The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-19
STATES CASE is
BRIEFLY OUTLINED
Circumstances Surrounding
Felch's Death Preclude the
Theory of Suicide, Testi-
fled State Pathologist DIR.
B. H. Stone-Father of
Victim, a Witness To-day

Chelsea, July l9.-Circumstances i'm
mediately surrounding the death OF Jo-
seph felch at Waits River on the night
OF April p precuded the theory of sui
eide, according to the testimony of DIR.
b. II. Stone of Burlington, state patholo-
gist, when the trial of State Va. Otis Will
liams, charged with murder in the first
degree, was resumed in Orange county
court to-day Technical aspects of the
investigation on the day after the body
OF Felch was found, identification of the
gun used in the killing and other ex-
hibits, and the story OF the autopsy in
the schoolhouse hall at Waits River were
brought out in the pathologist's testi-
mony.
When court came in at 0 O'Clock this
morning Myron J. Buck, the Bethel civil
engineer whose testimony bulked large in
yesterdays proceedings, was recalled to
the stand. Objections offered by the de-
tense to one of three maps prepared by
the witness prompted the court to ex-
cuse him from testifying further pend.
ing the preparation of another plan. DR..
c. F. Whitney of Burlington, an assist
ant to the state pathologist, was the next
witness and he had testified but few
moments when he was called from the
stand, as it was decided that his state
ment could be received more properly
after another witness had testified.
Late this forenoon John Felch, father
OF the alleged victim, was introduced by
the state. The elder Felch testified that
he was called to his sons home on the
Sunday morning when the body was dis
covered in the sugarhouse. He hurried
to the woods, accompanied by Tom Smith
and will Cunningham, and was the first
to enter the sugsrhouse. Surveying the
horrible sight on the floor in front OF him,
he paused an instant and then crossed
the room and knelt by his sons remains.
Speak to me, joe pleaded the elder
Felch, according to his testimony to-day.
But life had left the body of the son.
Before he was excused Felch had iden-
,ified the rife which lay under his sons
,ody that morning and the lantern, with
is globe shattered by bullet. Felch
tated that he extinguished the fame in
he lantern after he had looked over the
Felch was recalled to the
tand when court reeonyened this after
oon at O'Clock
DIR. Stone was closely questioned by
he prosecutors and in the cross exam
nation. He testified that there We're no
owder marks on Felch's body or face
hat a gun must be within four feet of
he object aimed at in order to produce
powder mark, and that the condition
the body. considering the absence of
owder marks, the location of the body,
nd the juxtaposition of the body and
he rifle disposed of the suicide theory.
'r. Stone said he drew line from the
ole near the sugarhouse door to the
Dot where the bullet was found inbed
ID in the beam. A bullet, he said, would
ave passed through the lantern globe
it hung from an over beam and a man
tting on the bench across from ths
a porator would be struck bv the mis-.
le In other words. both the lantern
ODE and FeIch's head, he said, wero
yht in the line of bullet shot from
e crevice near the door and imbedded
the beam where the death-dealing bull
. was actually found
Pictures taken by DIR. Stone at the
garhouse and during the autopsy were
own to the jury and admitted as ex-
pits along with the lantern and the gun.
torney Generals Opening Statement.
That ciroumstantial evidence must per
zee bulk large in the state case against
is Williams was disclosed indirectly
the opening statement OF Attorney
neral H. G. Barber. A hundred cager-
I'd men and women followed the prose-
or as he outlined. step by step. the
p Of action to be followed BY the state
ITS attempt 70 prove that " lLllams
guilty Of completely in one Of the most
ocious murders ever committed in
rmont Jurors and attorneys alike
re permitted BY the court 10 strip
ir coats and while the spectators di1
benefit by this courtesy. those who
ened through the statement and then
ned 20 follow two witnesses in the
Iiminarv examination felt tie heat
suffered in silence. Every effort was