The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-07-14
Wren's Attorneys Say Verdict
Was Result of Passion
and Prejudice
FIFTEEN EXCEPTIONS
TO SUPREME COURT
Case VIII Go to Higher Tribunal if
Verdict Is Not Set Aside-In Any
Event Trial Cannot Be Held for
Several Months.
Especial to The Reformer.


KEENE. n. H., July 14.-CounseI
for John II. Wren, who was found
guilty July 1 of the murder of j.
Stewart Hamilton at HinsdaIe, n. H.,
on the night of Feb. 5, the Jury re
turning verdict of guilty of murder
IN the first degree, have filed motions
to set aside the verdict, and ask for
new trial of the ease The respond
ent s bin of 10 exceptions also has
been fsled. WrGn s counsel are DO
seph Madden, Roy NJ Pickard and
John E, Benton
The motion for setting aside the YER
diet, states the following grounds:
That the verdict is not in accordance
with the law and evidence produced.
and that the verdict is contrary to
the law and evidence, and is against
the weight of the evidence
The following reason is given i'm
the motion for new trial: That the
verdict was not supported by the evil
dence introduced, but was the result
OF passion, prejudice and mistake
The motions will be considered by
Judges Chamberlain and Pike. who
presided at the trial. If the verdict
should be set aside new trial would
not be held for several months.
The respondent s bill of exceptions.
which were filed with Clerk of
Court L. w. Holmes at the time of
the motions, is for the purpose of tax
ing the case to the supreme court in
case the motions are denied by the su-
perior court judges. In ease the ex-
ceptions are sustained by the supreme
court new trial may be ordered.
Wren is still in the local jail await
ing the action of the judges. He has
been sentenced to life Imprisonment at
state 5 prison in Concord
The following is in substance the Is
exceptions, as contained in the bill
filed with the notion:
(l) That the jury was not allowed
to walk from the alleged scene of the
crime over the highway it was con
tended the respondent travelled on the
night OF the murder, to enable the
jury to examine grades and slopes as
bearing on the time it would consume
IN travelling the distance.
CD That the jury was not allowed
to visit the home of the respondent
Wren, in Brattleboro, Vt.
90 That a witness was allowed to
testify that the men thought Hamil
ton, the murdered man, was one of the
finest walking bosses on~the section.
"a That County Solicitor o. f.
Cain was allowed to demonstrate with
a poeketbook in court
90 That witness was allowed to
testify to the contents of a paper with
out showing its loss or the impossi
bility of producing it.
(6) That a witness was allowed to
testify that his tests for blood on
Wren's coat were ''quite plain
(0 That witness was allowed to
testify what he did in consequence of
something the deceased had told him.
(o) That the defendant was not
allowed to cross-examine Miss Carrie
Adams as to fight she witnessed be-
tween the decedent and several work
men.
20 That a witness was not allow
ed to testify to what he observed and
what was said by W. C. Adams.
(10) That evidence that W. C. Ad-
ANS had attempted suicide on the day
he was to appear as witness was ex-
Guided.
CID That witness was allowed to
testify in rebuttal as to remarks made
by the respondent regarding the
amount he paid his attorney in Hall
fax.
(12) That witness was allowed to
testify in rebuttal that the respond
ent s clothing was damp with blood
(13) That a witness was allowed
to testify In rebuttal that the re-
spondent S wife was without money
Ga That a Question of Attorney
General Tuttle, regarding the re-
spondent S marrying the girl he had
in trouble was not excluded
(15) In relation to remarks in the
closing argument of Attorney General
Tuttie IN which he stated the respond
ent had no money in the house, and
asked the jury to infer whether the
sleeve Innings in Wren S overcoat
were made with the coat or at some
other time.