The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-12-11
Crowds Flock to
Hyde Park Case
Continued from page one)

OF me state have the people been
stirred to such a high pitch of ex-
element. The manifest interest in
the outcome of the trial is tremend-
Gus and wide spread. Already people
arc 1ocking here in preparation for
the trial. Every incoming train brings
lawyers, witnesses and spectators,
while many sleigh loads of people arc
I'd winding their way toward this lttl'
Vermont town which for the mex
week or more will be the scene of
/ the greatest excitement in the mem
DRY OF the oldest inhabitant. A
heavy snow storm last night made
the roads almost impossible
The Hyde Park Inn, the only ho-
tel in the village, is crowded almost
to capacity and it is probable that
many will find it necessary to secure
lodging in private houses. The
scramble to find seats in the court
room next week is going to prove
interesting, because of the limited
capacity of the small building many
will he turned away disappointed
1t was back in September 1919 that
Amy Shonio-young quiet, reserved
and industrious left her home in
Stowe to make her own way in life.
She went to Johnson where she Sc
cured employment at the Johnson
Wooden Mill and boarded at the Orrin
Foster home. Here also boarded seve-
raj other young people, students of
the Johnson Normal school and a man
named Arthur Mudgctt. While the
war was on and the boys were over
seas Miss Shonio correspondent with
Irwin Fletcher, a young volunteer
from Stowe, whom she had never
seen. She wrote friendly letters to
him just as did many other gills of
the town to certain young men with
whom they were acquainted only
through correspondence. When Flct-
cher came home he and Miss Shonio
became real sweethealts. They were
together a great deal and apparently
both were very happy. Fletcher often
came to Johnson to see her. it vas
said, at least up 10 few months be
fore her death.
Mudgett is a man of excellent ha-
bits, comes from fine family and
until the murder of the Shonio sill
had always been highly respected
citizen. He was married but had not
lived with his wife for the past six
years. He was "Jack of all trades
could lay a brick wall or Single
house and could do both well. He
was away a good portion Of each
week, usually returning Friday or
Saturday.
When he came home he brought
candy and fruit to all the girl board
erS to whom he took friendly in
terest, including Miss Shonio. 1t was
not long, however, 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 new
conner from Stowe was noticed by the
other girls and caused considerable
comment from ,hem. 1t was very
plainly seen that she was singled out
for his favorite. 1t is saiP that he
loaned her money at various times
with which to purchase pretty clothes
Miss Shonio soon dropped Fletcher.
Besides Mudgett, Miss Shonio had
but one real friend-a confdente to
which she told her troubles, if she
bad ever had any besides the one re-
lated to her death. But never TO Miss
Coolidge, now married, who worked
in the same shop with her. and who
was closer TO her than any girl, Miss
Shonio did not divulge the secret
that she soon was to become 4 moth
er. In fact, no one in the village
knew anything of her condition.
The last time Miss Shonio was
seen alive was about o'clock on the
night of July 81, 1920 A friend de-
clarcs that she saw her walk down
past the Foster house and then start
back apparently to her boarding
place. Nothing was heard of her
again until her body was discovered
shortly after one o'clock in the af-
ternoone three days later by three
shop mates of the dead girl, Miss
Grace Ellsworth, Mrs. May Leach,
and Miss LaDukc. They found the
body lying under tree on the hill
near the cemetery. The body lay on
a ledge in natural position with one
rltS HlSHIlS CiOHSlup the OIHcI. I1eT
clothing was not diSarranged and
there were no evident signs of a
struggle.
The frightened girls hurried to the
Office of States Attorney Tracy in
johnson to whom they communicated
the news of their discovery. Mr..
Tracy Immediately communicated
with the Bureau of Hygiene in Bur
lington and DR.. g. H. Stone, State
pathologst drove over to Johnson.
He performed an autopsy assisted by
Dr.. X. G .Prentiss, Johnson physi-
clan. The report of the autopsy, as
is customary, has never been made
public, but it is said that Dr.. Stone
is satisfied that there had been. an
attempt at an illegal operation upon
the girl. 1t is also reported that Dr..
Stone gave it as his opinion that it
was not the operation alone that kill
ed the girl but that violence was used
upon the body. The body was later
taken to the home of the girls father
in Stowe, where it was buried in the
Pine Hill cemetery.
Miss Shonio was always hikghly
spoken of in her home town and the
news of her death was received with