Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-07-01
Bird Man Flies Over Westerly
Harry N. Atwood Turns All Eyes Skyward Friday
Morning Poisoned Whiskey Case Tried-Certifed
to Supreme Court for Decision-Lawn Fete of ST.
Michael's Parish Draws Big Crowd Vaudeville
De M. Hall Again in the Spotlight.


After lowering about in the Thir,,
district court for nearly a year. the
case of Cornelius Bransneld against
Willis f. Amy charged with selling
liquor illegally that contained poison,
naRlely wood alcohol, was tried be-
fore Judge Oliver II. Williams, Fri
day. the complaint charges that AL
my sold the poisonous liquor to Vim
cent Stillman that resulted in blind
ness and that the transaction took
place July 20. 1910. Town Solicitor
Harry z. Agard represented the state
and Judge John w. Sweeney the de-
PENDANT.
The first witness was Vincent c.
Stillman, who testified that he had
known Willis Z. Amy for more than
I'VE years, and that on the goth of
July last he purchased a pint of LIQUOR
IN the store there kept by Amy in
the Martin house block. He said the
place was a drug store by reputation
but that he knew poor whiskey was
sold tkere. The witness said he asked
Tor a quart of whiskey and supposed
he was to get whiskey. Mr.. Amy or
mis- brother Howard, informed him that
they could let him have but a pint.
He took the stuff and went home with
il. carrying the bottle in an inside
pocket The bottle that contained the
liquor was produced by the witness.
and he testified that it had been kept
IN his bedroom since the purchase. He
could not recall the price paid for the
Liquor. but believed it was at the rate
of 81 quart He said the liquor look
ed IKE whiskey and he supposed it
was whiskey. He testified that he
purchased the liquor from Willis +.
Amy between seven and eight o'clock
In the evening. When he arrived home
ne said he mixed up a good whiskey
punch AND drank 1t and before going
20 bed took another. He drank about
four ounces Of the liquor that night,
and about two ounces clear the next
morning. 1t was the only liquor he
had in the house and he drank from
no other bottle.
Soon after drinking the liquor in
the morning, Mr.. Stillnnan testified he
felt drowsy, that his eyes grew dim
and all seemed darkness to him, and
DR. Edwin Lewis was called. Previous
10 that time, Mr.. S1llnan had excel
lent eyesight. but since then he has
become blind, so that even now he
cannot discern the outlines of a per-
son two feet distant He said that
ne had made a trip to Boston and one
10 Providence for expert examination.
He said he filled a four-ounce bottle
with hasor from the original quart
BEETLE and threw the balance away
giving the bottle of liquor to Or. Lew
iR
In response to queries from Judge
Sweeney, the witness testified that he
called at AIsny's on the 18th of July,
but ceu3e not tell the day of the week
He had not worked that day and had
no regular employment He said he
had not drunk the day before nor on
that Gay prior to getting the liquor
ut Almys. The Almy brothers were
the only ones in the store when the
purchase was made. He talked with
both but could not tell which one of
Them sa4d they could only let him
have pint of whiskey He was told
first that he could have only half
pint, and he remarked that such a
quantity was not worth going after.
He was then given a. pint He could
not tell which of the Almys handed
him the liquor or which one he paid.
Willis handed the empty bottle TO
Howard and the liquor was taken from
a dark -eOlored bottle with a long neck
Mr.. Stilluban said he remained in the
store just lOag enough to get the liz
nor. long enough for them to mix up
the stuff. il they did mix it up" He
said he did not treat anyone with the
liquor he got at Almy's. and that he
had no other whiskey in the house