The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-01
RICH WOMAN FACES
TRIAL FOR MURDER
Mrs. Florence Dodge, Lunen-
burg, VT, Alleged Stay
er of Her Husband.
american News Servicel

Guildhall, VT, May 1.-When the
case Of Mrs. Florence NJ. Dodge of
Lunenburg, Vermont was called for
trial at the Essex county court house
in this city today it was the first time
since the conviction and execution of
Mrs. Mary Rogers for the murder of
her husband. six years ago, that a wo-
man was placed on trial for her life
In this state. Mrs. Dodge the wealthy
widow of the late J. Marshall Dodge.
former high sheriff of Essex county,
is charged with the murder of VIII
liam Heath, a painter and decorator,
who. at the time of. the murder was
employed in doing some interior paint.
ing at the house of the accused.
Not for many years has any murder
case attracted so much attention and
intense interest in this state and
throughout New England as the case
of Mrs. Dodge. This is due partly to
the fact that she is a woman. wealthy
and prominent in social and church
circles. partly to the apparent lack of
motive in the case. So utterly at a
der were the authorities at the time
of Mrs. Dodge's arrest. that, under
the laws of Vermont. the accused, al
though charged with murder in the
first degree, obtained her release un-
der $4,000 bail. 1, Is generally be-
lieved that the prosecution now is
not a single step nearer the solution
OF the puzzle than at the time of Mrs.
Dodge's arrest.
The trial at which Superior Court
Judge. Alfred A. Hall, of st. Adams is
presiding will probably last some time.
Some delay is anticipated in selecting
jury. as the county has only a small
population and the case has been So
widely discussed that 1t may be diff
cult to find twelve men who have not
already formed an opinion as to the
guilt or innocence of the defendant.
The state is represented by Attor-
ney General John G. Sargent of Lud-
low and State Attorney Harry B.
Amey OF Island Pond. Attorneys Har.
Ian p. Howe and Harry Blodgett of st.
Johnsbury will defend Mrs. Dodge.
The element of profound mystery
which surrounds the case has arrous.
ed unusual interest in widest circles
and the town is filled with visitors
from other parts of the state who have
come here to attend the interesting
trial.
William Heath, the victim of the
murder. was a married man with
family OF several children and bore
an excellent reputation as an honest
reliable and inoffensive man and an
Industrious worker. On September
II, of last year he was at work paint
ing the woodwork in one of the rooms
of Mrs. lodges house, when the
neighbors heard three shots in rapid
succession. They rushed to Mrs
Dodge's house. and at the door, mel
! Mrs. Dodge, wringing her hands and
informing them that Heath had com
mitted suicide. An investigation show
ed that only one of the shots heard
had taken effect. Heath had beer
shot In the back and instantly killed
The location of the wound and the
fact that the shot had been fired from
some distance, precluded the possibili
ty of suicide. A revolver with three
empty cartridges was found in the
room and Mrs. Dodge admitted tina
the weapon was her property having
formerly been in the possession of he1
| late husband. Mrs. Dodge was ar
rested on a charge of murder, but al
the authorities were unable to assign
any motive for the alleged crime, thu
prisoner was allowed to give bail.