Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-27
lawson Trial
 Begun at Putnam
STATES ATTORNEY sEARLs OUT LINEs PLANS OF PROSECUTION
ACCUSED PALE, WORN
As She Listened to Narration of De- tails Pertinent to. Crime for Which She is Now Being Tried on Man. slaughter charse-T.kins of Testi- mony Progressing Rapidly.

Y mony Progressing Rapidly.
 Putnam, May 26.- Before Judge Howard J. Curtis and Jury in the superior court here on Tuesday morning the trial was com- menced of Amanda U. Lawson of East Woodstock, charged with man. slaughter in connection with the death or her husband at their farm in the neighboring town, on the night of Aug. If of last year.
 Although it was extremely uncon1- fortable in the court room on account or the unusual heat of the day, every place was taken when the trial open ed and the assemblage did not dimin- fsh during the day.. Many of those present were residents of Woodstock Mrs. Lawson, pale and worn look ing, was accompanied by a nurse. She was dressed in deep mourning, her face covered by. a heavy. veil, which she did not raise until the trial had progressed for some time She eat f with eyes closed and head hung, a pit fable figure. during the greater part or the days proceedings, seemingly being close to the border of collapse at times.
 Showed Evidence of Anguish.
 Only occasionally were her eyes opened to glance briefly about her. At times, as witnesses testified to cir oumstances and incidents that were of special note on the night of her hus- bands death. she wept and wrapped her hands about each other in appar- ent anguish
 Two Jurors Excused.
 The drawing of the jury was expe- ditiously disposed of, only ten min utes being required. State Attorney Charles H searis. who is being assist ed by Attorney Howard C.. Bradford. addressed the Jurors relative to the offence charged and inquired if any of them had heard of the case and knew about it SO that their opinions might be already formed. He offered an op- portuntty for those who wished to be excused from jury service. This was improved by Charles H. Kenyon of Scotland and J. Octave Bianchette of Willimantic.
 The cempgsted Let.
 The jury as completed and sitting .s as follows. Justin M Burrfn. Ash ford: Lewis b. Parkhurst, Brooklyn; {; Joseph sGurley. Eastford: L.. H. Burn : ham. Hampton: Henry M. Blanchard, ielson. all of Killingly; Clarence M. Daggett, Plainfield; Andrew H. Ami- oon, Pomfret; Alex A Houxhton. Clarence M. Kent, Putnam; Ranuoiph h. Cnandler, Thompson.
 Mrs; Lawson was allowed to remain d1ctment, to which she had long since entered a plea of not guilty When Clerk E. M. Warner had concluded the reading MT. Searls made an introduc- tory statement of facts. as the state expects to prove them, to the j,rr-y. that. as he explained. they might bet, ter appreciate and understand the evil dence to be introduced
 Circumstances Reviewed.
 MT. Searls' statement was a review of the fact that MT. Lawson was found dead in the stable at his place in East woodstock during the early hours of the morning of Aug. 15 last and of the circumstances connected herewith as developed in general way up to this tlme. MT. Searls also told the jury that as far as is known Mr. Lawson was last seen alive by a neighbor, Bernhord Johnson, about S15 on the evening of Aug A.
 MT. Searls also said to the jury: The state will attempt to show you MT. and Mrs. Lawson for some time previous to the latter's death and that they had altercations from time to time over the fact that he was sole owner of the farm where they lived and that Mrs. Lawson wanted her
 
 farm would be held Jointly by them; that she left her husband at one time that she is a woman of temper, and that at enc time in a fit of anger she threw fork at her husband, infiict- ing wound on his head; also that at times she used expressions that were indicative of her intention to do her husband serious harm and had at times been Jealous of him.
 Fans for the Jurors.
 It was sweltering hot in the court room and the attendants supplied the fans
 George W. Perry. Putnam, civil en- gineer and surveyor. was the first wit ness called. Mir Perry produced a map Of the Lawson premises show ing the homestead, stables. etc. and explained it in response to questions by MT. Searls and Attorney Charles l.. Torrey, chief counsel for Mrs. Law son, and assisted by Attorneys M. H. Geissler and Arthur S. Macdonald. Daughter of Aecussd on the Stand, Florence E.-Lawson, 17. daughter of the accused and the deceased MT, Lawson was called to the stand Questioned by MT. Searls she related that on the afternoon of Aug. IA she went to party at the Comstock place She returned to her home. coming
 
 iy after II p. m. Entering her home through the kitchen door she went into the sitting room. took a lighted lamp there and proceeded to her room on the second floor. On her way to her room her mother called to her from the latter,s room and inquired if she were safely home, to which Florence testified she had replied Yes" She said that her mother did not swing wide the door of her room, opening 1t only a few inches, and that she could not tell whether her moth CT was dressed or not. Florence tes- lined that she did not see her father. She retired to her room, went to bed and fell asleep and heard no more until some time during the early hours of the next morning, when voices below awakened her. She dressed and went down stairs and first learned that her father was dead. Her mother brothePs~ who had been re- called from the camp where he had been sleeping, the undertaken and Mrs May" were present at that time, she said. Questioned by MT. Torrey M Miss Lawson added nothing of impor- tance to her testimony.
 Testimony of Sen.
 Adoiph ". Lawson. s1. son of the