The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-20
JURY INSPECTS
PLACE OF DEATH
Taken from Chelsea to the
Home of Joseph Felch
Near Waits Ri 2r
CAUTIONED BY. .eUDGE
NOT TO ASK Q' 1STIONS
Jurors Were ! ) gely Drawn
from Rem Places of
Orange County


| Chelsea, June 20. - Events moved
! swiftly yesterday and to-day in the
, trial of Mrs. Anna Felch, charged with
murder in the first degree for alleged
completely in causing the death Of her
husband, Joseph Felch, at Waits River in
Topsham on the night of April p, 1916.
With the task of drawing a jury COM
pleted at o'clock last evening, the
jurymen were quartered in the court
house for the night, after final instruc-
tions had been given them by Judge F.
NJ Butler. To-day the scene shifted
from the Orange county courthouse here
over the hills to the Felch homestead,
where the jurors went over the scene
of the alleged crime, and then returned
to the county seat early this afternoons
when the examination of witnesses in
troduced by the state was commenced.
An extra panel of talesmen, many of
them drawn from the west side of the
county in towns more remote from the
locality where Felch met his death, was
nearly exhausted before the Jury of IL
had been selected, and the court con-
vened an extra hour in order that the
preliminaries to the trial might be expe-
dited as much as possible, The state
used five of its challenges, and the de-
Tense utilized its privileged number Of
| six.
The men who are to decide an issue
that may mean life or death to the
woman respondent are as follows: II. A.
Aseltine, farmer, of Randolph; George
L. Dibble, farmer, of Braintree; w. A.
Fletcher, farmer, of Braintree; Joseph
Daley, laborer, of Williamstown; A. E.
Davis, farmer, of Brookfeld; H. c. john
son, lumber dealer of West Fairlee,i
Harry Q. Flint, farmer, of Tunbridge;
S. A. Hutchinson, farmer, of Braintree;
H. Lasell, clerk, of Williamstown; James
B. Cook, miner, of West Fairlee; Clyde
Morse, clerk, OF Williamstown.
Examination of the talesmen began
Monday and continued throughout the
day yesterday. All of the woman's at
torneys, r. NJ. Harvey. R. A. Hoar, A. G.
Fay, and Hale X. Darling, were present,
as were the attorneys for the prosecu-
tion. Atty.-General H. G. Barber and
States Atty. John G. Sherburne. The
respondent, young woman of medium
stature, dressed in black, occupied a seat
with her counsel and continually be-
trayed deep interest in the rather per-
functory work of sitting the qualitica-
tions of some SO men of all ages and
descriptions. If anyone in the court
room, thus early in the trial, was in the
least excited by the proceedings. it may
be said that Mrs. Felch was the least
perturbed. When she was not searching
the talesman under examination with a
keen, unshifting scrutiny, she was whis
pering eagerly to her counsel or looking
straight ahead at the bench. Even when
Deputy County Clerk Sprague, at the in
stance of Judge Butler, read the indict-
ment returned by the grand jury in the
spring of 1916, the woman did not finch.
Maybe curious persons were eyeing the
respondent to note whether the harsh
message of the Indictment would cause
her to abate an appearance of composure.
If so, they learned straightway that her
countenance was not to be changed by
the words which fell in measured phrases
from the lips of the clerk.
Many of the talesmen who were called
but were not to be chosen failed to quail
ify because of having formed previous
opinions in the case. 1t developed that
very large number of people, apparently,
have followed with interest the develop
ments growing out of the sugarhouse
tragedy in Waits River on the fateful
Easter eve, and nearly all of the dis
qualifications were founded on precon-
ceived notions of guilt or innocence.
There were a few who voiced conscien-
tious objections to capital punishment.
They were excused forthwith. Fewer
still acknowledged antipsthy TO circum-
stantial evidence.
just before 9 O'Clock both sides agreed
70 the final Juror and then, in confer
snee at the bar, it was decided to carry
he jury over the scene of the alleged
rhine. In announcing the arrangement
% the jury, Judge Butler cautioned them
against any discussion of the case either
Turing the trip to Topsham, or during
he days of the trial that are to follow.
lie said that Atty General Barber for
he state and Atty. Fay for the defense
would accompany them to the Felch
arm and there point out the objects
oncerning which the evidence to be in
reduced may deal The Judge instruct
d them not to yield to temptation in
skiing the attorneys any questions
bout what they might see and said that
n the interests of fairness the respon-
ent would accompany the party.
In addressing the talesmen rejected or
ot called. Judge Butler instructed them
o be ready for a summons in other
ases that may follow the Felch trial.
hey were excused for the time being,
Though subject 10 call by telephone or
through the mail. Because the line of
efense to BE- followed by the womsns
ounsel has not been disclosed and for
theT patent reasons, the length of the
resent trial cannot be forecasted, but
udge Butler, in excusing the remainder
( the panel. indicated that the men
light be needed for jury duty one week
-om next Monday.
obedient to directions from the court,
herifT A. A. Reed and his assistants,
ailer George Tracy and Deputy Sheriff
esrborn. had the necessary conveyances
adv at $3.50 o'clock this morning for
le trip to Waits River. Automobiles
ere provided for the jury, for counsel.
Y Mrs Felch and for the officers. Ar
wing at the Felch farm. which is locat-
on a byrosd Just out Of Waits Rive,
le party was shown about the premises,
Ie house and barns, going afterward 10
le sugarhouse. where Felch's body was