Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-02
ELL ABOUT SUICIDE Letter
|aud Howricon Stated In 1t She Killed
Herseif to Prevent Being Buried
Alive in Insane Asylum. Harold
H. Hazen Testlfies

North Hero, Oct. 1.-Harold H. Hazen.
ephew Of Maud and John Howricon. tes-
flying before the Grand Isle county
burt this morning on cross-examination
vealed the full contents of the second
tier which he destroyed to prevent his
other from seeing It, the last para
taph Of which contained words to this
fleet IT am doing this to prevent being
lried alive in an insane asylum" and
was written and signed by Maud How
con.
Cross-examined by Attorney Billiard
be young man testified that he in COM
hny with his uncle. John. and a man
hmed Silas Pocquet "a former witness)
ent TO the home of Maud Howricon the
|orning after her suicide. They found
er in bed with a revolver. bloody
nife. a bottle Of iodine and an agate
hn containing some blood. all resting
a. table near the bed There was a
nife cash in the left wrist of Maud and
bullet wound over her left forehead,
nd she was dead. The witness said that
here were two letters written by Maud
the room One of them has been
roduced in court and the other was the
he that he destroyed by burning it.
questioned as 70 the contents of that
tier by Attorney Bullard the witness
i'd that It told Of her attempts at sui
de. He described the letter as follows
she said that she first tried to gas
erself fusing coal gas from the kitchen
Inge) but the wind blew too strong for
be gas to rise, Their she drank three or
bur good swallows of iodine from the
bttle and this made her very sick. Then
be had to resort to fathers knife mot
Lying a word about the revolver) and
hded her letter by I am doing this be-
huse do not want to be buried alive in
Pme insane asylum or hospital "
And that Is the letter that you de-
|royed?" queried Attorney Bullard. 1T
- replied the witness. did that letter
lad you to think that she was insane?"
leried Attorney Buliard. Here Judge
arline objected. On redirect examina-
on he staid that he did not think that
aud meant that she was insane but that
be might have to 60 to an old ladies'
pine or some private institution when
be became old and feeble.
Mrs. Helen Mott, aged 5s Of Alburg,
stified that Maud was bright and capa-
10 when she taught school at Alburg
nd boarded at the Mott home. She be-
eve that she was sane Cross-examined
he admitted that she mad not observed
osely as to her sanity.
Patrick J. Farrell of Swanton, a pedlar,
no used to make the rounds at North
ero said that ne though Maud sane. he
liking with her several times and sold
er goods
r. f. Samson of Grand Isle, the hus-
and of Mrs. Samson, who testified yes
erday. said that Maud boarded at his
ouse at one time when she taught school
AIburg. He thought she was sane
hthough he had only seen her occa.
onally.
Harold Hazen was recalled to the stand
the opening of the afternoon session
Attorney Darling who asked him
bout his statement. 1T is Just what we
Expected for years. which he testified
at the morning session when queried
bout Mauds suicide. The witness quail
ed his statement by saying that the
we" applied to himself only and not &c
he other members of the family, the
bought being his personal one,
Matte Branch of Grand Isle, the wife
DR.. G. II. Branch, special admins.
rator of Maud's estate. n pupil at the
erusalem school. testified as to Maud's
hnity. saying that she was sane. She
as cross-examined only briefly.
Hattie Reed of Isle La Motto knew
aud when she taught school there
hey attended socials. etc. together ant
he had Maud at her home one Thanks,
living for dinner. On cross-examina tor
he denied ever hearing of strange hap
enings to Maud.
Mary Montgomery Of Isle La Motto
1903-H. examiner Of teachers for tn,
ounty said that Maud passed a higl
xaminatlon when applying for teach
rs position in that village. She SAID
he had good, sound mind and memory
n cross-examinaton by Attorney Brown
le said that she had never heard MAUD
Xix of her family relationships, bu
ways about her teaching work. Ther
ie was asked why Maud should Civ,
p her teaching and go to work as
faitress and the witness could not an
wer.
DR.. John H. Dodds Of Burlington testi
ed that he knew Maud when she lived
18th her sister. Mrs. Samson, at Nortl
ero. He was well acquainted with hel
nd talked with her many times. lie sale
nat she was of sound mind and Of goot
emory during the time he knew her.