The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-16
ROW At FUNERAL
OF JAMES BAIRD
At FAySTON
Relatives Of Murdered Man
Interfered.
TRIED TO STOP HIS WIFE
Didn't Want Her in the House and
Wouldn't Let Her See the
Body

South Fayston, Sept 15.-The relar
tives of James C.. Baird started out
this morning to refuse to let his wife
into the house or see her husbands
body. They came here Wednesday
when the body was found in the bush
es near the road and have been stop
ping in the house. Mrs. Baird got
permission from the states attorney
to leave the Jail at Montpelier where
she is being detained until after the
investigation by the grand jury next
week, and made the 20 mile trip in
the rain through muddy roads in an
automobile up into the very backbone
on the Green Mountains. With her
was Mrs Fannie Lawson, the sheriff's
daughter, and Mrs. Baird took along
her attorney, Burton E. Bailey, as she
suspected there would be trouble.
Constable George Grandfeld who
dropped in to see that the funeral
was run according to his ideas OF the
law, took sides with Mrs. Baird and
ended the argument by saying IF
there was going to be mixup they
could figure him in"
The funeral was scheduled TO take
place at 10 o'clock, but it was IL be-
| fore the battle of words, in which Mrs
Baird showed that she was past
master, was over and the services
commenced.
Cooler heads finally prevailed
among the relatives who did not want
to see fuss and the casket lid was
raised Mrs. Baird stepped into the
room and looked at her husband, af-
ter her lawyer and the constable had
peeked in to see that 1t was present
able.
The funeral service was in charge
of a local minister and the body was
taken to Waitsfield for burial Mrs
Baird wept bitterly and her grief
loked natural. She stopped at the
house with her attorney while the
others went to the grave and gained
possession of certain papers and
deeds. Mrs. Baird will ask the Pro
bate court TO have an administrator
appointed.
The relatives returned to the house
after the burial and intended to stay.
but her lawyer told them they could
not as Mrs. Baird was still in pos
session of the premises, although one
who had $500 mortgage on the farm
thought he must stay TO protect his
property. When the house was final
ly barred they came away and return
ed to Montpelier.
The autopsy on Baird disclosed that
he received a vicious blow over one
eye and a number of bad Commissions
on the head. His lungs were infam
ed as if pneumonia had started and
his heart showed valyular trouble. II
is the opinion that after Baird was
dubbed he ran down the road 20 rods
and fell into the bushes where he
thrashed around until he died, pos
sibly living some time and dying
from the wounds and exposure.
George Watson, the lumber aci
now in Jail admits having had two
fights with Baird and that Baird raj
> away, but denies that he killed him
Q Edward Conway, his companion
e claims he separated them but givel
1 no evidence that indicates his part
' ner as being directly the cause o
Z Baird's death.
A Mrs. Baird still adhers 10 her stor.
v that after her husband choked ant
Q beat her at IL o'clock Tuesday morn
$ ing. when he accused her OF takinl
$50 he received In a horse trade, sh
n fled from the house and remained II
J. the woods and barn over night s
s that she was not in the house whe
Watson and Conway arrived, no
when her husband had the fight wit
Watson.
A most thorough search OF III
II house and OF Baird's clothing ha
failed to reveal any trace of th
money.
T Before leaving the barn In III
y morning Mrs. Baird says she hear
= some one rowing with her hu
y band about liquor,
" Grand Juror Phlo Hill today turl
x ed over to the states attorney
~ blood.stained chemise and some clot'
r ing on which were blood spots. whiC
le were found hidden in the hay mo'
le The grand jury will not begin it's 4
- vestigation OF the case until the la
= of the week, Baird had a $500 acc
dent insurance policy.
Mrs. Baird is being held becaui
the state wishes to be positive abol
=, her whereabouts when the grand Jul
NJ gets TO work.
II Is believed that Mrs. Baird h
- | not vof tnld tho vhnio ufDrx