The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-07-21

what she died Of" He stated that he
partly made out death certificate.
Eugene Rice, who roomed at the
Pettibone house on School street and
who was present on the night of Mrs.
Pettibone's dea'h was examined by the
attorney general. He testified that he
drank one Of the three doses Of salts
prepared by Pettibone, that he was
called from his room when Mrs. Petit
bone became i'll and that he was pres
ent when she died The witness stat
ed that when he came down stairs
from his room that Mrs. Pettibone
was in bed and that PettibOne was
wearing his trousers and nightshirt.
The witness described Mrs. Petit
bones appearance and told how her
head bent backward during the con-
yulsions.
Some time after Mrs. Pettibones
death rumors were in circulation in
Bennington that Pettibone had made a
previous attempt to poison his wife
and these rumors again came to the
surface yesterday during the eXamina-
tion of Eugene Rice. Suddenly switch
ing from happenings on the night Of
Mrs. Petitioners death the attorney
general began questioning the witness
the previous Sunday even.
ing The witness testified that he
was then present at the Pettibone
house, that woHan visitor, Mr.
and Mrs Pe-tibone were also present,
that Pettibone prepared the evening
meal and poured four cups of tea
Mrs. Pettibone, the witness stated, /
raised her cup of tea to her lips and |
exclaimed You're trying to poison |
me-"
Following a brief crossexamination
Of Eugene Rice court was adjourned |
until 8 O'Clock, standard time, this
forenoon.
There were not many spectators at |
the morning session Tuesday but dur
ing the afternoon the court room was
crowded. There were more people |
present from Bennington than at any
lime since the trial began. Some of !
them made the trip to Manchester in |
-axis and others went by the Dorset !
autobus which is being run to accom-
moda'e witnesses and others who de
sire to attend
Pettibone, once the actual trial be. /
gan, showed more nervousness than |
while the talesmen were being ex-
amined. He shifted about in his seat |
and occasionally wiped the perspira
ton from his hands with his handker- |
chief His brother, Benjamin Petit |
bone Of Pownal who much resembles
the accused man, has been in Man. |
chester assisting counsel for the de.
Tense sinee the beginning of the trial |
Yesterday one OF his sisters arrived |
and she sat in front Of the little steel |
cage under the court house and visited |
with him during the noon recess.
Miss Helen Irene Guillow. the |
trained nurse with whom Pettihone is !
reported to be intensely infatuated 4
was in Manchester yesterday but did
not enter the court room She is un.i
der bonds of $1,000 TO appear as a ma |
terial witness in behalf Of the state
If needed but it is hardly probable
that she will be placed en- the stand. |
She has been in frequent consultation
With the attorneys for the defence for
several weeks. 900 !
When leaving and entering the
court room during the noon recess
Pettibone met and spoke briefly to a !
number OF persons whom he knew and
at that time carried himself as though
he were not the central figure in al
drama for which the concluding act
may be staged in the state prison at
Windsor. He has been much embar.
rassed by the camera men connected
with the Boston and New York news.
papers, Yesterday noon he responded
to a request to pose for pictures in
front of the court house and gave all
the photographers an opportunity to
make exposures. Pettibone had
agreed to the arrangements with an
unders anding that he was not to be
approached with similar requests in
the future. When the sitting" was
completed Pettjbone asked: Are you
all done, boys" Pettibone says that
if the camera men do not cease annoy
ing him some CT the photographers are
likely to need repairs on their ma.