Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-04-21
SKULL FRACTURED
John Potter Fatally Injured Fri.
day in Wilmington

Frank J. Boyd, His Employer, Held In
Newfane Jail for Hearing Next Fri
day
Arrested on suspicion of having caused
the death of John Potter, Frank j. Boyd
of Wilmington is confined in jail at New
fame awaiting n hearing on Friday after
noon of next week. Injuries which
caused Potter's death were sustained Fri
day afternoon in Boyd's sugar house,
which is situated about three and nan
miles from Wilmington, somewhat back
from the main road to Jacksonville.
Death apparently was the result of blows
on the head, dealt with great force, at
least one of which fractured the skull.
None but the principals were present so
far as Is known and death sealed Pot
ters lips Boyd made some statements
while Potter lay unconscious on a couch
in Boyds home and after the spark OF
life had left Potter's body, but by advice
of his counsel, Charles s. Chase of Brat
tleboro, he has kept quiet about the
affair since Saturday noon, and there Is
no eve witness from whom the facts can
be obtained.
Roth BOYD and Potter are about 80
years old and unmarried. For six weeks
or more Potter had been employed by
BOYD and had lived with Boyd and the
Iatters sister, Mrs. Clara Grimes, VINO
kept house together. About O'Clock
Friday afternoon the two men were IN
Boyd's sugar house, which Is three or
four rods from the house and on the OPP
posite side of the road Just what happen
ed there cannot be ascertained with a de-
gree of certainty which warrants stating
II as a fact but information which has
come to States Attorney Frank f.. Ear
Der of this town leads him to think that
some cider had been consumed ana that
a dispute arose over the question Oh
wages.
About 8 o'clock that night DR.. L. T.
Page of Wilmington was summoned to
see Potter and found him dead on a
couch In Boyd's house. In DR.. Page
opinion life had been extinct about nan
an hour. On his return to the village
DR.. Page notified First Selectman Ell H.
Porter and complaint was made to Town
Grand Juror Leon Jewell, who issued a
warrant for Boyd's arrest. Constable A.
T. Curtis went to the house and arrested
Boyd about 10 o'clock at night, but out
side of Wilmington the fact was not
known until Saturday morning, when the
news was telephoned to Brattleboro and
Attorney Charles S. Chase was engaged
to appear in Boyd's behalf
states Attorney Barber was in Rutland
Saturday and as soon as his brother, At
tornev H. G. Barber, learned what mad
happened he telephoned to Rutland ana
from there the states attorney communl-
Gated by telephone with DR.. b. II. stone
of burlington. superintendent of the
state laboratory of hygiene. Dr. stone
and an assistant came by train to Bellows
Falls, and as they missed connection with
the Boston e. Maine train there an auto
mobile was sent from Brattleboro for
them Mr. Barber started with them by
team for Wilmington about o'clock that
night. On their arrival in Wilmington
BOYD was arraigned before Justice j.
Henry Kidder in o. f. Butterfed's office
but as the state had had no time in which
to secure evidence Boyd was held without
bail for a hearing in Mr. Butterfield's
Office at 2 o'clock Friday, April 2S. Con-
stable Curtis took him to Newfane jail
Sunday.