The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-07-27
Was Contention of Defense
Trying to Free Pettibone
Of Wife Murder
MRS. PETTIBONE HAD
HEADACHES OFTEN
And She Told Boston Wom-
an She Was Accustomed
to Taking Strychnine

Manchester, july 27.-The defense in
the trial of Byron Pettibone Tor the
murder of his wife attempted to-day TO
strengthen its contention that Mrs.
Pettibone's death resulted from an
overdose of strichnine self admins
tered The prosecution claims that
pettibone killed his wife by giving her
salts that contained strichnine.
Interest in the trial reached new
heights after the testimony yesterday
of Mrs. James Wray of Boston, who
told the jury that Mrs. Pettibone told
her in November lols, that she was
to taking strychnine in
doses of salts as remedy for head
aches and stomach trouble. Character
witnesses also testified for the defend
ant.
AT the opening OF the session yes
terday afternoon the state introduced
the frequently mentioned Archibald
this consisting of the
statements made by the respondent TO
Attorney General T, c. Archibald on
June l6. the day following the long
session and the confession made to At
torney Graves. In the statement made
to MIR. Archibald, Pettibone admitted
the poisoning much as he had done in
the statement to Mr.. Graves. But he
went much further and said that he
had been thinking about the matter for
three or four weeks.
He often thought, to quote his words,
If only could get rid of her, In this
series of questions and answers also
Pettibone went into more details as to
his relations with the nurse, Helen
Guillow, saying that they had discussed
marriage since April 6. that there was
no ring or anything like that. but he
had told her people that he hoped 10
marry her at the proper time and that
they offered no objection.
Mrs. Nora Philbrick. a relative Of
Mrs. Pettibone. of Rutland, testified for
the defense that she had been called TO
Bennington that night Mrs. Pettibone
died, arriving there early on the morn
ing of April Z. She had stayed there
for about two weeks. She stated that
she was present when Pettibone and
various relatives were discussing the
matter of an autopsy and that the
relatives including herself were OPP
posed to it.
Several residents Of Bennington
we're called to testify a. TO the char
acter and reputation OF the respondent
and they were agreed that previous TO
April 6 his reputation was good.
Among those so testifying was the
Rev. William G. Towart, pastor OF the
First Baptist church of Bennington.
Two or three women who worked near
Mrs. Pettibone az the Black Cat mill at
Bennington testified that on April 6 she
had complained of feeling poorly and
said she was doetoring
Daniel A. Ward, who owns and oper-
ates the drug store where..i II is al
legged Pettibone stole the strychnine,
was called by the defense and went
over the detail of the plan of his store.
its location with reference to the Wal
bridge undertaking rooms next door
and the handling and sale OF strych-
nine. including explanation of the fact
that each carton containing 10 small
bottles bore a distinctive control mum
bcr and that this number was also on
each little bottle There was consid-
crabie discussion as to the purchasing
Of bottle by DR.. Wilcox on Dec |,
which the state has shown was prob
ABLY left at the store with small
quantity removed from the bottle. ON
cross examination Of Mr.. Ward it
would seem that he testified at the in
quest that there had been \ search for
that particular bottle at the request Of
Attorney Graves IN June and hat il
could not be found. Mr.. Ward could
moi clearly recall the facts in the same
way to-day. Mr. Ward was among
those Who testified TO the good reputa
tion Of the respondent.
The fms witness Of the dsy was
BENJAMIN Harrison Pettibonc.
yourgcr brother Of the respondent. The
brother appears more worried than By.
ron. He l. much tho sane in features
and high coloring. though not 50 hesV-
ily built. The younger Pettibone in
response to the questions Of Attorney
Of the defense told Of the
entire life Of his brother as far a. he
could recall Il and more in detail II
his life since he married Mrs. Petit
bone. According TO his story there
never Vas any lack Of harmony be
tvren the two. and, in fact, It would
-eem that Byron Pettibone aud hi
wife we're = particularly afeetionate
couple