The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-04-14
MIKALES Is DERANCED
JURY SAYS NOT GUILTY OF MUIR
DER BY REASONS OF INSANITY

Barre NAN VINO murdered MIS-. Y. ".
Mascot Ordered Committed to
Waterbury Asylum by Judge But
Ter Court Having Found Him Not
Guilty BY Reason of Insanity.
With wandering eyes and express
sionless face, James Mikales stood
and heard the foreman Of the jury
pronounce him not guilty of the muir
der of Mrs. G. G.. Mascot, by reason
of insanity, yesterday afternoon. The
jury came in as court opened and
delivered the verdict, after which they
were thanked by the court and NeX-
cused
The court room was sprinkled with
spectators as the jury came in and
when the clerk told Mikales to stand
up all eyes were fixed on him. He
was assisted to his feet by w. A.
Lord, one of his counsel. He did not
face the jury, his eyes wandering
about. He remained standing until
Mr.. Lord told him to sit down and
apparently knew nothing of what was
going on. Counsel conferred with
the court at once and Mikales was
remapded to the custody of the sher-
if, to be confined in the State Hos
pital for the Insane at Waterbury,
until further order of the court He
was taken down late yesterday af-
ternoon.
This case, taking less than "a
hours from the time the prisoner
was arraigned till the time he heard
the verdict and was ordered into Gus.
tody is one of the shortest criminal
cases on record in Washington Coun-
ty Court. The only case coming any
where near as short was the trial of
Ray Mullen of Barre, who was &C
cused of poisoning a chum. That
case was completed and Mullen COM
mitted to Waterbury in less than 4
day and a half
When court convened Yesterday
morning Mikales was in his seat and
some 20 people were scattered about
the spectators bench. The case has
attracted but little attention for 2
murder trial. The reason is probab-
ly found in the fact that it has been
| recognized from the beginning that
the trial was largely matter of
form to satisfy the requirements Of
| the law The evidence, aside from
the story told by Mrs. Woolhouse on
Monday afternoon has been of little
interest to the general public.
Mikales presented the same vacant
minded appearance yesterday morn
ing as on the preceding day. He
took but little apparent interest in
! the proceedings. At times he showed
signs of intense thinking but wheth
er this was the result of realizing his
situation or some nervous action ov-
er which he had no control. it is I'M
possible to say
The first witness called was Will
liam Connors, who testified that he
| ran general store in Barre, selling
hardware and other merchandise. He
knew the respondent and remembered
having had business dealings with
him. States Attorney Gates handed
Mr.. Connors the revolver which hal
been introduced as evidence and
asked him if he RENE mbered. it Wit
ness was not positive as to it's being
the Identical gun, but stated that he
| had seen one Of the same make and
general appearance. He further tes-
tilted that last summer he sold the
respondent 32-calibre revolver ana
some cartridges for the same. Later
Mikales came to the store and want.
ed to swap the 80 for SO and this
MIR. Connors" agreed to do. Respond.
ent also purchased some cartridges
for the larger gun. Witness said
that Mikales purchased some blanl
cartridges for the same gun, intend.
ing them for use on July Fourth. A;
| the conclusion of the testimony O,
Mr.. Connors the State rested it,
case.
The first witness called by the de
Tense was John Mikales, brother O.
the respondent. Witness stated tina
he was Greek, born in Turkey. II,