Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-15
TAKES STAND WILLINGLY
Was Told to Pretend Insanity,
She Declares, and Warned
of Death in the Elec-
trio Chair.

Fear-old son, occurred to-day in Frank
lin county court, when Mrs Anna Wells
wife of the respondent put on the
stand against her husband Mrs. Wells
Is charged with the same offense and she
knew that she not obliged to testify
against her husband but did so from
rhoice. Her testimony was startling in
the extreme and will probably tend to
shorten the trial to considerable extent
Other witnesses were put on the stand
by the State in quick succession and it
looks as If the trial would be much short
Dr than anticipated.
Mrs. Wells testified. among other
things, that at one time her husband
lad brought several oranges to the Jail
In which there was paris green, the man
telling her. what do with 1t. He also
brought her a tin box containing paris
green which he told her to take. He told
her to act as If she were crazy and she
did one day sit on the floor, tear her
clothes cut off her hair and tear UP
books. Her husband told her If she did
not act as if she insane the off,
cias would kill her in an electric chair
and burn her body with acid She told
of showing the oranges to s. S. Cushing
her counsel, and to Sheriff Holmes and
States Attorney Ladd. She told Mr.
Gushing that Lena Fisher brought her
the oranges because Mr.. Wells told her
to tell him she did
LETTERS SHOWN IN COURT.
She told of receiving letters while
in jail before her husbands arrest.
The letters were exhibited in court
Two she had shown to her husband
and he said he thought Julia Fisher
her sister law. had written them
She said she thought they were writ
ten to brighten her, and one of them
contained a threat to kill Mrs. Wells's
baby. One of the envelopes was di =
rected by Mrs Wellss daughter, Au-
yusta. Another. she thought, Mrs.
Fisher wrote.
Mrs Wells told about the morning
the children were taken sick, what
they had for breakfast, and what time
they ate. The breakfast consisted of
bread and condensed milk and all the
children had milk out of the same
pitcher.
Mrs. Wells was questioned by Attorney
General r. f. Brown and her answers
were given In a clear, concise manner.
She wore a black less and black hat and
veil and did not appear to have suffered
from any strain during her confinement
In Jail.
Mrs. Wells was on the stand the entire
afternoon under cross-exa mination which
was not finished. Mrs. Wells said that
she had never doubted but that the chill
dren were poisoned by the condensed milk
on the bread. Her husband, she said had
always been kind and when Mr.. Austin
asked her IL she loved him she replied
that she did. She admitted that her hus.
band once gave her S to pay taxes and
that she used it otherwise Certain let
tiers that Mr.. Austin asked II she wrote ir
Jail and gave to her husband to mail, SHE
denied having written.
OTHER WITNESSES HEARD.
Among other witnesses on the stand
this morning were Mrs G. +. Bombart
who said that Wells had told her tina
the Fisher family had written letters t.
his wife; Mrs. Mary Pariseau whose Sol
was at the Wells home the day the chill
dren were Ill; Eva Tatro a niece of tn
respondent. who was at the house afte
the death of Louis and heard Mrs. Well
Say: II wouldn't cry, Julius, If | wa
In your place, your wishes have com
true" On DISCRIMINATION the las
witness said that when Mrs. Wells sal
this julius cried. Sylvia Ring also test
fled to the foregoing conversation.
nv A T. Cross Of Swanton told ,
conversations he had with the RESPONDER
y, r.,,rd n the mental condition ,
Mrs Wells. The witness said the r,
snondent had told him that his viii
had heen better mentally of late and
declared that his family were again
him and had administered poison to h
children. On cross-examination it WI
brought out that Wells had asked IL
doctor to find out If any of his well
family had purchased poison at the drr
stores. The respondent told him the rel
son his mother wanted to get rid of Il
children was so she could come and liz
at the Wells house
Carrie Hurlbut Of Swanton told
meeting the respondent the day OF Il
boys death ana he told her that the
had been an accident In his RAM
which resulted in the poisoning or Z
children. probably by means OF inc co
densed milk, ne SAID me wi'hess y"
questioned as TO "hether the ia'h
showed any signs Oh sr,ei anu IT. >, u