The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-01

CAUSE Of DEATH
According to Physician Who
Examined Body of
Mrs. Small
COTTAGE "BURNING
ALL OVER AT ONCE"
So Testified One of Neighbors First to
Reach the Scene Hatchway
Door Figures Again in Today's Evi-
Theory Advanced by Defense.

OSSIPEE, y. H., Jan Although shot
through the head and beaten, Mrs. Flor
encc A. Small was killed by strangulation
caused by a moose which enclrcled her
neck DR.. Erving W Hodsdon testified to-
day at the resumption OF the trial OF the
victims husband. Frederick l.. Small, who
is charged with ner murder.
Dir HOdSdon, who is n practitioner at
Mountain View where the Smalls made
their home, told how he and Medical Ref
cree b. Frank Horne lifted from the face
of the woman a cloth mask and found the
moose about the neck The cord had cut
into the flesh to depth equal to half It's
| thickness. forcing the tongue from the
mouth 4 bullet wound which would have
proved fatal in time was discovered IN the
/ head and evidence of several blows vas
| found on the scalp From their length
and depth. in the opinion of the physi-
elan, they must have been inflicted with
| q fire poker.
/ The cottage of the Smalls on the shore
of Lake Ossipce supposedly set ahre after
| the death Of Mrs Small to remove the
traces oi the crime, appeared to be burn
ing all over at once, according To the testi-
monv Of Elmer l.. Loring, a neighbor, who
was one ot the first 10 reach the scene
after the tire was discovered. l.OT1ng told
of his search for Mrs Small in the course
ot which he said that he and companions
saw a burning object which they thought
was her body. They We're unable to reacl
it at the time, but it toppled into the cellar
| where the head iell in.o a pool o. water
preserving evidences oi the strangulation
shooting and blows inflicted on the vic
tim,
The hatehway door leading INTO til,
cellar again figured IN the TESTIMONY Thi
witness said that one Of his companion
had difficulty III opening this door, whici
appeared 10 he fastened on the inside
The defense has sought to indicate tina
the door had been found unfastened which
suggested convenient exit for the mur
iderer. This theory was based on the CLAIM
that the cleatS securing the door re
NAMED upright until destroyed instead 0
resting across the door as would haN,
been necessary to hold it shut. The posi-
tUn OF clcats was indicated, according L
the defense, by a section of the doe
which they covered and protected from tn
flames
/ The bullet which was removed fror
, the head Of Mrs Small fitted the revolve
winch was found In the ruins, Dir Hodsdo
!, testified. after identifying the bullet whic
was introduced as an exhibit He ais
identified clock spring found in II
runs which the prosecution entered a
! another exhibit. The skull, heart, lune
! ard other organs Of Mrs Small WEI
: delivered 10 DR.. George Il. Magrath I
" Boston, medical examiner OF Suffolk com
y, tor analysis, Dir. lIodsdon stated. d
y Magath will be a witness
The body OF Mrs Small. when foun
appeared to have been fully clothed, ii
S. witness said, although most of the clothir
had been burned from the front of Il
,s body. Remnants of burned clothing we
shown the jury.
In protesting against his arrest. accor
= ing to Dr.. Hodsdon, Small declared th
j tcorge kennett, who drove him to Il
railroad station on the day of the murde
: saw him kiss his wife goodbye. kenne
Is has already testified that although SIN,
or bade someone Goodbye" the driver con
10 see no one in the house