Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-18
Mrs. Dodge Fonud Guilty Of
Having Caused Death of
w. A. Heath.
RECEIVED VERDICT STOICALLY
Jury Unanimous from the Start
with No Chance for Her Ac-
quittal, 1t is Said-Appeal
May Be Taken.

Cuildhall, May 14.-Mrs. Florence NJ.
Dodge was yesterday morning found
guilty Of manslaughter in having
caused tho death of William A. Heath
OF Lunenburg on September II last
The penalty may he life imprisonment
or any term of years down to one year,
or II may be n fine of any amount M
to $1,000, in the discretion of the
court.
Mrs. Dodge. prepared for an adverse
verdict by the promptness with which
the jury reached an agreement. came
into court at S:45 o'clock as calm and
unconditional as she had been through
ont the trial.
When she was told to stand and
look upon the jury she got to her feet
ana without signs Of a trcmor stood
there as tho foreman announced the
finding of the jury She never halted
an eye changed color nor glanced
about MS she heard tho words guilty
OF mansloushter." She did not look
at the jury as directed by Clerk Huh
bard but stared straight ahead of her,
her thin lips closed tightly together.
! After the verdict the convicted wom-
an stepped back to her seat and sat In
her accustomed attitude Of studied In
difference. She remained there until
her counsel and Deputy sheriff Nc
grcgor came to escort her to the Jail,
After the verdict states Attorney II.
! p. Amey moved for sentence, but Har-
ry Blodgett. chief counsel for the con-
victed woman, asked that it be de-
! ferrcd n few days. as he and his asso-
ciates desire time r. review the OK
captions they had saved during the
trial and to decide what further steps
they could take. He suggested that
sentence be deferred until the first of
the week. Judge Hall said sentence
would lie deferred untn tomorrow
afternoon.
The stoicism shown ny Mrs. Dodge
was reelected by her daughter. Mrs.
Julian Bell, and Mrs. Dodge's sister,
Mrs. Bennett. who were in court with
her when the verdict was made known.
Not one of them cried or outwardly
showed any emotion whatever.
GENERAL SATISFACTION SHOWN.
Mrs William \. Heath. widow of Mrs.
| Dodge's victim, sat directly in line
and across the narrow aisle from Mrs
| Dodge. Mrs. Heath. who Is small and
somewhat anaemic looking. seemed UNI
usually white. Her pa!lor was acCcu-
tuatcd by the deep mourning in which
she was dressed. Mrs Heath has wept
at intervals during the trial but, like Mrs
Dodge and her kindred She exhibited nc
emotion when the verdict was given.
AS everything has been done since the
trial opened. the proceedings of the morn
Ing moved with expedition and dignity
In five minutes from tho time Judge Hal
took his seat on the bench the verdict had
been received, the jury had been thanked
for its services. the jury DISCHARGED ant
the prisoner removed from the court
The verdict gave general satisfaction
to the spectators in the court room ant
to the people about the village. Attorney
General Sargent left early yesterday
morning for Newfane, and States Attor
ney Amey represented the COVE rnmcn
when the verdict was returned. He Is sat
isfied with the decision OF the jury.
Harry BlodSctt, chief counsel for Mrs
Dodge, told a newspaporman that he fcl
Judge Hail had given his client an all
.olutely fair trial TIE defense took vcr,
few exceptions to any Of the courts rul
ings, and an appeal is unlikely. Mr.
| BlOdRett SAID tEat ne only exception
saved by him that he thought was Of an,
| value was to tho ruling requiring Mrs
Dodge to write from dictation before tn
jury for the purpose of obtaining
standard of her handwriting TO compar
with the m. j. S" letter.
Mr.. Blodgett said that he was of tn
opinion that there has been a decision
In some State that no respondent coul
be required to do any physical act f
court while on trial. Counsel for Mrs
Dodge see in this phase OF the cas-
. their only hope Of carrying II TO tn
, supreme court. and they are ly II
means certain that thoy can do that
, TAL1l ING TO JURORS CONTEMPT.
o In dischGrgins the jury Judge Ha
4 said: "Gentlemcn, you have given consid
Grafton and patient care 10 this case an
$ no doubt you have arrived at what 20
= believe IS lust verdict. The court thank
/ you for your services
I In dismissing the Jurors from further at
= tendance at this term, the judge said
= "As I stated to you a the beginning c
this trial, YOU are to maintain secrec
!. as to your proceedings. If anyone a