The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-29
Prosecution Put Otis Will
liams Back on the
Stand To-day
DEFENSE RESTED
THIS FORENOON
Sensational Murder Trial at
Chelsea is Drawing
to a Close

| Chelsea, June 29.-Evidence in rebuttal
was offered by the state this forenoon in
the trial of Mrs. Anna Felch, charged
with the murder Of her husband, Joseph
Felch of Topsham, and after the accused
had testified briefly in cross and redirect
examination, Edward Pero took the stand
for few moments, and then the re-
spondent rested. 1t was 10 o'clock, and
the rebuttal beginning soon afterward
had not been completed when court came
in at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
For various reasons feeling at the trial
ran high yesterday afternoon, but to-day
the proceedings were less sensational, and
it was to be noted that women and other
spectators who took their lunches with
them in napkins and remained during the
noon hour that they might not lose their
seats, were ready to leave the courtroom
when recess was taken to-day. Mrs.
Felch was back on the stand at $3.50
o'clock this morning, testified briefly in
crosse examination and then In redirect
examination, only to be excused after
five minutes or therea bouts. She was
followed by Edward Pero, father of Jo-
sephine Pero. the Felches' housemaid,
who corroborated the accused's story yes
terday of visit made to the Farnham
place week previous, at which time
Mrs. Felch invited the Farnhams and the
Peros over to her house for a sugar par
ty on the following Sunday.
The rehuttal was taken up by the
state within few moments after it was
announced that the defense had rested.
Former States Attorney F. S. Williams
identified statement taken by him with
the aid of a stenographer at the Felch
house, about which the accused was
sharply questioned by Attorney-Ge
Barber yesterday afternoon. Witness
identified the transcript as a true copy |
and then identified an apron, slightly |
soiled, which the respondent testified |
Yesterday she wore on the Tuesday night |
and Wednesday morning after the muir
der and then left .on the bed Mr.. VIII |
iams said he first saw it on the Monday
after the murder. II was with other
clothes in a clothes basket, and he no
ticed that it was badly soiled and damp.
II was in the same place, in the basket,
IN the following Wednesday morning,
Mr.. Williams testified.
For more than an hour and a half
Otis williams. the "lifers from Windsor,
vas on the stand testifying in rebuttal
md had Just finished when recess was
AIKEN at noon. His testimony tended TO
'ebut the denials made by the accused
yesterday and in effect he repeated many
II the alleged circumstances leading up
o the murder, version which resembled
n practically every detail his alleged
onfession of last year, as well as his
tory on the stand last week.
II was expected that Mrs. George Nc
'ormack Josie Perol would be recalled
n rebuttal for the state this afternoon
nd after that, it is believed, the closing
rguments will be made, although there
! very little probability that all of the
rguments viii have been completed by .
o-night. {,
Attorneys in Clash.
Failure on the part of the state to in I
olive the accused in any contradictions, {
nd sweeping denial of many allegations 1
hich have come to the surface since the !
ase opened marked the trial of Mrs.
elch yesterday afternoon, but the out
landing feature was a clash between
ttorney Hale X. Darling for the defense I
nd Attorney General II. G. Barber, an
lcident which contributed its part to
ne of the most sensational sessions since
ne accused was placed on trial. There
as interest aplenty when the witness,
aving finished her testimony in the di- i
ct examination, faced the ordeal of n
with growing nervous 4
sss. She was keenly alive to the i'm I
,rtance of retaining her composure and a
times she seemed to be testifying in I
e cross questioning while under consid s.
able stress. As the afternoon wore on n
II apparent nervousness increased, and
was clearly with relief that she no. a
ced the hour hand on the courtroom 81
Dck approaching 8 o'clock. q
Naturally she was the center of atten- Sc
on most of the time, but there came NJ
~ AZ