Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-05
Much Time Given TO Fixing
Time OF Heath'S Death.
'TII Have 10 Go Up for This
Oh, That Poor Mans wife"
'how Could He Have Done II ?"
Credited TO Mrs. Dodge.

Gnildhall, VT. May 4.-That William
Heath. the Dalton, y H. painter, on
account Of whose death Mrs. Florence
NJ. Dodge is being tried for her life,
was shot and killed a about 11.49
O'Clock on the forenoon of Sept. II
last, while he was at work painting a
bedroom in Mrs. Dodge's residence in
Lunenburg. was the determination
reached from the testimony offered at
todays session of the trial. The exact
time that Heath met his death appears
to be a question of some Importance
in the view of counsel and the greater
part of the afternoon session was de-
voted to the fixing of this matter.
James Wainwright of South Lunen-
burg testified that when he heard the
shooting he was digging potatoes ten
acres" in the rear OF Mrs. Dodge,s resi-
denee Ten acres it was explained,
was Canadian term equivalent to be-
tween IS and 100. rods. At the same
time that he heard three shots in quick
succession. he heard the whistle of the
noon train passing the Dalton, y. H..
! station. NJ. j. Mann, Boston & Maine
Railroad conductor. when called, ex-
planned that the train whistle that
Wainwright heard was the train that
speeded by the Dalton station at 11.4a
A. II. To support his statement he ex-
hibited the train dispatcher's sheet.
The eyes of every person in the court
room were focused on the widow of
the dead man this afternoon, when the
clerk asked Mrs. William Heath to
take the stand For moment while
telling of being informed of her hus-
bands sudden death, and of her going
from her home in Dalton to Lunen-
burg, Mrs. Heath's voice shook, but
she bravely controlled her feeling and
after wiping her eyes continued her
testimony. Mrs. Heath's testimony and
cross-examination was of short dura-
ton and had TO do mostly with her
conversation with Mrs. Dodge on the
afternoon of the shooting.
There was some excitement in the
court room when Irving Silsby testi-
fed that Mrs. Dodge exclaimed in his
presence on the day of Heath's death:
FIJI have to go up for this, / know
I'll have to go up for thisl oh, that
poor mans wife, How could he have
done its
On being questioned Silsby replied
that Mrs. Dodge said nothing about
going TO prison.
When the session adjourned tonight,
1t was with the announcement that the
state will conclude its presentation of
evidence tomorrow. 1t is thought that
week will be necessary to hear the
testimony of the witnesses for the de-
fence.
Guildhall, VT, May 4.-Fur coats and
heavy wooden listers were in evidence
IN, . ha
today when the trial of Mrs. Flor
ence M. Dodge. who IS charged with
the murder of William Heath of Dali
ton, N. H.. at Mrs. Dodge's home in
Lunenburg, was resumed. The day
was intensely cold and tine warmth
of the courtroom vas in cheerful con.
trast to the chilly air outside Mrs.
Dodge appeared in her customary
good spirits and remained unperturbe1
throughout the proceedings, ever when
her daughter and companion, Mrs
Ida Boil. was called to the stand as
a witness for the prosecution.
Mrs. Bell who WAS the first per-
son called to testify today, was on
the stand for n few moments only.
She said that sha went To her moth
er's home a short time after Heaths
death and Mrs. Dodge told her that
Heath had shot himself. Mrs Bell
could not remember any other facts
in connection with the case
Mrs. Charles Rogers, who formerly
lived ct Mrs. Dodge's home, said that
she had talked with Mrs. Dodge about
the latter's possession of revolver
more than two years ago. The re
\ Nolver was mentioned in the conversa-
$tion, she said, at q time when she
Masked Mrs. Dodge if she was not
y afraid to live alone IN so large a house
Mrs. Dodge replied, according to Mrs
Rogers testimony, that she was not
afraid because sha had revolver,
although she expressed the belief that
she might be afraid TO fire it. Mrs
Dodge added, the witness said. that