Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-03-02
NANSLAUGH7ER FOR COOPER
Gets Thirteen to Fifteen Years
in Windsor.
Jury Brings in Verdict nftcr Peaceful
Nieht-Respondcnt Well Satisfied
with verdic.--Good Behavior
Will Lighten Penalty.

Friday morning Mt nine o'clock y YER
diet of manslaughter was returned by
the jury IN Chittcuden county court
against John r. Cooper, the coorcd sol
der who was charged with the murder
of James Williams, also colorcd on the
night of December %. in Winoosk
Cooper was sentenced by Judge Willard
W. Miles OF Barton TO serve not less than
IL nor more than Ia years Mt hard labor
IN the State prison at Windsor.
II dreamed that they were building a
.caffold for me" said Cooper Friday
morning before being taken into court
10 hear the verdict OF the jury. After ne
had received his sentence he said. with
sigh of relief 81 feel better" t,Vi-
IDENTIFY he appreciated that the case
looked rather bad for him when 1t went
to the jury.
cooper hae been a model prisoner while
~ the Chittenden county Jail and if he
continues the same course II is proha bic
tnat he will not have to serve even tho
minimum cf his sentence. It will he re-
mcmbercd that he stabbed James Will
iiamsin on alteration over a Coored
riri, Bertha nh. and that the former
did from the effects of the wound
some Ave days after its atfliction
rhe trial of Cooper has lasted nine days
The verdict being returned on the morn
ing Of the 10th dnv The cost to the state
of Vermont will probably run over $1,000.
Great interest has been aroused in the
case and on the last days Of the trial the
court room was ltorall, packed with
spectators The Jury evidently reached
verdict withou' much difficulty. for that
body ate supper comfortably Thursday
evening and slcp, IN peace at Sherwood
blouse.
The case went 10 :he jury Thurs
day about half past five after nine days
hattie between Attorney General J. G
Sargent and States Attorney H. B Shaw
against r. F. Brown and V A. Bulard
The arguments. which began Wednes-
day. continued almost all of Thursday and
81 WIS not until late in the afternoon,
that Judge w. w. Miles delivered his
charge TO the jury.
Mr.. Billiard finished his argument Thurs
day morning and was followed by mr.
Brown. Mr.. Rullard. as previously stat
ed. attacked the character of the States
witnesses and dwelt upon the honesty
and apparent good intentions of the re-
spondent toward Bertha Hill. the woman
over whom the stabbing of Williams Or
for self-defense
Mr.. Brown took up. bit by bit. tho evi
dence offered by the State and attempted
10 negative its weight. His argument fol
the theory of self-defense was construct.
ed and presented with great skill
The attorney general closed for the
State. He began about three o'clock ant
spoke until about half past five In com
ha o. Oft 10
premeditated murder. He attacked il
particular the respondents own story, n,
told upon the witness stand
Judge Miles's charge TO the Jury wa,
brief but clear and impartial He defined
murder In the first and second degree,
and manslaughter, and then took up tn,
questions 10 be considered ny the jury
IN reaching a verdict.
The first question for the Jury to conSid-
or was whether or not the Respondent did
kill Williams. The State must establish
this beyond a reasonable doubt. The
State must also overcome the preSump-
ton of the respondent innocence.
In determining premeditated murder tn,
Jury must take into consideration the in
strument used In committing the crime
and the motive that led UP to It. In thi,
case the jury must find whether or not
the respondent intended to do the act, il
lie did do It.
The character Of Williams must not be
taken into consideration except as to tho
truth of his dying declaration, for the law
protects the lives Of all. good and bad
AS for the character of the States wit
nesses he jury must take them at their
face value for the State did not undertake
10 guarantee its Witnesses
The jury must not consider the conse
Quences of their finding in the case but
must find according to the evidence In
considering the weight of the respondent $
testimony the jury must take into con
sideration his interest in the case, his
appearance on the witness stand md tn,
character OF his story.
II any " the evidence should prove &c
fe capable Of two constructions, one foI
end one against the respondent. the jury
must give him the benefit of the doubt
The reason for the respondents takini
with him the knife which he had on Tho
rsht in question must be considered. f
+. Strong was appointed foreman.