston bull terrier belonging
~ Guy Farnsworth which dragged IL
self into the house . few weeks age
With Its abdomen slashed open with
kuiic or razor and 40 badly injured
that IL had 10 be killed, vas last sect
In Mahan's possession.
Friday afternoon Sheriff Godfrey
States Attorney Meaghcr and Judge ]
r.. Bates went to No III Bennington
and made IN ercctual attempt TO nnt
the razor winch Mahan confessed hi
threw Toto the mudhole beside th'
track There was stn breeze blow
Ing and IL was impossible 10 see an,
thing on the bottom Of tho pond wher'
the water was moro than two inches
deep. A boat was secured add launch
ed on the waters Of tho mudhole and
Sheriff Godfrey posted notice thai
the existing conditions 10 the vicinity
must not be disturbed.