The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-11-01

tention to the fact that four doctors
who had attended Field testified that
it would have been possible for the man
to have sustained the injury he did
and keep about his business for hours
before gradually losing consciousness
In regard to the testimony of the ex
pert witnesses for the defence-partic
ularly that Of DR.. Hazelton, who said
that Field never could have been con
sclous after receiving the blow-Mr.
Piper said that if it were to be believed
the jury would be obliged to reach the
opinion that Field was killed by the
doctors themselves.
Referring to Mrs. Field s story Of
the events that happened in the res
taurant, Mr.. Piper said there was very
little doubt that her story was the
true one. 1t was preposterous, he
said, to think that Mrs. Field, on her
knees, could have struck and killed
her husband during the night while he
was living on n mattress. He then
referred to the testimony of Grow and
Stapleton as being contradicted by
that Of the respondent himself, and
remarked upon the strange fact that
several of the defense witnesses could
have been in practically the same
place at the same time and yet seen
nothing of each other. In regard to
the testimony produced in regard to
stories that had been told outside the
court Mr.. Piper said they were valu-
able only in so far as they bore upon
the truthfulness of the state witnesses.
He pointed out how probable it was
that Field might have lain crumpled
up in a corner of the dining room af-
ter Richards had struck him, and not be
visible to persons on the outside. In
conclusion. the state attorney told
the .iury that if it considered the ac-
tnal facts IN the case il would have to
bring in verdict Of guilty.
Attorney George II. Thompson be-
gan the opening argument for the de
Tense at 4n5 and concluded a few
minutes before o'clock. In the first
place he called attention to the rela-
tion between George Field and May
| Pluff. asking the Jury If any woman
| ever got married and did not know il
| lie then asked the jurors TO compare
! the appearance on the witness stand
of the respondent and Mrs. Field, and
| to remember the positively fendisl
| expression that came over the face
OF The latter on different occasion:
during her examination. In reference
| tc the conduct of George Lawrence
during the quarrel, Mr. Thompson EN-
phasized the fact that he did nothing
to protect Mrs Field until after the
trouble was all over lie then dwell
AZ some length on the obligation o.
1 tile Jury to base its verdict on testi
ntonv that must prove "bevond ;
reasonable doubt the guilt of tn,
respondent. and asserted that no sucl
preponderance of evidence had beel
lproduced
The attorney called attention to tn
IeviGence which showed that Field hat
walked, talked and attended to hi
business in natural manner after tn
time Of the alleged assault, and com
pared It to the testimony about Field
condition after he had been alone wit
his Wife during the night. lie sal
there was moi even breath of test
mouv to blow suspicion on the eyi
druce Of Officer McKinnon about wha
lie had heard aud seen when he wa
outside the restaurant in the earl
hours Of Sunday morning. Mr.. ThomI
son dwelt upon the apparent relation
that existed between LaWTeHtt an
Mrs. Field. and said that Richards wa
being made the goat of the transa'
tion because an unhappy tate ma
placed him in the restaurant door 2
y time when it was possible to shii
the burden Of another s crime to h
: own shoulders. lie asked if It wei
reasonable to suppose that man
Field : dimnutive stature would M
run after he had called man III
/, Richards the name that he did. |
conclusion MIR. Thompson took up Il
medical testimony and showed Field
brain to the jury with the idea
, demonstrating that such injuries ;
: the man received would have made
l impossible for him to appear natural
for several hours thereafter.
In excusing the jury from turfh'
t consideration Of the case until Mo
G ,lav afternoon, Judge Miles said TIT
n he did not want them to be obllgt
= to work on Sunday. He said, howeVe
7 that they must be kept together
the interim.