The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-10
A Few Witnesses We're Put
on Stand Before Adjourn
ment To-day
POISON WAS FOUND
IN CELLAR DIRT
Detective Arrested as a
"Tough Character Tells
Story for State

st. Adams, May l0.-It is probable
that the defense in the case OF State vs.
Julius Wells, charged with the murder
of his son, Louis, aged 8, by administer
ling poison in the form of arsenic, will
complete presenting its side by Wednes-
day of next week. one witness having
! been put on the stand late yesterday
AFTERNOON and others this morning. 1t
that event the case would go to the jury
either late next Friday or early Satur-
day.
| The first witness heard this morning
was Sheriff G. c. Holmes, who testified
to obtaining potatoes and carrots at the
Wells home in Swanton and sending
them to the state laboratory.
DIR. b. II. Stone, director of the state
laboratory, went on the stand and tes-
titled in regard to the wrapping OF speci-
mems sent to the laboratory and the pos
lsibiIity Of contamination en- route. At
tornev Austin for the respondent asked
DIR. Stone ii the stomach wrapped in
cotton was carried about the labora-
tory, and Dir. Stone said it was forbid
den. On cross examination, the witness
said the length of time elapsed would
not vary the amount OF poison in the
stomach
DR.. Y. r. Lape of Swanton said he
talked with Julius Wells about ptomaine
poisoning and Wells asked that the con-
densed milk be analyzed. Fred l.. Web
ster OF Swanton testified that Wells
went to him to see about getting dam
ages from the Van Camp Packing com
panv BY whom the condensed milk had
been put up. The state objected to con-
versational testimony, and Attorney
Austin said it was in rebuttal OF wit
nesses on the stand late yesterday. At
torney Austin asked II Wells acted like
man having the murder Of his two
children on his conscience. The question
was ruled out on the ground that it
called for expression of an opinion,
The court took recess at l0:l0.
o'clock until Monday afternoon at 2
O'Clock.
Poison on Vegetables.
The defense's trial first witness was
DIR. G. +. Whitney, chemist al the state
He was on the stand late
DIR. Whitney told of analyz-
ing the dirt from the vegetables taken
from the Wells cellar. Eight one
of a grain of arsenic was
found in the examination OF approxi-
mately two thirds OF the dirt Dr. W.T.
nev testified that he used one-third of
the dirt in a preliminary examination.
A IL IAxx TAT In
to have TO get dirt enough from which
to procure the same amount of arsenic
found in the children's stomachs he said
it would take bushel if they were like
the ones he had.
DR.. c. F. Whitney told of the process
Of test ng the stomachs of the children.
When on examination he was
asked il il was considered a good test,
the witness said it was the one univer-
sally used for detecting arsenic poison
ing. DIR. p. Fl. Stone gave testimony
similar to that given by DIR. Whit |
ney.
Mrs Wells was recalled and asked |
why she did rot come out of the bath |
.ub at the Jail when requested to do |
20 by Sheriff Holmes and Mr.. Morgan |
md afterwards consented to come out |
when asked by States Attorney Laid. |
She replied that She knew Mr.. Ladd and /
lid not know the others.
Roy Manning was recalled by the state |
md was the last witness yesterday aft I
,rnoon. He said NJ Wells never told /
lim who he thought poisoned the chill I
Iren. but said someone SAID the poison
night have been on mattress, as he /
lad read about such a case in Boston.
Got Into Wells Confidence.
One of the most interesting witnesses
# the trial thus far was Alfred Rose. a
detective. who was on the stand late
afternoon. He was locked up
n the county jail with the respondent
or q davs and gained the confidence of
he man so that he was told all manner
Il confidential things. according to his
estimony.
Rose is the tough character who was
Irrested by Chief of Police Mahoney
ONE time and who drew a knife when
is arrest was made. In the eNamina-
ion Yesterday Attorney Warren II. Aus
in asked Rose why he did it. and the I
witness said. "You have to do it, :
Rose said he could talk and read in
ekeidl idHHuhktrs hAu served iN Aht
'uban campaign with Theodore Roose-
elt: had been in the Philippines as a
cout and had Travelled in many lands. <
le was police Inspector at Springfield, {
lass. and had had varied experiences. I
At all times the witness was willing {
o exchange words with Attorney Austin q
nd had the faculty Of giving back as q
luch as he sent. The spectators were !
bsorbed by the mans story and his |
roken English and things said brought
requent rapping of the sherifi7s to sup Il
ress the audible amusement. y
The witness told how one day he IL
sized Julius Wells and said he had 4
illed six men and Julius would make d
he seventh. Julius said he had two to
Is credit, hut then he said he was only
,llving and coldn't kill = chicken Wit
ess said he related to the respondent Of
strange animal in Mexico and how it n
as killed BY taking a green poison,
aking il in the -four and putting il
ear the hole occupied by the animal {
he next day the animal would he dead. \
ulius said it was paris green that was b
sed :
The witness said when Julius first be- a
an 70 talk % him. the respondent said :
2 thought his wife had killed the chill \
rem, but the time came when be changed e