Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-21
WANTED TO BLOW UP
A WHOLE VILLAGE
Lack of Means Alone Saved Der.
by Line from Annihilation at
Hands Of Harold Mackley, Ac.
cording to Testimony in His
Trial.

Derby Line was In danger Of being blown
up at one time, according to the testimony
which was introduced in United States
court yesterday morning in the trial Of
Harold Mackley. who Is following the
Rev. Clarence H. Waidron with a trial
under the espionage act. According to
what some pretty safe members Of the
community said, Mackley has not been
very clever about his statements and has
made plenty Of them.
The United States court, which has al
ready spent more time in Burlington than
in any town in the State in years during
one session. because Of the character of
the trials, went to work on Maclxiey yes
terday in old-time fashion and no less
than seven witnesses were examined dur
ing the forenoon. At noon the government
rested its case and Mackley came on in
the afternoon. His direct and cross
examination took only a little more than
half hour. The court then took recess
until this morning, when q witness for
the defence will take the stand and COM
plete the testimony. The pleas Of the at
torneys and the Judges charge will take
up a part Of the day, SO the case will
probably go to the Jury this afternoon.
According to the testimony of the wit.
nesses yesterday, Mackley promised that
IL he ever had the means he would blow
up the town. That is where Derby Line
was In danger. but Mackley didn't have
the means. so 1t Is still on the map.
The testimony for the prosecution tended
to show other peculiarities of Mackley's
mind. c. r. Counter manager of the
Holland creamery where the defendant
worked. testified to such statements as
that Mackley number Of times expressed
90 hntv
man blood.
Some Of the statements alleged to have
been made by hin, were as follows;
III the United States would mind its owr
business 1t wouldn't be in this war and I
would be glad IL 1t were beaten"
Il would never fight against the German
people and II forced into the war I
calculate to shoot number of Americans
before am killed, and II every German
did the same the war would soon he
over"
According to the testimony Of his for
mer employer, Mackley made a number
OF other remarks along the same line.
These were to the effect that the soldiers
in the United States army were used like
dogs, that the United States government
owed him money which he couldn't get
etc
George Perkins. farmer who sometimes
went to the creamery where Mackley
worked. testified that he heard Mackley
say that ne was glad when a ship load
OF sugar, bound for the allies, was sunk
He also was glad when the Tuscania was
sunk because he thought the soldiers
should remain on this side. He heard
Mackley say on one occasion that n he
had chance he would shoot the Kaiser
and that would stop the war.
Carroll F.. Tabor was one of the stronr.
est witnesses for the prosecution, He
stated that he heard Mackley say that II
ne were ever forced to 60 to war he would
shoot half dozen American soldiers and
that II every German did the same, the
war would soon be over He was with
Tabor on one occasion when they met
with a solicitor for the Red Cross Tabor
had already Joined and offered to go
good" for Mackley II the latter would Join.
Mackley replied that he would do nothing
to support the government. They were
bunch of crooks
Testimony in substantiation of the other
witnesses was given by William Pringle of
Shelburne, Nelson Bennett of Derby Line,
and George T. Ames. who operates a gar
age in Derby Line and who was the man
who tried to get Mackley to Join the Red
Cross.
X. p. Skinner. deputy United States
marshal who arrested the defendant, tes-
titled that Mackley told him that the state
ments made by the above named wit
nesses were correct in the main.
In the afternoon, Mackley took the stand
in his own behalf. He interpreted the
remarks made by him as being misunder-
stood by the people. He liked to argue
and made these statements IN a spirit Of
fun. He admitted making many Of them.
Although he had tola many Of the Derby
proud OF 1t. when testifying In his own
behalf he said ne wasn't cure, but had
thought his father was German and he
was certain that his mother WAS Irish.
The people Of Derby Line were 40 much
incensed at Mackley that a petition ives
circulated at one time and presented to
Bert Rice. his bondsman. asking that he
surrender him to the custody Of the Uni
ted States. 1t ia evident that the people
of Derby Line consider Mackley far
from icing an ideal citizen Of the United
States.
There was little difficulty experienced
yesterday morning In drawing q jury.
Only one juryman was rejected and that
was because he was All officer of the law.
The Jury on the case consisted Of Lucius
A. Bostwick. John p. Murphy Harry l..
White. F. Il. Perkins. John McCuen. F.
H. Brown and T. b. Wright of Burlington.
Frank Taicoott OF Willston. Fred Fuller
Of Nortl,ield. G. b. Evans of Water