Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-08
Rely Upon CirCumstantiaI
Evidence of Accident.
.Satiiied Thus Far by Progress
Of The Trial Proceedings.
Jury Has Quiet Time Taking
Walks and Attending Church.
Testimony Of Dartmouth Civil En-
gineer- Developments Saturday.

Testimony Of Dartmouth Civil En-.
gineer- Developments Saturday.
Guildhall, Vt, May 1T is under
stood that counsel for the defence in
the murder trial of Mrs. Florence NJ.
Dodge, of Lunenburg. charged with the
shooting of William Heath in her
home last September, do not plan to
have the accused take the stand. Sat
isfaction is felt on the side of the de-
PENDANT with the progress of the case
during its first week just closed, and it
is understood that cireumstantial evil
dence will be introduced to show that
Heath accidentally shot himself.
While nothing has been said by the
defence in explanation of the two bull
lets found in the wall and on the floor
of the room where Heath was killed
it is asserted that counsel will offer
the worn spring of the revolver. as ev
idenee that owing to the fact that the
revolver will stay cooked only on one
cylinder, the weapon was discharged
when Heath took his thumb off the
spring and that the bullet made one of
the indentations on the opposite side
of the room, that he cooked the pistol
again and that the same thing happen
ed, that he then crossed the room and
accidentally dropped the revolver,
which discharged on striking the floor
and killed him.
Mrs. Dodge had told Heath, it is al
legged, that she kept revolver in a
drawer of the bureau which stood in
the hallway and the defence theory is
that Heath's curiosity prompted him
to so to the hallway and take the
pistol out of it's case after Mrs. Dodge
had left the room.
The jury had quiet time today at
tending services at the Congregational
church and taking brief walks, while
Mrs. Dodge remained at her home,
where she received visit from her
counsel An automobile ride furnished
relaxation for Attorney General Sar-
gent and Associate Justice McGinnis.
Judge Hall, the presiding judge, went
home yesterday to st. Adams, where
he remained over Sunday.
Guildhall. Vt, May Another witness
for the defence in the trial of Mrs Flor
tuCe NJ. ituuSe OI lJuDt0DuIS LOT the muir
der of William Heath, attempted Satur-
day to show to the jury that it would
have been impossible for Heath to have
been shot while either the victim or his
slayer was erect. and that Heath could
not have been shot on his knees unless
the person who shot him was on the floor.
The witness was f. H. Hunter, a civil
engineer of Dartmouth College, who was
on the stand when adjournment was
taken Friday and who resumed his direct
testimony when court came in Saturday
Mrs. Dodge, who seems to have recov-
cred somewhat from the nervousness that
was noticeable a few days ago, followed
the words of the witness with uncon-
cealed interest. The expert testimony,
however, did not seem to appeal to the
public at large as there was only a small
crowd on hand Saturday
When Mr.. Hunter resumed his examina-
ton he gave a demonstration, by means
of mathematical instruments and Samuel
Richardson, the man who has been used
as a living model because of his marked
resemblance to Heath in size and build,
that it would be possible for a person
like Mrs Dodge to shoot a man the size
SIdnOlng
erect and cause a wound identical with
Heath $ only when the person firing the
revolver was either lying on the floor OF
holding the revolver between his owr
legs. This demonstration and statement
were in answer to a hypothetical ques
| ton. The witness also said that in order
To cause such a wound the person shoot
| ing could not be at a greater distance
| from the victim than 10 feet.
Richardson was first made to knee
on one knee and then on the other
| While Mr.. Hunter continued his de
monstratiOns. The witness said tina
| in the case of person kneeling OF
the left knee. engaged in painting
| Dashboard, as Heath is supposed t,
have been doing when he was killed
the point of discharge of a bulle
starting from the floor would be il
a horizontal line six feet and eigh
| inches distant from the point of eXI
from the body. With the victim OF
the right knee this air line distance
he said would be four feet eight inches
Assuming that the person shot an
the person doing the shooting wer
both standing erect, the victim woul
either have to be on a step ladder wit
his head touching the ceiling or els
he would have to be standing on nj
head.
| In answer to one of the first cues
tons asked by Attorney General Sal
gent during the cross examination
Mr. Hunter said that person stand
inc aracf hoI,ld MT I,AlJ = ...-, /.