The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-03-02
James Mantir Given Life
Term, Peter DeIorey IL Years
KILLED ANNIE MULLINS
End of Great Crime in Arlington, Mass,
Two Years Ago Came in Massa-
chusetts Superior Criminal
Court To-day,

Cambridge. Mass. March For the
murder of Miss Annie Mullins in Ar
tngton on March 2S, 1908, James Man
lir of Manchester, a. H., was sentenced
10 prison for life and his companion,
Peter Delorey OF Somerville, for a term
Of not less than eighteen years and
not more than twenty years by Judge
White in the Aliddlesex superior erim-
Inal court to-day. The body of Miss
Mullins, who was a servant in the house
pf Harvard professor was found IN
field two miles from her home on the
morning following the murder The
womau's head was nearly severed from
the body.
In spite of the great efforts to fathom
the crime, the case was shrouded in
mystery for six months, during which
Lime the local and state police brought
several persons under suspicion. AT the
End OF six months quarrel between
Mantir and Delorey led to their arrests
and to confession by Delorey, who
rlaimed that Mantir killed the Mullins
woman.
Mantir was convicted Of second de-
gree murder and Delorey OF manslaugh-
ter.
The full bench on Tuesday handed
down decision, overruling the excep-
lions Of the defendants for a new trial.
The exceptions relied upon by the de-
fense were those relating to the ad-
mission in evidence OF opinions Of med
teal experts, that from the nature and
location of the mortal wounds, the de-
ceased did not commit suicide. aud the
refusal Of the court to rule that Ger
tain statements made by Mantir while
under arrest charged with the crime
could not be considered by the jury as
proof Of his guilt.
Judge Braley wrote the opinion and
IN part states:
1t is generally recognized that In
questions involving a knowledge of
science and the arts, or where techui-
ral qualifications and professional skin
are in issue, opinion evidence is adj
missable, while ordinary events associat-
ed with daily life are presumed because
of their experience to be understood
by the jury without the assistance OF
experts. 1t is of course, true, that the
value of such evidence must differ in
degrees according to the nature Of the
inquiry, yet in the department of medi
cine and surgery, such testimony often
is OF much Importance. and wide
range of inquiry Is usually permitted.
The medical experts, from their attain
ments in anatomy united with the ex-
perimcntal knowledge acquired from
study and observation OF the effect Of
blows or wounds upon the human body,
were particularly fitted to express an
opinion, whether the left hand and arm
OF the deceased could have been so
moved as to have been sufficient in
scope and power to have produced
blow causing a wound of the severity
and dimension found on the deceased.
"The facts upon which their opinion
rested seem to have been satisfactorily
made out, and the jury We're absolute
~ free to give this evidence such weight
IS their Judgment approved We can
not assume that the experience or
knowledge of the jurors as intelligent
men, versed in ordinary affairs, must
have been so varied aud extensive that
they would not be instructed and aid
ed by this testimony and to its adj
mission no exception lies"
The court holds that the alleged con.
fession was a voluntary statement made
by the defendant Mantir. and that the
rights of both defendants were fully
preserved.