Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-05-06
Robert Morrison, Fairfield Youth,
Is Also Charged with Muir
derOus Assault with Firearms
on Mrs. ROddy.
VICTIMS ON STAND
Witnesses Tell Story of Move
ments and Supposed Motives
of Boy on Day of Attack
Case Will Occupy Brief Time
Only.

ST. Adams, May An Franklin county
court to-day Robert l.. Morrison was
placed on trial before Judge Frank l..
Fish charged with assault with intent |
to Kill and murder his employer Leon |
L. Roddy of Fairfield, the night of
January last. He is also under severa
other indictments including assault with
intent TO Kill and murder Mrs. Roddy |
The weapon alleged to have been used ,
was single shot rifle. Morrison, wko
was ~ years old in March, was brought
to the county Jail the night of the shoot
Ing ana as the result of the findings If
the inquest conducted at the Roddy
home, the so-called lIowrigan farm three
miles from the village of Fairfield, the
day after the shooting he has been con
fined there since awaiting trial at the
present session of court.
The case is progressing rapidly and it is
expected the trial will be completed by
Wednesday night The respondent made
no challenges in selecting the jury and
the State only two or three. few were
excused as having formed opinions. The
case is prosecuted by States Attorney
S. s Gushing and Warren r. Austin of
this city appears for the respondent
The State was not through putting in
testimony when court took the afternoon
recess to nine o'clock Wednesday morn
ing.
SHOT AND STRUCK OVER HEAD.
The first witness called to the stand
this morning was Mr.. Roddy. His wife
testified next and early this afternoon
when her cross-examination was COM
plcted several other witnesses were
called
Mr.. Roddy told Of the events of the
day when the shooting is said to have
occurred. He testified that as he was
bandaging the ankle OF an injured horse
in stall AT the barn he heard Morrf-
son enter the barn. then he heard the
report Of a gun, felt something going
through his head, fell, got up and went
to the barn door which, he said, Morri-
son held against him. saying. oh
you. stay in there" He finally got the
door open and, according to his testi-
mony, was struck over the head with a
lantern and soon after with what he sup
posed was the gun with which he was
shot.
His wife helped MIN into the house
and he told Morrison to hitch up the
horse and go for priest and a doctor,
After Mr. and Mrs. Roddy had entered
the kitchen Morrison went in and
Roddv heard another shot, his wife
oxclaiming at the instant that he heard
= bo hnt
He then :,rapplcd with Morrison and
succeeded in getting him out of the
house. He then got "A shotgun and
fired it from the windows of the house
to alarm ncighbors
| Alter a few hours Joseph Bovat came to
the house.
| At the suggestion of States Attorney
! Gushing the witness showed the jury the
| mark on his right temple where the bull
let entered and the scar in the neck where
! it came out before it again pierced the
| flesh over his collar bone.
RODDY DENIES THREATS.
| Under cross-examination Roddy testi-
| fed that he was p years old, was married
and had three children, the oldest five
years and the youngest six months old
He said Mrs. James Howrigan. the owner
OF the farm, also lived with the family.
1t was brought out that on the day OF
the shooting Roddy took Morrison to task
| for not doing his work We'll, also that the
same day he reproved Morrison severely
| for using a Ratchet which he priced high
, ~. He admitted that he was hasty in
speaking but denied that he used threat
| ening language. He said that In the
evening everything apparently was all
right between Morrison and himself
Mrs. Roddy testified to seeing Nor
rison go the evening of the shooting
and bullets and get something. Later
she heard her husband say to him
why Rob, what do YOU mean?' ant
then he called to her. She helped hin
to the house. She also told OF receiv
ing bullet wound in the shoulder af
ter she and her husband went to tn,
house. Morrison followiSg. and o.
helping her husband put Morrison out
Under cross examination she said sh'
noticed nothing unusual in Morrison,
conduct that night previous to tn
shooting,
Mrs HowriRan was next called. an,
she was followed by Joseph Bovat.
neighbOr, who testified that Morrison
called at his home the night Of Janu
airy and asked to use the telephon
: as a man had been hurt, When ques
toned closely, the witnessed testified
Morrison told of the trouble az tn
Roddy home, Bovat then went to as
J sist the Roddys.
) Walter Roddy, brother Of Leon Rod
dy, was the next witness ne lived a
the home OF Arthur q. Finn, the deput
! sheriff who arrested Morrison, Charlie
Campbell, brother of Mrs. Roddy. told o
going to the Roddy home after hearin
OF the shooting. Arthur q. Finn told O
making the arrest and Morrisons action
when being brought to the county jail !
this city. lie said ne asked him why h
shot Mr. and Mrs. Roddy and he reptile
that he did not know he had shot Mrs
Roddy. Mr. Finn told of going to tn
I Roddy home after the shooting.
, Morrison. tho young respondent, wa
! born in Bristol where his parents, an
, his brothers and sisters now live. II
left home five years ago and since the
! has worked in underhill. Sheldon an
! Fairfield. He Ia of loss than mediul