The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-10
MRS. DODGE TELLS
Of THE DEATH
OF HEATH
Woman Charged With Murder
on Stand in Own Behalf
WEARIED BUT NOT UNNERveD
Never FaItered In Her Answers But
Showed Evidence Of Strain
Placed Upon Her


Guildhall. May 10.-For two hours
yesterday Mrs. Florence NJ. Dodge of
Lunenburg who is on trial charged
with the murder of William A. Heath
a painter, at her home, September II,
last, answered the questions of attor-
neys. Not once did she break down,
but toward the close of the ordeal,
she showed such fatigue that Attor-
ney General Sargent suggested early
adjournment until tomorrow. AT that
time the cross examination will be
continued.
Mrs. Dodge said Heath arrived at
her home about o'clock on the morn
ing of September II and began work
in the bedroom.
In response to questions as to how
she came to tell Heath about her
revolver, Mrs. Dodge said:
Il was wiping the Dashboard when
Heath pointed to the safe and re-
marked. L suppose that is full of
money!
Il told him it was not He then
said that he was not afraid of bur.
glars for he had a 4S-calibre revolver
which he kept ready. To this | re-
piled, I have one too, but should be
afraid to use it, %
After that, Mrs Dodge testified she
went to the kitchen to do her ironing.
While she was thus engaged Heath
went out to warm a can of yarnish
That was about $3.50 and it was the
last time she saw him alive.
She was startled later, she said by
the sound of the shots and went into
the room to investigate.
She found the painter lying on the
floor face down in pool of blood
\ She turned him over and tried to
force him to take some brandy and
then went to the telephone and tried
to get central to call help.
Being unable to raise central she
went to the door and called to neigh
bors and asked them to get doctor.
Did you shoot Health" Mrs Dodge
was asked.
No" she replied
Did you take the revolver out of
the drawer?"
NO"
Did you see Heath shoot?"
NO"
Did you know that the revolver
was loaded?"
II did rot"
Would you have allowed your
granddaughter Priscilla to keep her
playthings in that drawer II you had
known the revolver was loaded?"
NO"
Irving Silby had testified that Mrs
Dodge said in his hearing:
81 know I'll go up for this
Mrs. Dodge denied yesterday that
she had made that statement. Mrs
Dodge denied that she used liquor Of
,; narcotics or that she was angry witt
Heath.
Everything was pleasant anC
/, Heath seemed to talk that day NOR,
than usual" she said
Attorney General Sargent started
the cross examination but had gon,
! only little way when an adjourn
ment was taken. He brought out
/, new line of inquiry for which Their,
Z is as yet no explanation. His frs
l question was
Were you ever treasurer of tn
Woman's Relief Corps?"
Yes, for several years previous t
last January" the witness replied
!, The books of the organization wer
! displayed and after being identifie,
by the witness, were offered as eS
hibits.
Mrs. Dodge was asked to go through
= the books and point out what entire
!. were in her handwriting and she di
SO.
Y Apropos of Mrs Dodge being on tn
: witness stand in her own behalf tn
= signed statement regarding the trae
edy which she gave to former Stat
;, Attorney Hunt, Immediately after tn
:, shooting and before she obtained coui
sci will prove of interest The state
ment is as follows.--
Lunenburg, VT, Sept. II, 191
Just before noon today | was in tn
kitchen ironing when | heard tw
shots in the front part of the house
y The doris were open from the kitche
into the bathroom and then into m
oiCSDiuS IOOliii WueTe MT. HEATH wa
;. at work. About the middle of tn
| forenoon | was in the bedroom an
d washed the mop boards for him t
= varnish and that was the last ! say
: of him before | heard the shots.
9 When | heard the shots wen
y through the bathroom into the bee
: room and found Heath lying on hi
: face with his head near the door int
the sitting room and his feet on
d near the window
L turned him over and ran and &c
s. some brandy and tried to pour braI
dy into his mouth and spilled it o
+ the floor.
y went to the phone but couldn
IL get central. Then | ran out to MI
y Henry Towards next door, and aske
8 her to get DR.. Bretling as quick o
v she could.
II When | was working on the bas
boards, he (Heath) asked me If
v wasn't afraid of burglars and he sal
a since his wife had got her sister
= diamond ring it wouldn't do for an
p one to prowl around his house
'e | asked him what he would do an
o. he said he would shoot them; that
n had a revolver of 98 calibre.
le Then | said had one that was m
"a husbands and that II was In the 10y
o. err drawer Of the bureau in the ha
NJ Al the cnma firnp tva folirad nhO,