Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-24
Vermont Murder Trial Set
Aor Week Of April 80.
First Woman on Trial for Life
in That State Since 1905.
Mrs. Rogers Convicted and Hanged
at That Time History Of Case.

Guildhall, Vt. April 23.-The inter-
est oi the people Of the northern New
England states, is focused on the an
tiquated one story, wooden courS
house. where after putting to one
side their sugar making and spring
farming, the Essex county talesmen
will assemble this week to hear the
case OF Mrs. j. Marshall Dodge OF
Lunenburg. who is charged with mur-
dernS William Heath, IA house in
terror decorator. Although the court
will convene next Tuesday, counsel
say that the Dodge case will not be
called before Monday, May /.
Not since the conviction and eXccu-
ton OF Mary Rogers for the murder
of her husband, six years ago, has
Il woman been placed on trial for her
life in Vermont. Aside from the fact
that the defendant in the present case
Is q woman, there Is added interest
because of the prominence Of Mrs.
Dodge, " no is q well-to-d do widow;
the fact that Heath had always borne
an excellent reputation, and the alb
senca so far as popular knowledge
is concerned. Of any apparent motive
for the murder
Arrangements for the trial have
been completed. superior Court Judge
Alfred a. Hall of st Adams will pre-
side; Attorney Harlan Il. Howe and
Harry Blodgett of st. .Johnsbury will
defend Mrs. Dodge: and Attorney Gen-
eral John c. Sargent OF Ludlow and
state attorney Harry i. Amey of Is
land Pond will appear for the state.
Some delay is anticipated in select
ing Il 5ury, irasmuch as the county
mas cniy small population and the
case has been SO widely discussed
that 1t may be difficult to find II men
who have not formed an opinion, it
is feared.
The shooting of Heath was sur
rounded with unusual mystery. Tho
man was at work painting the in
terror of Mrs Dodgcs ONE in Luncn.
burg Sept. Il last. hen neighbors
heatd three shots fred. They rush
IS the house. az Mrs. Dodge ap-
peared. crying for help. and found
Heath's body on the floor of bed
room, where he had been working.
1t was evident that Heath had been
SHOT while his back was towards the
door. of the three shots fired. only
Il
found IN the room.
Mrs. Dodge, who is the only other
person known to lave been in the
house when Heath was killed. said
that she was in the kitchen when she
heari the shots fired. She said tina.
she tried TO telephone for help. but
being unsuccessful she haa rushed to
the door to call on her neighbors for
assistance
An autopsy established the fact that
Heath did not commit suicide. The
revolver discovered ir the bedroom
was found to belong to Mrs. Dodge,
having been the property of her hus-
band. who was high sheriff of Essex
county previous to his death.
Mrs. Dodge was arrested on a charge
OF murder She was allowed her hb-
erty in s12 900 bail. however. because
of :he inability of the state TO make
public at the time any motive for
the crime, the statutes of Vermont
providing that Il person accused of
capital crime MAJ be admitted to bail
II the prosecution fails to establish
motive for the crime. Snce her re-
lease on bail Mrs Dodge has pursued
her regular mode of living, taking
part in the social affairs Of the town
and engaging actively in the work
of the village church. with which she
has always been prominently identi
fled.