Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-05-03
Claimed Heath
Shot Himself
MRS. DODGE DIDN'T KNOW RE-
voLvER WAS LOADED.
TESTIMONY OF A NEIGHB0R
Feared She Would Be Blamed for
Mans Death Because Her Pistol
Was Used-Murder Trial Opens

Guildhall, VT, May 2-That Mrs.
Florence NJ. Dodge of Lunenburg, who
is on trial here charged with the mur-
der of William Heath. declared repeat
adly on the day of the murder that
Heath shot himself and that she
didn't know it was loaded was the
testimony given in the county court
today by the Rev. II. C. Howard and
his wife, who were the first to arrive
on the scene after the shooting.
Were Talking About Burglars.
Mrs. Dodge made the statement, ae-
cOrding to the ministers testimony,
that she and Heath who was employed
in painting room in her house, had
been talking about burglars and that
Heath had remarked that since his
wife had had diamond ring he had
kept revolver in the house. In reply
Mrs. Dodge told Heath, it was testified,
that she also had a revolver and Kept
it in drawer, which she pointed out.
Mrs. Dodge Cried for Help.
Mr.. Howard, who is pastor of the
Congregational church, and who resid-
ed next door. to Mrs. Dodge, testified
that he was lying down when he heard
sounds which might have been shots
and that shortly afterward he heard
Mrs. Dodge calling for help and ask
ing someone to go for a doctor. He
went and on his return entered the
room in the Dodge house where Heath
Lay on his back on the floor.
Found Heath Lying on His Face.
In a talk with Mrs. Dodge she told
him, the minister said. that she had
heard shots and that she ran into the
room where Heath had been working
and found him lying on his face. She
turned-him over. gave him some bran
dy and then tried to telephone, but
could not get response to her eall.
HTheyIt Blame Me for Ity
They'll blame me for it, for it was
my revolver" Mrs. Dodge said, accord
ing to the minister's testimony. Mrs.
Howard testified to a conversation with
Mrs. Dodge, who. she said, was excited
and very nervous.
Mrs. Dodge's -ExcIamations.
Some of the exclamations attributed
to Mrs. Dodge by Mrs. Howard were:
Heath has shot himself" 1--WE tried
TO telephone, but couldn't get central
Something terrible has happened
30, If there had only been someone
there II gave him some brandy
They will blame me. because it was
my pistol" Il didn't know 1t was
loaded.v ssGet someone to help me-
These remarks, Mrs. Howard said,
were made While her husband was
calling physician.
Wished Somebody Had Been Present.
In response to questions, Mrs. How
ard said that Mrs. Dodge had repeated
many times that she wished someone
had been there and that she didn't
know it was loaded She was still on
the stand when court adjourned for
the day
Witnesses Heard Shots.
Other witnesses called during the
afternoon were Abraham E. Quacken-
bps and his wife of Wellesley, Mass.
They We're visiting in Lunenburg and
were sitting, they testified, on the
steps of the Congregational church
when they heard the shots. They
placed the time about 11.40 d. m.
Exhibits introduced.
Among the exhibits introduced by
the government today were plaster
casts showing the marks of bullets in
the floor of the room where Heath was
found.