The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-04-21
FRANK BOYD HELD
ON MURDER CHARGE
John Potter of Wilmington Dead.
Suspicious Circumstances.
ALTERoATIoN IN SUGAR HOUSE
Special Grand Jury to Meet at Newfane
Monday 10 Investigate Matter
Autopsy Held by States Attorney
Barber Discloses Fractured Skull.

The death OF John Potter aged about
- years at Wilmington Friday evening
following an alteration with his employ
q, Frank Boyd, a man OF uusavory repu-
tation, and the fact that an autopsy dis.
closed that Potter's death was caused by
a fractured skull has resulted in Il special
grand jury being called TO report at New
lanc Monday afternoon. Boyd is held
ON Il charge of murder aud l. in jal at
Newfane Both are unmarried.
Potter was at work Friday afternoon
N the sugar house Of Boyd which is To-
Gated about five rods from the Boyd home
ON the road TO Jacksonville from Viii
mingtOn aud about three and a half miles
from Wilmington village. The details OF
the alteration between Boyd and his
hired man are not known. 1t is under
stoodstood that Potter made demand
upon Boyd for money due him and that
row ensued The first word that came to
Wilmington OF the death of Potter was
brought by Dr l.. T. Page who had been
summoned to the Boyd home by Walter
Boyd, brother of Frank Boyd. When
word was sent to the physician late IN
the afternoon that Potter needed medical
assistance nothing was SAID concerning
the nature OF the mans illness and the
physician attended to other calls and did
not arrive at the Boyd home until about
: O'Clock that evening The man had
been dead since sunset, according to the
statement of Walter Boyd and Mrs. Clara
Grimes, sister and housekeeper OF Frank
Boyd
The selectmen and health officers were
Immediately notified by DIR. Page and
Constable \. l.. Curtis, accompanied by
Policeman Merton Barber, went to Boyd's
home and took him into custody. Word
was sent Immediately to States Attorney
Frank f. Barber, who was IN Rutland, OF
the suspicious circumstances under which
Potter died The states attorney notified
the state pathologist, DR. b. II. Stone OF
Burlington who came to Brattleboro Sat
urlay with an assistant and accompanied
the states attorney to Wilmington where
am autopsy was held Sunday morning
The autopsy plainly indicated that Pot
ter's death was caused by blow upon the
head from heavy club or some sort OF
bludgeon
Boyd was given a preliminary hearing
before Justice j III kidder, Monday
and entered plea of not guilty. He was
given into the custody of the officer and
taken to Newfane jail for safe keeping.
Attorney Charles 5. Chase OF Brattleboro
has been retained by Boyd.
Announcement was made yesterday that
d special grand jury had been summoned
to appear at Newfane Monday to investi-
cate the death OF Potter Former As
sstant Judge f. b. Pier OF Brattleboro
has been chosen foreman OF the jury:
The respondent is well-known charac-
Ter in Wilmington and there have been
many stories told of his affairs during the
past 10 or II years He figured in rath-
er sensational lawsuit a number of years
ago in which it was alleged that he at
tempted to obtain about $1,000 from his
sisters husband, Mr.. Grimes, by selling
him the Boyd farm and then attempting
to drive the purchaser away with threats
OF bodily harm Grimes managed to OBJ,
tain about 5000 of the money he paid
Boyd at that time.