The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-07
RELEASED FROM STATE PRISON.
Lou A. Foster Was Sentenced for Death
of 0ssie Prouty

bTaLCieDOFO, Jan. I.~-AIteT serving i've
years of sentence of - years for man
slaughter Lou A. Foster of West Hall
fax has been released from the state
prison in Windsor, having been pardoned
by Gov. Horace Il. Graham, and is now
in Iowa Foster was pardoned Nov. 81
but no publicity was made of the fact
and the news did not reach here until
yesterday.
1t will be remembered that ,on the
evening of Oct. l6, 1918, Foster and Os-
sic Prouty, q West Halifax farmer, got
into a squabble near Fosters home, as
result of which Foster shot prouty, in
flicting fatal injuries.
The case was tried in Windham coun-
ty court at Newfane before Judge Viii.
lard w. Miles and a jury, Attorney
General r. A. Brown of Burlington and
States Attorney A. V. D. Piper Of Brat
tleboro representing the state, while Fos-
ter was represented by Attorneys F, W,
Gibson and w. R. Daley of Brattleboro
and j. C. Jones of Rutland
On Monday, Nov. 10, 1918, the jury
found Foster guilty Of manslaughter and
on Nov IA Judge Miles sentenced Foster
to serve not less than Is years nor more
than Is years at hard labor in the state
prison.
After about the first year Foster be-
came bookkeeper for the Reliance Shirt
CO., concern employing prison labor at
the prison. According to Warden James
MeDermott, Foster was an exemplary
prisoner throughout his period of con
finement.
Sentiment was divided during the trial
of the case, and after time letters and
petitions recommending pardon began
to pour in upon the governor. The gov
ernor's secretary, Harvey w. Goodell,
states that there have been more cores
pondence and petitions in this case than
in all the rest of the eases of this kind
combined in the past two years.
Judge Frank Worden of West Halifax,
who knew both Foster and Prouty and
who was for many years one Of the as
sistant judges of the county court,
strongly recommended Fosters pardon,
and ex-Lieut. Gov. Frank T.. Howe of
Bennington, who also knew the parties,
did likewise Senator c. H. Dunton of
Poultney also was active in securing
pardon for Foster.
The circumstances leading up to the
shooting, as nearly as they could be de.
termined from those connected with the
tragedy, and as they appeared at the
trial, were as follows: Foster and Prou-
ty, who lived about 20 rods from each
other on Thomas hill in Halifax, about
three miles beyond West Guilford viii
lage, had been at loggerheads several
years and had frequently quarreled YER
bally and threatened each other. On the
morning of Oct Is as Prouty drove by
the Foster farm on his way to w. B.
Warren's mill with load ef apples, the
two men had some sort of an alteration
over Prouty's dog, which Foster claimed
was vicious and ought to be killed. On
Prouty's return the argument was con.
tinued and again in the afternoon, when
Prouty was on his way to WaTen's mill,
there was more trouble, it being claimed
that the dog at that time bit one Of the
children of Fosters housekeeper, Mrs.
Mabel Cumming.
When Prouty appeared on his wagon
in front Of the Foster house a short time
after + o'clock, the quarrel had its fatal
elimination. On that night Mrs. Cum
ming, who was the only eye witness Of
the shooting, said the trouble began
when Foster began to call Prouty names
and the latter replied that if Foster
didn't shut up he would kill him. Prou-
ty then stepped out of the wagon and
struck Foster twice in the face with his
fist. The men chnched and in the brief
scuffle that ensued Foster fired his re-
volver three times, at least, one Of the
bullets entering the victims forehead
Just over the right eye, Prouty fell to
the ground without sound, and the man
who killed him, after rushing into his
home, jumped upon his horse and rode
FIVE miles to the home of Constable
Green Worden in Marlboro, to whom he
gave himself up and by whom he was
taken to Brattleboro and later to New
fame Jail.