Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-01
Counsel Contend He Had No Con-
nection with the Crime and
Is Insane.
HOURS SPENT GETTING JURY
First witnesses Tell Of Finding MUIR
dered womnn-Some One slept in
the Hay and Rihed Desk
Court Room Well FILLED
though Public Barred.

nine O'CLOCK this morning until 2:oV
o'clock this afternoon in Rutland
county court to empancl jury for the
trial OF Elroy Kent. charged with the
murder Of Miss Della B. Congdon at
East Wallingford, July "a, last. 2s men
being excused before a satisfactory
jury was secured. This difficulty was
due to the wide discussion of the muir
der at the time of Its occurrence and
the prominence given Kent because
OF the chase he led the officers through
southern Vermont. after he was sus-
pected. Four men were excused as they
were opposed to capital punishment
One Juror was found, Edward Eggles-
ton, who recently came to this city
from Mendon. who had never heard of
Elroy Kent or the Della Congdon MUIR
der.
Ernest II. O'Brien Of the respondents
consel announced this afternoon that
the defense would be made both on the
ground Of no connection with the crime
and insanity.
The only witnesses examined by the
State were Mrs. Mary A Sprague and
her two sons. George and Darwin,
neighbors Of Mrs. Congdon who dis
seeing the imprint where a man had
laid in new hay he had put in tho
Congdon barn two days before and Of
flndi~S tobacco pouch on the hay.
Mrs. Sprague found that the desk of
the murdered woman has been rifed.
KENT FAT AND UNCONCERNEp.
Kent has greatly changed since he
was sent back to the Waterbury asylum
following his capture at Pittshed.
Mass. last October. He has shaved his
mustache and is much stoutcr being ap-
parently in the best Of health.
When arraigned before Judge f. L.
Waterman this morning on the charge
OF murder he uttered the words mot
guilty" but did not speak again during
the day He sat beside his counsel, Err
nest II. O'Brien and John D. Spellman,
during the selection of the jury and
seemed to take no interest whatever in
the proceedings. His eyes were half
closed most of the time, and occasion
Illy he seemed to be asleep. He offered
no suggestions to his lawyers and they
never spoke to him.
Although the publU was excluded from
the court ROOM the jurors and witnesses
filed most Of the seats. The State has
a great throng Of witnesses. most OF
whom are from East Wallingford.
PARLOR TROLLEY BOTH WAYS.
bennington, March 30-Some months age
a petition was largely signed asking the
Berkshire Street Railway company tc
operate during the summer season q
parlor trolley car between this village
and Great harrington. Conn. and to-day
information was received from Genera
Manager c. Q. Richmond that the car
would be put in commission as soon as
the weather would warrant. The new can
Is to leave hero at 7:45 in the morning
the Same hour that one leaves Great
harrington. BY means Of these parlol
cars It Is possible during the summer tc
make a trip over thu length OF the sys
tenn from Bennington across the State
of Massachusetts without change. One
during tho seasc.. of 1903 had an averagt
Of 20 passengers daily. and while thu
traffic from this end OF the system viii
not be so heavy as from the south, the
management considers that II will bt
sufficient to meet operating expenses.
BASE BALL MEETING FRIDAY
Rutland. March 3o.-The meeting OF
street railway interests of the State,
scheduled to be held here this after
noon to discuss a plan to organize q
base ball league was postponed until
Friday afternoon at two o'clock as all
those who wished to be present could
not attend to-day. Manager George
g. Haley Of the Rutland Railway
Light and Power company. has re-
ceived favorable replies from several
street railway men to whom he wrote
about tho project He says that II q
league Is formed 1t will be conducted
entirely by the electrical men.
COULDN'T SATISFY CREDITORS.
Bennington, March 3o-E. T. Griswold
dealer in musical goods. books. paper.
and sporting supplies. whose store ha'
been closed for several weeks under at
tachment. has been petitioned into bank
ruptcy by his creditors. Attempts hav
been made by the proprietor for an ar
rangement with his creditors that woul
permit him to continue the business blu
without avail.
AN $SO0O-WRE IN RUTLAND.
Rutland, March 3O.--The Clarke building
three-story brick structure, was dan
aged by fire here early this morning
the loss being s., ~, The cause probabl
was defective electric wiring In the atti
The flames were confined to the photo
graphic rooms OF C. Fuller on the thr
floor The millinery store of Mrs. j. !
Carrigan on tho second floor, and II
dry goods stock OF A. ". Colvin & c.
on the ground floor. were badly damage
by water. The losses are we'll covere
by insurance. The building was owne
by Wright e. Young of Brandon.
WAS A DENTIST 40 YEARS
Rutland March 3O.-Dr. Henry TURF
of this city, one Of the oldest dentists
Vermont. died at the Albany, ~ Y, ho
pital this morning aged IS He practise
In this State 40 years 80 in this city. Il
was president of the State Dental a
ISOLATION in 1900.
ACTIVE PASTORS INSTITUTE
ST. Johnsbury. March 3o-The fir
New England Institute for pastors
active service will be held here May
to 6 In the North Congregational Churcl
All cergymen of the Baptist, Congr'
gational Methodist Episcopal, Protestar
Episcopal and Universalist Churches
northeastern Vermont and Northwestern
New Hampshire will be invited. Thes
institutes gsAw out of the feeling @,