The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-07-27
MRS. PETTIBONE TOOK
OVERDOSE HERSELF
This Is Defense In Murder Trial =
Boston Woman Tells of Conver-
sation About Strychnine.

MANCHESTER, July 27-The defense
of Byron NJ. Pettibone to the states
charge that he murdered his wife, Eva
Bond Pettibone, on April 6 last, was re-
vealed yesterday when testimony was of
fered that Mrs Pettibone was in the lab
it of taking stryscnine in salts to relieve
headaches.
Mrs. Lillian Wray of Idlewild street,
Allston district, Boston, called by the de
fence, declared that on November II, 1918,
Mrs. Pettibone told her that she took
strychnine for headaches, explaining that
she crushed the tablets in a glass with
spoon. When asked where and how she
obtained them she said, It's easy enough
to get them if you know how"
From the cross-examination it was an
ticipated that either suicide or accidental
poisoning would be the line of defence,
but this was not fully revealed until Mrs
Wray's appearance ON the witness stand
She came to Manchester accompanying
Atty. Joseph G. Jones of Rutland No
one knew her identity nor was it sus-
pected until she appeared in the court
room in response to Mr.. Batchelder's re-
quest that she would be called
Afternoon, Mr. Batche'der stated that the
defence would be that Mrs. Pettibone,
addicted to the use of Of strychnine as
headache relief. took an overdose OF
the poison the night Of her death
In building up the basis for the ex-
planation suggested in Mrs. Wray's tes-
timony, former co-workers at the Black
Cat mills az Bennington, where Mrs Pet
tibone sometimes worked, said she com
planned of heart trouble The state has
ALREADY offered proof that no organic
troubles were evidenced when Mrs. Pet
tibone was examined for life insurance.
Mrs Wray's testimony follows:-
In response to Mr. Batchelder's ques-
tioning she said she resided in Benning-
ton prior to Nov. 10, 1918. and that she
knew Byron Pettibone and his wife, She
explained that her husband was the man
lager of an a. & p. store at Bennington,
and that she worked in the store with him
at intervals The last day she was in
the store, Nov IL, 1918, Mrs. Pettibono
came in.
"Will you state the conversation that
you had with her on Nov II, 1872"
Atty. Cen Archibald said the incident
occurred is months prior to the date OF
the alleged crime and he objected that ii
was too remote.
| Judge Wilson said; 1t is rather re
mote. but we will receive it =
Miss Smith, the count reporter, re-read
the question and Mrs. Nray answered
$40 the best of my recollection, after
waiting upon her to buy what she wanted
to purchase, / remarked to her that
was going to close the store. | said
was suffering with a severe headache my
self and | was going to close and 60 out
and get something for it, and she asked
me what ] took. / SAID l attributed i
to dsordered stomach and / generally
took sweet spirits of nitre and salts anC
] got relief, as a general thing said
What do you take for a headache?'
/ take strychnine she said I cam
take pills or tablets, so / take spoor
land crush it in the glass
Il said to her, How do you dare Il
fool with those things, or do YOU cal
the doctor every time you have head
ache2'
Most of us can't afford that sh,
said. No, it is easy to take this wheI
you know how There Is no danger
Just state what she said further. Die
she say anything about getting it?'
/ II asked her how she dared to foo
with this sort of thing and if she hac
Ia doctor and she said, No, it is cas-!
enough to get it if you know how bu
she didn't tell me how she got it or wher
she got it,