The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-22
Girl Employed in the House
hold Related Events on
Day Joseph Felch Died
WILLIAMS UNSHAKEN
IN HIS TESTIMONY
Cross-Examined Closely, He
; Stuck to the Original
Confession ys.s8

Chelsea, June 22-Happenings on the
day prior to the death and on the day OF
the discovery of the body of Joseph Felch
in his sugar house at Waits River were
described to-day by the principal wit
nesses for the state in the case of Mrs.
Anna Felch, charged with homicide in
causing the death of her husband. My
ron j. Buck, an engineer and surveyor
from Bethel, took the stand when court
came in at 8 o'clock, but after being ex-
amined by the state in continuance of
the line of inquiry followed when he tes-
titled yesterday afternoon, Buck was
briefly cross examined and then directed
to 90 to the sugar house for additional
measurements wanted by the state. In
terest next centered around the story of
the Felches' hired girl, who was Joseph
inc Pero before her marriage recently,
and the testimony of Health Officer
George Hight of Topsham. Mr.. Hight
was on the stand when court convened
| this afternoon at 2.
The story told by the hired girl varied
but little from the version given when
Otis Williams, self confessed aecomplice
in the murder, was on trial year ago.
Since the trial she has married. The
young woman wore an air of confidence
on the stand and was not to be confused,
either by the direct examination or by
bn aI
animation. Witness testified at the out
set that she was employed as hired girl
by the Felches and that she retired at 0
o'clock on the night of the farmers
death. Around II o'clock. she said, Mrs.
Feleh, who occupied room adjoining
her own, called to her through the parti-
tion and asked her ii she did not want
to share the bed with her. Whereupon,
the witness continued, she left her own
bed and joined Mrs. Felch.
There was little in her testimony that
tended to damage the case Of the re-
spondent, although at times her state
ments tended toward favoring the state
in their trend. Coming down to the
morning when Felch's body was discov-
cred, the hired girl said that she and
Mrs. Felch, accompanied by little Ber-
nice, the Felcbes' daughter, set out for
the sugar house. Witness swore that |
Mrs. Felch paused on the threshold of |
the sugar house and did not enter, say |
ing that anna wanted her to go in |
first" Witness then told OF seeing |
Felch's body on the floor of the sugar
house. continued by saying that she and |
Mrs. Felch and the child hurried to Tom /
Smiths house, near by, and notified him,
and added that the Smiths notified the
authorities. The young woman went on
to say that the accused and Bernice ac-
her by a cross-lots route back
to the Felch homestead. Asked in cross
examination if the accused manifested
any feeling of grief, the witness replied
that she cried little.
Health Officer George Hight was called
TO the stand just before the noon recess.
He said that someone notified him by
telephone of Felch's death between and
o'clock Sunday morning He went to
the sugar house, saw the body lying
there and after a preliminary examina
tion, left the premises in charge of Town
Constable Diekerman while he left the
woods to notify the states attorney.
The witness said he was about the Felch
home at different times Sunday, saw
Mrs Felch frequently, but did not see
her show any signs of grief. When court
this afternoon the health Of ,
icer was recalled to the stand and di-
-ect examination by Atty. Gen. Barber
md States Atty. Sherburne continued.
Convicted Man Holds to Story.
Yesterdays session of court was near
ng its end when Otis Williams was ex.
used from the stand to be followed, be- I
ore recess for the night was declared, by \
ormer States Atty. Frank S. Williams
VI Bradford and Myron j. Buck of Beth
i, a civil engineer, who was employed
" the state in pushing the investigation
m the Felch farm Immediately after the {
murder. After searching cross exam i
nation by Atty. R. A. Hoar for the de- i
ense it was indicated that the young G
armhand would not be used again that b
ay and in company with Jailer George t
rracv he left the court house. In the f
over lobby he met his wife, with whom v
e was permitted to speak for few mo- I
nents before going TO the Jail. Williams t
; in the custody of Assistant Warden +
fcDerment, who accompanied him from 4
Windsor to Chelsea early in the day. A
Despite the steady grilling which he b
eceived in the cross examination, vii. b
ans did not waver in his version of
he tragedy and the events leading up Il
o il. There were admissions which fl
hanged the tenor of his testimony in v
Il
CONTINUED on sixth pagel 81
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