Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-25
Of The Famous Dodge Muir
der Trial in Vermont
Is Admitted by Medium Stlum-
bert 10 Be Her Work.
She Is, Incidentally, a Claimant to
The Tucker Reward.

Boston, Sept 24.-UnraVeling the tan
| gle which is involved in the awarding
| of the $2500 reward for the capture o.
| Charles L. Tucker. who was convicted
and electrocuted five years ago for
] the murder of Miss Mabel Page al
/ Weston, the seiectmen of the town of
| Weston have disclosed in one of its
claimants the author of the anonymous
note which figured prominently III The
Dodge murder case in Vermont last
| winter.
Fulfilling the role of a mysterious
woman in the case" which ran through
| the trial of young Tucker Mrs. Mary
| Jane Strumbert of Cambridge, me-
dunn. came before the Weston select
| reward as having seen the murder
committed through the spirit"
Having concluded her evidence in
the Tucker case, Mrs. Strumbert con-
tributed the information that she had
also been interested in other murder
cases and was herself the author of
the M j. s." note which was sent to
Attorney General Sargent, who con-
Quoted the trial of Mrs. Helen NJ.
Dodge for the murder of William A.
Heath in Vermont. The note pretended
| to explain that an unknown man had
Icommtted the murder. had hidden III
the cellar, and later gone out in the
back yard, the murder following "a
quarrel over money.
The note was signed m. J. s., and
during the progress of the. trial an ell
| fort was made to show that Mrs.
| Dodge had written the note to throw
suspicion from herself. Mrs. Dodge
was convicted and sentenced to serve
| from four to six years in state prison
| and the note was believed to have
been large factor in moulding the
opinion of the jury
Mrs. Strumbert declares that when
| she learned the note was beinG USED
| to strengthen the case against MRS
| Dodge sne wrote Judge Hail. who con-
| Quoted the case, and told him not To
use. the letter against Mrs. Dodge ana
| later telephoned him that she was the
| author of the note, but refused 70 give
| her name In substantiation OF hel
| claim. Mrs. Strumbert sat down anu
wrote a vopy of the note from memory
| which compared very closely IN its
| essentials With the original.
The information as to the identity ol
the note and its writer was immedi-
atelv communicated to Howard Blod-
gett of St. Johnsbury, Mrs nodge's
| counsel. and he will come to Boston tt
investigate, trusting that the matter
will in some way enable the case to hs
re-opened.
Judge A. a. Hall. when seen II
Burlington. VT, tonight, admitted hav
ing received the note and telephone
communication from the Cambridge
woman who had refused to give he
name. He did not care TO express al
opinion on the case, however, i'll view
OF the fact that he might be callet
/ upon to review the case with the full
8 bench later
: A w Bosworth of Brighton, VT, VIII
was foreman of the jury which foun
, Mrs Dodge guilty. when asked concern
!. ing his opinion of the Importance of tn
s note i'm the case said tonight:
g 'This letter played an important par
) with the jury when they were considering
b the question of the guilt of the woman
{ but even if the letter had never been in
/ trodueed / don't think there would hav
! been any difference in the finding
| Weston Sept. 24.-The selectmen gave
! hearing in the town hall Saturday TO tn
, claimants for the Tucker reward, whic
i now amounts TO 5000. No decision wa
!, reached. as the selectmen wished to hea
Z the testimony of Gen. Whitney and sew
Q eral others who were not present.
!, The claimants who appeared We're Chic
of Police p. J. McAuliffe Of Weston
Chief Of Police Frederick NJ Mitchell an