Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-03-31
The Partridge Case.

The Monitor does not pretend to be
versed in the law. Neither does it
claim to know the minor points in the
Partridge murder case. disposed of
by the court last week, and discus
sion of which is upon the lips of nearly
every person with whom one meets. |
What people in general think, in other
words, public sentiment, is not always
right but the Monitor desires to set
down a few thoughts on this case as
it appears to the unenlightened people
of this vicinity.
On December 5th last Levi Part
ridge shot and instantly killed Ray
Coomer in the Partridge home at
Glover. Coomer had paid some atten-
lions to Partridge's wife and there
was some feeling between the two
men. 1t is claimed that Partridge had
ordered Coomer to keep away from
his house or he would shoot him. 1t
is also claimed that Coomer had threat
ened to shoot Partridge. Report says
that one or more free fights had taken
place between the two, and that
Coomer was the best man in show
down. Some claim Partridge ordered
Coomer from the house on the day Of
the shooting but that he refused to go.
others say he did not speak to Coomer
but deliberately walked across the
room, entered a closet, took down his
gun and shot the visitor. 1t has also
been said that Partridge said he did
not intend to hit Coomer, but Just
wanted to brighten him. Then the
doings of Mrs. Partridge enter into
the case. She is said to have been
the one who enticed Coomer to visit
her and had invited him to her home
at the time of the tragedy, stating
that the husband was away. Other
reports contradict this statement
Reports as to the previous reputation
and life of the three people under dis
cussion also disagree. And so W.
have mass of unconfrmed and con
flicting reports. from which the publ
of course drew their conclusions.
Be all this as it may. Partridg
killed Coomer, admits it, does no
claim that it was in self defense, n
plea of insanity was entered and tn
grand jury indicted him Of murder i
the first degree. In the face of thes
facts the state barters with the d.
Tense until an agreement is effected
the terms of which are to accept pie
of manslaughter, providing howeve
the woman should plead guilty
adultery. Both pleaded guilty
agreed and received their sentences
Partridge-indicted for first degrt
murder by the grand jury of this count
for not more than three years ar
not less than two; Mrs. Partridge
the adulteress for the same perit
exactly. A minimum depending upc
good behavior) of about 20 month
Should not person who stands i
dicted for the crime of murder, b.
for the sake of avoiding a possib
conviction of the crime for which
stands indicted, receive substanti
sentence? Is the judicial machinery
our state rightly constructed and ma
ipulated when one person may ia
the life of another deliberately. SO f
as the court may know from any pl
ceedings that have taken place, as
the Partridge case, and receive
sentence no greater than 9th
criminals get for larceny, burgla
and a score of other offenss
Is it complete justice that it be pos
BILE for self confessed murderer
receive less penalty than the statut
provide for one convicted of break
and entering a room in the mig hit tin
where one is sleeping. with the int
of robbery? The law says one co
victed of this crime. though the II