Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1914-05-29
Lawson Trial
STATES CASE ALL
IN WEDNESDAY
Mrs. Lawson III. Could Not Appear In
Court Thursday

The trial of Mrs. Amanda L. Law
son Of East Woodstock, charged with
manslaughter, for the killing of her
husband at the Lawson home on the
night of August 14th last was begun in
the superior court at Putnam Tuesday
morning before Judge Howard Curtis
and jury.
states Attorney Searls outlined the
case TO the jury stating that they
would attempt to prove that Mr.. and
Mrs. Lawson and their two children
occupied and constituted the family ut
the Lawson home when Mr.. Lawson
was killed. That the son was away
camping and that the daughter was
away at n party on the night of the
14th. That the daughter came home
about IL O'Clock and that as she went
up to her room her mother partially
opened a bedroom door and asked if
she had gotten home safely and that
the daughter knew nothing more of
what had occurred until the next
morning. That Mrs. Lawson, some
where after II o'clock that night went
to the home of John May and got him
10 come over. They would attempt to
show that there was blood in the
kitchen by the door leading to the cell
lar and would attempt to show that
Lawson was killed in the kitchen, and
the body dragged, not carried, to the
barn. Would put in evidence club
with human blood and hair on it
which came from the head of Lawson.
Also other exhibits with blood upon
them and pair of stockings of Mrs.
Lawson's with dirt upon them from
the cellar, also blood and manure from
seen alive by neighbor who left there
and reached home about S.l5 and
would attempt to show that the rela-
tions of the couple had been strained,
that Lawson drank more or less, and
that they had serious alterations over
deed, she claiming that her name
should appear in it,. Would show that
at one time she actually left home, that
she was woman of temper and likely
to give way to violent emotion. That
not very long ago she took fork and
struck her husband infiicting serious
wound so that he went out to the barn
and lay on the floor. Would show
that she had used expressions that the
state will claim may be interpreted as
denoting that she intended doing an
injury to her husband, perhaps fatal
one. Also that she was jealous of him,
and showing that blood had been very
carefully removed by some one in an
effort to obliterate it. And would
show that the AK, club, stockings and
various other things had been put
away and concealed.
Mrs. Lawson drove from her home
10 Putnam reaching here about III
O'Clock. Her son and daughter accom-
panied her in one-seated wagon. Mrs.
Lawson was dressed completely In
black and wore heavy black ven
which she kept down until requested
by her counsel to lift it when she arose
as the information was being read.
When court opened Mrs. Lawson took
seat behind her counsel. On her
left sat her sister, Mrs. Emma Nelson,
also dressed completely in black. On
hef right sat Miss Nellie Appley,
trained nurse, who has attended her
throughout her trouble. To Miss APP
pleys right on the same seat sat the
daughter, Florence. Adolph, the son,
sat In another part of the court room.
The court room was only about two
thirds filled with spectators. The
Jury was quickly chosen neither side
taxing any exceptions. The jury is
composed of the following:
Justin NJ. Burrill, Ashford.
Lewis ID. Parkhurst, Brooklyn.
Joseph Gurley, Eastford.
L. ii. Burnham, Hampton.
Henry M. Blanchard, William A.
burroughs, Henry NJ. Danielson, all OF
killingly.
Clarence NJ. Daggett, Plainfield.
Amidon II. Amidon, Pomfret.
Alex A. Houghton, Clarence NJ.
Kent, Putnam.
randolph ii. Chandler. Thompson.
Mrs. Lawson sat with hands folded
In ner lap, eyes cast down and at times
closed. When her children took the
stand she looked up and kept her eyes
upon them part of the time.
HE first witness was Engineer Geo.
w Perry of Putnam who introduced
map of the premises. He stated that
IL was SD feet from the cellar door to
the barn.
Florence Lawson, II, daughter. was
ene nrst witness for the state in the di-
reel case. She told of going to the