The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-27
Felch Was Shot In His Su-
gar House On the Night
of April %, 1916, and
Shortly Afterwards His
Hired Man and Then Mrs.
Felch Were Arrested
Trial of Williams Has
Lasted Ten Days

Chelsea, July 27.-For his part in the
brutal Staying of Joseph Felch, a Tops.
ham farmer, on the night Of April %,
1916, Otis Williams was to-day in Orange
county court found guilty of murder in
the second degree. Williams was en-
ployed BY Fetch as a farmland Anoth-
er trial growing out Of the death of
Felch is to be held few months later. it
is expected, when the slain mans wife,
Anna Felch, will be brought before the
bar OF justice. having been jointly indict-
ed with Williams for murder Counsel
for WILLIAMS will undoubtedly take the
case to supreme court on exceptions,
having indica ted such a purpose by tax
ing exceptions to Judge Stantons charge.
The penalty for second degree murder
is life Imprisonment.
When Williams was brought into the
court room this morning in response to
the summons after word came the Jury
was ready to report, he displayed little
trace of anxiety although his countenance
was considerably paler than usual. Other
than that he did not show any indica-
tion of the tension that might have been
working in his mind as the jury was
polled. Throughout the trial he had
somewhat stolid attitude,
although he seemed to follow the testi-
nony and the arguments closely. When
he verdict of guilty of murder in the
second degree was announced he appar-
,ntly was unmoved. Judge Stanton did
lot impose sentence.
Story of the Crime.
On the night of April % Joseph Felch
well to-do farmer. left his home in
Waits River sometime after the supper
our and went to the sugarhouse to boil
he seasons last run of sap. Before
eaving the house, he announced his pur-
ose to return home at midnight. In
he morning of Easter day, the Sunday
ollowing. alarm was felt over the farm
RS non-appearance and Mrs Felch, her
even year old daughter, Bernce, and
he hired girl, Josephine Pero, set out
Or the sugarhouse. There they discov-
y
lood, rifle under the torso. When the
omen spread the alarm. the town health
ificer was called. Because of the pc
lliar luxtaposition of the body and the
fle. he secuted the theory of suicide
nd his suspicion of foul play was shared
hen States Attorney Frank S. VIII
ans of Bradford, DR.. w R. Rowland
Corinth and Others arrived
DIR. B. II. Stone. the state pathologist,
Id Dr. c. F. Whitney, the state chemist,
rived from Burlington on the following
onday and an autopsy was held in the
hoolhouse hall. Three days later
alchs remains were buried and while
e funeral was in progress. Otis Will
inns. a 2l-year-old farmland, was ar
sted Statements said to have been
8de by the accused led to the inplica-
IN Of Mrs. FeIch and she, too, was tax
in custody a short time afterward.
lie grand jury in session at the county
1t early in June found true bills
ainst the pair and indictments charg-
2 Williams and Mrs. Felch Jointly
tn the murder of Felch were returned.
torney General II. G. Barber of Brad
d assisted States Attorney Williams
the investigation and later in the
'secution. Early in the present term
Orange county court the state as
ned as counsel for the respondent,
lliam David Conant of Bradford and
inley c. Wilson of Chelsea
The case against Williams was started
ore Judge Zed s stanton in the court
IN at Chelsea Monday. July p. BY
IN on the following day the following
y had been selected: II. H. Titus of
st Fairlee. J. ~ BENJAMIN Of Straf-
4. p W Flint Of Braintree. \. !.
1T Of Williamstown. c. Z. Brown of
nbridge, :. II. Thayer Of Braintree.
B. Farr Of BTookfield. c. A. Webster
A A. Kidder OF Newbury,
L. Hayward Of Nilliamstown. Arthur
nson Of Brook6eld and W. : Hath
~ Of Washington. Difficulties at
liant upon the selection Of a jury were
principally 70 preiudices sgainst cap
punishment or circumstantisl eyi-
re-
he case was heard through 10 davs
he summers hottest weather Spec
rs crowded the court room daily and
D interest IN the case WAS manifested
people living ia towns outside Orange