News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1920-12-15

Case of State VS.. Arthur Mud
Mudeett, Charged With Muir
der of Amy Shonio atJohnson
Last Summer is Now On.
Grea, Difficulty In Securing a Jury

I Court.
Readers of this paper are familiar
! with the story, as no essential facts were
brought out before the trial started
Monday afternoon, that were fit to print
that we had covered.
The Associated Press, the Daily Gale
I DOMAIN and leading Boston Daily are
represented by Richard d. Howe, of st.
/, Johnsbury and other dailies had report
! ers present.
This is the first murder trial in
}S"Spunky Lamoille" County Court in fifty
| years, old court visitors tell us.
Never has there been greater interest
| in, case in this court We know this to
| be a fact by the hundreds of inquiries
| that have come into this Office since the
poor girls body was found, on the lone
ly hillside near the cemetery in johnson
by fellow employees in the mill on their
way over the hill to the river, as previ-
ously told by this paper.
The Hyde Park Inn and many houses
were filled Monday by people who came
as witnesses, or to hear the testimony
at the trial. The court room is far too
small to accommodate the hundreds who
desire seats and many are sure to be dis
appointed.
The State is represented by States At
torney W. E. Tracy Of Johnson and At
torney General f. C. Archibald of Man
chester.
The respondent is defended by Wal
ter A. Dutton of Hardwick, David f.
Porter of st. Johnsbury, and F. G. Fleet
wood of Morrisville, all able lawyers.
About 35 witnesses were examined by
tha grand jury which reported a true
bill at p. m. Thursday night, charging
the respondent with murder in the first
degree. Midget was brought into
court and plead mot guilty" Friday.
We take the following story from the
Caledonian:
1t was back in September 1919 that
Amey Shonio-young, quiet, reserved |
and Industrious left her home in Stowe
to make her own way in life. She went
to johnson where she secured employt |
ment at the Johnson Wooden Mill and |
boarded at the Orrin Foster home. Here |
also boarded several other young people, |
students of the Johnson Normal school !
and a man named Arthur MIDGET While |
the war was on and the boys were over
seas Miss Shonio corresponded with r.
win Fletcher q young volunteer from
Stowe. She wrote friendly letters to
him just as did many other girls of the
town to certain men with whom they
were acquainted only through CORES
pondence. When Fletcher came home he
and Miss Shonio became real sweet
hearts. They were together great deal
and apparently both were very happy.
Fletcher often came to Johnson to see
her, it was said, at least up to a few
months before her DEATH
"Mudgett comes from a fine family
and until the murder of the Shonio girl
had always been a respected citizen. He
was a Jack of all trades"-could lay a
brick wall or single house and could
do both we'll. He was away a good nnr-
ton of each week, usually returning
Friday or Saturday.
when he came home he brought can
dy and fruit to all the girl boarders to
whom he took a friendly interest, includ-
ing Miss Shonlo. 1t was not long, how
ever, before it became noticeable that
Mudgett's attentions became simmered
down to the Shonio girl alone, and that
the candy he brought home was for her
only. His particular interest for the
newcomer from Stowe was noticed by
the other girls and caused considerable
from them. 1t was very plain
~ seen that she was singled out for his
favorite. 1t is said that he loaned her
money at various times with which to
purchase pretty clothes. Miss Shonio
soon dropped Fletcher.
Besides Mudgett, Miss Shonio had
Out one real friend a confidente to
which she told her troubles, if she had
aver had any besides the one related to
low married, who worked in the same
shop with her, and who was, closer to her
han any girl, Miss Shonio did not di-
7ulge the secret that she soon was to be-
'ome mother. In fact, no one in the
yillage knew anything of her condition,
except her father and his housekeeper
1t Stowe to whom she confessed her
the last time she was at her
lome
"The last time Miss Shonio was seem,
live was about o'clock on the night
If July IL, 1920. A friend declares that
he saw her walk down past the Foster
house and then start back, apparently !
o her boarding place. Nothing was
heard of her again until her body was {
discovered shortly after one o'clock in
i2 afternoon three days later by three {
hep mates of the dead girl, Miss Grace
Mrs. May Leach and Miss !
Duke. They found the body lying I'M
sr tree on the Hill near the cemetery !
The frightened girls hurricdly re-
a:ned to village and informed States Y
attorney Tracy of their discovery. He
communicated with DR.. B. {
/. Stone, State pathologist who came to
Ohnson at once. He performed an au- c
opsy assisted by DR.. R. G. Prentss. a
ohnson physician. The report of the v
utopsy, as is customary, has never been
made public, but it is said that DR.. Stone V
S satisfied that there had been an at i
1rl. 1t is also reported that DR.. Stone
ave it as his opinion that it was not the c
empt at an illegal operation upon the
peration alone that killed the girl but
hat violence was used upon the body a
he body was later taken to the home
# the girls father in Stowe, where it f
-as buried in the Pine Hill cemetery"
Miss Shonio was always highly spok- q
n of in her home town and in Johnson C
nd the news of her death was received
nth distinct shock by the community.
'ecause of her reserved nature she had I