The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-11-20
C0NFESSES THAT
HE MURDERED
FRANK IOLBY
George Briggs Clears Mystery
Of Young Mans Death
BOTTLE WAS The WEAPON
Tells States Attorney How HE
Killed Companion During
Quarrel.

Woodstock. Nov. l9.-The mystery
surrounding The death of Frank
James Toby of Lima, O., whose body
was found in "a coruGeld on the farm
Of Charles X. Thompson on the af-
iernoon of September -, last, was
solved late This afternoon when Geo.
BRIGGS. held in the Windsor county
jal ON the charge Of perjury during
tho inquest in september confessed
To states Attorney Raymond Train
or of White River Junction that he
killed Toby on the night OF August
2l by striking him over the head
with bottle.
$50 quietly had The Investigation of
the death oC Toby been conducted
M tonight probably less than half
dozen people are aware that
81 egs bias confessed to killing his
companion and friend Of a few
weeks
Tho confession which is IN writing
states that beth Briggs and Toby
had been drinking on the night OF
August Is and that during a quarrel
Briegs struck MS companion with
lilo bottle which contained the
liquor
The confession cleared one point
which troubled the county au'horit-
les. The states attorney and his as.
sistants had been working for weeks
30 locate lhe place whore Toby was
probably killed rs the indications
about the spot where the body was
found were such as 10 lead the au
liberties to believe that the man had
tecu bged al some, other place and
l body carried to the Thompson
cognneid
This surmisc on the palq oLs.sle fav-
h0rldes proved correct for Briggs
IN las confession. says that he and
Toby went TO ride in Briggs team
on the night of the murder and that
he alleged quarrel took place ON the
Tausyne road south of White River
Junction, near the Ouaquechee river
nearly opposite the residence Of John
White
Briggs confesses that he did not
XIII Tolby instantly but does not 60
into details as TO the number Of
times ne struck his victim lie con
fasses to driving into the Thompson
coudold the same evening and de
posting tbc body.
The reason ascribed for Briggs
making confession at this time is
chat the man was aware Of the tight
oniug web of evidence which States
Attorney Trainer was weaving about
him. u is believed that Briggs was
aware OF the fact that the states at
tcmey had learned many things con
cerning the formers life which
would le br0ugh, up when Briggs
uas placed on trial for perjury
Briggs. who is 80 years OLD, is "a
native off Woodstock and practically
aU OF hia life has been spent in this
town with The exception of a short
time be was in the West and in
Manitoba. Canada. Hc was also alb
mi from Vermont for a time in
New York state and While there serv
cd q sentence in Dnnemora prison
for forgery. Briggs married his
wife m Manitoba and she lives in
+ This town with one child.
lt ia learned tonight that Briggs
10 is alleged. toldi an untruth while
f tesdfyIne az the inquest over Toby s
death in September. II was upon
! this charge that hc was held in
f $4,000 bonds for appearance at the
4 Windsor County court which con
f ycnos here Tuesday. December ..
+ States Attorney Trainor said TO
nieh. that "a special grand jury viii
/ Dec called TO listen TO the evidence
I obtained against Briggs and the
I maus confession win Doe laid befor,
T The iurl.
Though the states attorney /.