The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-06-09
MUNDELL'S SLAYER
FOUND NOT GUILTY
Caspar M. Smith Acquitted on
Murder Charge.
JURY OUT ABOUT THREE HOURS
Verdict Surprises Prosecution and At
torneys for Accused Man Respond
ent Showed No Emotion When Jury
Foreman Announced the Decision.

That he had a right to defend himself in
his own home was established by Caspar
VI. smith OF West Wardsboro in Wind
ham county court at Newiane Saturday
afternoon when the Jury returned YER
diet of mot guilty" to the charge OF muir
deting Clark C. Mundell The prosecution
did not expect a verdict OF murder in the
first degree but it did look for second de-
gree or manslaughter. Those who had fol.
lowed the case, while firm IN the belief
that Smith had acted in self defense, were
not looking for acquittal. In fact the re-
spondent had been told by his attorneys
to be prepared for verdict which might
send him to a long term IN Windsor
smith stood up shortly after 1890 p. m,
and listened to the polling OF the jury 10y
County Clerk +. ID. f. Stove. He showed
no emotion when the foreman OF the jury
announced that a verdict OF mot guilty
had been reached
The argument. upon both sides We're
made Friday and Judge f. L. Waterman
charged the Jury at the opening Of court
Saturday morning The jury retired about
q 80 and returned its verdict about l2.3O
The prisoner was at once released from
custody. He accompanied his counsel. a.
V. ID. Piper of Jamaica, Robert {. Bacon
and Myron =. Davis Of Brattleboro. to
this town SATURDAY afternoon and went
to Marlboro, \ H.. to visit his sister; As
Smith walked through the streets OF Brat
tleboro but few persons knew who he was
He stopped at a store and bought some
peanuts and apparently his mind was as
far removed from the fate he had just es-
capped as though the danger oi imprlson'
ment or death had never confronted HIM.
The story of the case has been told IN
The Reformer in detail from the arrest
OF Smith on the morning OF April - TO
the close Of the testimony last week Thurs
day. As soon as the necessary entries
could be made on the criminal docket
court took a recess until July 3.
Frank ]. Boyd OF Wilmington, convicted
OF killing John Potter OF that town, VIII
not be sentenced until court reconvenes,
The convicted man has made petition 10
the court to have his sentence deferred
until after July : in order to give his at
torneys, Chase x Daley, an opportunity
to 20 over the exceptions taken by the re-
spondent during the trial to determine
whether the case shall be taken to the
supreme court
Martin Key. arrested at Bellows Falls
May IS charged with assaulting John Bowe
| of that town with intent to xiii, was
given hearing at Newfane Friday after.
noon before Judge +. L. Waterman and
pleaded not guilty Unable TO furnish 81,
600 bail he was committed to Jail His
case will probably be disposed OF when
court reconvenes.
+ Mrs. Ardella Smith, wife of Caspar NJ.
Smith. is held in Newfane jail on infor-
nation filed by the states attorney eharg-
ing her with statutory offense. The IN
formation was filed after the state,s at
torney learned of her relations with Clark
Ia. Mundell whom her husband shot on
the morning of April ~ when confronted
with evidences of his wife's infdelity. Mrs.
Smith was unable to secure bail and it is
expected that her case will go over until
September term of court Smith has fur.
nished 500 bonds for his appearance at
the September term of court when the
case against Mrs. Smith will be called