Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-28
SAYS MRS. FElCH
PROMISED PRESENT
Former Maid Testifies Woman
on Trial for Murder Asked
Her to ''Stand By" Her.

Chelsea, June "a maid employed at
the Felch home at the time Of the murder
Of Joseph Felch gave sensational testi-
mony to-day in Orange county court in
the trial Of Mrs. Anna Fetch. charged
with homicide in causing her husbands
death. by saying that the day after the
funeral the widow promised her mice
present" II she, the maid, would stand
BY her." A few days later, the maid tes-
titled. she asked Mrs. Felch for definite
Information in regard to the present and
Mrs. Fetch replied, "A gold watch"
The maid was known at the time Of the
murder AZ Josephine Pero. She IL II years
old and has since married. She testified
substantially as she did a year ago at the
trial of Otis Williams, the farm hand,
who Is now serving life sentence at the
State prison for completely In the crime.
With the one exception quoted AbOvo. She
said nothing At williams trial Of the
present promised her By Mrs.. Felch.
She told Of retiring at nine o'clock the
night Of the murder, Of being awakened At
eleven by Mrs. Fetch. whose room ad-
Joined and who asked to come into her
bed. She was awakened in the morning
At I'VE by Mrs. Felch. who was dressing.
After starting breakfast Mrs. Fetch
asked to go to the sugar house. and. 40
SOAnk1nlC0 w uttl0 ko0HulCo 0eAsAAs W0AAs
there. Mrs. Felch. refusing to enter,
stood in the doorway and bade the girl
90 in. Inside. she found Felch's body and
when he did not answer her cries to him
she ran screaming from the house. with
Mrs. Fetch, she went to q neighbor's
Thomas Smith. and from there the towr
! authorities were called. When asked or
| DISCRIMINATION that II Mrs. Felcf
| showed any signs Of emotion, she SAID
that Mrs. Felch cried q little.
The attorneys for the defense wore mo-
willing to allow the girl to go home and
she will probably be called to the stAnt
| again.
The maids testimony was preceded b!
Myron Buck. a civil engineer. who mad
maps Of the sugar-house and premises
and who was excused to 60 to the seem
again for further measurements.
Health Omcer George Hight testfne1
to being summoned early Easter morn
ing, Of meeting on his way DR.. W. r
Roland. formerly Of Corinth. but nov
Of Ohio. who had been called by Mrs
Fetch. Of his visit to the sugar-hous
accompanied by John Felch. father o
the victim. of the finding Of a pool o
blood two or three feet from the body
and Of his seeing no signs of grief or emo
ton shown by Mrs. Felch during his sew
eral days investigation about the place
On the contrary. he said, she appears
| cool and natural.
DR.. Roland, who returned from Obi
to testify. told of being called to tn
farm. Of his going to the sugar-hous
and Of his examination of the body. For
mer States Attorney Frank Williams
who was the prosecuting officer at Oti
Williams trial. and who testified yes
terday. was recalled to the stand to CIV
further details.
DR.. B. H. Stone Of Burlington, VIII
performed the autopsy. had just com
menced his testimony when adjournmer
was taken at five o'clock. He will cor
tinue tomorrow morning and will
followed by DR.. c. F. Whitney Of Bur
lington. who assisted at the autopsy.