The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-30
Attorneys Make Plea in
Homicide Case in Chel-
sea Court
JUDGES CHARGE
THIS FORENOON
Large Grove ssAlstens In
tently Testimony
>Snalyzed

| LII ehe case OF Mrs. Anna Felch, on trial
here for the alleged murder of her hus-
band, Joseph Felch, at Topsham on the
eve OF Easter Sunday in April, 1915, were
made yesterday afternoon, last evening
and this forenoon, and just before noon
Judge Butler began his charge to the
jury. All the arguments were able
The state opened and closed the case,
with States Attorney John C. Sherburne
making the opening argument and At
orney-General H. G. Barber speaking at
the close. Attorney Hale X. Darling
opened for the defense, and the closing
argument for the respondent was made
by his colleague, r. A. Hoar.
When court took recess for the sup
per hour late yesterday afternoon, the
states attorney had finished his argu.
ment and Attorney Darling was nearing
the preface to his argument. Judge But
Ter ordered special session in the even
ing, at which time Mr. Darling rounded
out his argument. This forenoon Mr..
Hoar was followed by the attorney gen
eral
States Attorney Sherburne's state,
ment was mater Of fact resume OF the
states evidence and telling points were
emphasized by him while a courtroom
crowded to the doors and the overflow
outside in the corridors followed eagerly
every word. Over against his argument,
when court, counsel and jurors had called
1t day, was the somewhat impassioned
plea OF Mr.. Darling, whose eloquence was
brought into play around numerous i'm
portant points. 1t was the largest crowd
that has attended court since the trial
began, and whether the jury was hear
ing the side OF the state or that of the
accused, the spectators drank in avidly
every syllable.
Said the states attorney, in opening:
Gentlemen of the jury, the state is not
here to prosecute. The state wishes YOU
to give the respondent the benefit of ev-
cry reasonable doubt, but not of any and
every unreasonable or possible doubt.
You are not required to satisfy yourself
beyond every possible doubt, but beyond
4 reasonable doubt This is horrible
and revolving case because of the pecu-
arly horrible nature of the crime. 1t
IS an issue between the state and the
and in making up your
minds as to the guilt or Innocence of
,he accused you should not consider the
question of penalty. That is in the
lands of the Judge"
Here, the states attorney stressed the
significance of Otis Williams testimony,
lecribing him as an eye witness, who,
lfter supplying motive for the crime
~ telling of alleged improper relations
With the respondent, continued by de-
cribing the circumstances of the murder
rhe attorney went on to mention Mrs.
'elch's alleged discovery that she was
n trouble as the result of alleged i'm
roper conduct and then realized that
er husband was or would be aware of
er condition. So the accused and Viii
Jams, he went on, went to the sugar
ouse that dark night in April, Joseph
'elch was killed, and then, to give the
rime the appearance of q suicide, fixed
hings within so that the rifle lay under
he farmers body. Next day, he contin-
ed, neither professed TO know anything
bout the manner of his death. "Wil-
ans is not a creditable Witness some
ne might say, the attorney said. and
ct, except for the accused's own story,
here has been nothing to show that he
as not telling the truth. On the other
and the state has corroborated portions
the Williams story.
Turning to the testimony concerning
ne letter to Harold Weeks of Meredith,
I. H., in which the accused claimed that
lie wrote a letter to Otis Williams at
Ae instance of her husband enclosed it
letter addressed to Weeks, and
ailed it. the states attorney remind
| the jury that Mrs. Felch and her hus-
md, neither of them, seemed to know
uch about Weeks, and said it stood out
significant that Mrs. Felch, in spite OF
r claim that the contents of the letter
ere innocent enough and written at the
stance of her husband. didn't see fit To
ldress it directly to Williams at AIer-
18th. with the words. "in care of Harold
eeks," written on the envelope. Why
letter inside of letter he asked
As for Mrs. Felch's denial OF the ale
tion that she was in the barn with
is Williams, Mr.. Sherburne claimed
at the evidence showed where Mrs.
illiams' statement about seeing the ac-
sed emerge from the barn was corrob
sted by Otis Williams. He called at
ntion to the testimony of Mrs. George
,Cormsck Josephine Perol who told Of
sing Williams in the hay loft as she
mt into the barn for eggs and declared
at Williams pulled up the ladder Sc
at she could not ascend to the loft. haa
2 desired to investigate. Turning TO
rs. Felch's denial that the minister
led on the Friday before the murder.
2 attorney for the state referred again
the testimony Of the Pero girl. which
d it that the door was locked in the
nister's face and that after the se-
sed. Otis Williams. little Bernice Felch
4 the witness had climbed the stairs
, saw Otis and Mrs. Felch together
3 thought the former had his arm
1ut the accused.
The prosecutor called attention to
tements credited by witnesses to Mrs.
Ich. in which she said she would laugh
the baby looked like Otis" that she
ed Williams pretty hair and pretty