The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-12-23
Accused Man Rested His
Case on Evidence Of
Others
ARGUMENTS ARE
MADE AT HYDE PARK
Jury in Amy Shonio Death
Case Will Take the Case
Tonight

4
Mudgett, umberman, for the murder
at johnson on July 81 of Amy Shonio
a mill girl Counsel started their clos
/ ing arguments shortly after the ses-
sion opened and it was expected the
case would be in the hands of the jury
by evening.
| Under the arrangement by the court,
States Attorney Will L. Tracy's sum
mary of the prosecution was followed
by defense arguments of David Z. Port
er and Walter A. Dutton, with clos !
ing statement for the state by Attor-
ney General Archibald. Judge Moul-
toms charge was to follow.
The little court room was crowded
with a large outpouring of persons
from all sections of Lamoille county.
Mudgett comes of good family, and
this with the popularity of the girl
who was OF attractive personality, and
revelations of their alleged intimate
relations, has aroused keen local inter
est in the case. The prosecution
charges that Mudgett was responsible
for condition which prompted an at
tempted operation on the girl per
formed in an open field where her body
was found three days later. Strangula-
tion by the pressure of hands on the
throat was given as the cause of her
| death.
The first visible signs of emotion in
the respondent were noted yesterday
afternoon when his aged mother, Mrs
Abbie Mudgett Of North Hyde Park
testified for the defense Mrs. Mud
gett remained on the stand for but
few minutes, being summoned chiefly
to identify a pair of mittens given TO
her as Christmas gift from her son,
the man son trial.
When Mrs. Mudgett was escorted to
the witness stand by her daughter,
Miss Josie Mudgett, secretary to Coun.
w Clerk Smith Waite, she gave her
son glance of recognition. A faint
sn,ile crossed Mudgetts face, after
which he dropped his head. Apparent
ly he was having a hard time keeping
the tears back.
The defense closed late yesterday
without Mudgett going on the stand.
Testifying for the defense, Mrs. Elvah
Scott of johnson, whose home is on
Gulf street, near the cemetery, testi
fed that she was awakened in the mid
die of the night of July 81 by pierre
ing scream, but that though she lis
tened closely the noise was not re-
peated. :.
Mrs. Efie Miller of Johnson, recalled,
admitted, under direct examination,
that she had told her niece, Mrs. Freida
Russell, that the girl she saw at o.
o'clock on the evening Miss Shonio is
alleged to have met her death wore a
red cap. She denied that she had ever
been introduced to her but that Miss
Shonio had been pointed out TO her
Miss Louise Newcomb of johnson, a
table girl employed at the Everett
house in johnson, testified that she
was at the hotel az s on the night of
July 81 and that Mrs. Ila Atwell was
there at that hour.
Herman Spring of Crsftsbury testi
fed that he worked in johnson between
September, 1919, and June, 1920, and
that he boarded at the Fostey home. He
said that Mudgett paid Amy Shonios
doctors bill, but that the money was
repaid to him by Amy. He also spoke
Of the ouija board seances in which
Mudgett and the Shonio girl indulged.
Mrs. Ernest Mudgett of Hyde Park, |
sister-in law Of the accused man, iden-
titled a pair of mittens which Arthur
had given her TO give to his mother on
last Christmas day. Miss Josie Mud |
gett was called and also identified the !
mittens.
Rev. and Mrs. r. J. Kunze of John |
son. who testified yesterday morning |
were recalled that afternoon and iden-
tilted the bed and mattress which they /
testified they had seen in the Bradford
yard adjoining their on South street
The defense rested its case at 4;05
o'clock yesterday afternoon and the
rebuttal of the state Immediately
opened.
Mrs. Freida Russell Of johnson was
the first witness in the rebuttah She
testified that her aunt had told her
that the girl she saw on the corner on
July 81 wore a red cap and that the
man talking to her was Gaylord Pow
ers.
Mrs. Mary Bradford of johnson iden-
tilted the bed and mattress as the one
given 10 her by Miss Ida Perry Of
johnson three or four years ago. She
admitted having put the mattress in
her yard 10 clean and the bed there TO
paint. She denied being acquainted
with ANY Shonio. She admitted that
she had worked at the johnson pants
factory tow weeks Of February. 1920,
and said she had only spoken 10 Amy
once while she was there. She denied
having ever been in the cemetery a.
long a. she hadslived in johnson.
Under ross-examination she admit
ted she had told the story several times
when questioned BY Mr.. Tracey and De-
tective Brown
Q. Isn't IL true that you were un-
der suspicion a. being connected with
this casef"
A. 4 have been told so by the states
sttorney.
The witness was requested by At
.ornev General Archibald 10 stand in
ne aisle before the jury 50 that the
bodv of men might deterutne her
.sre. Il had been intimsted that she /
zas the woman seen in the cemetery
W the evening of July 81 BY Pred /
Dfer. = granite dealer ~ Morrisviile,
sho testified ycsteTds! morning.