Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-22
PETT|BONE JURY SELECTED
Evidence II Begun-nra. Pcttibone said
Some One Was Trying 10 Poison
Her, One witness Testines


Manchester, July 1s.-Shortly after two
| o'clock this afternoon County Court con-
vened here for the trial of Byron M. |
| Pettibone OF Bennington, who fs under |
| indictment for murder in the first degree !
| for the alleged poisoning of his wife, Eva
Bond Pettibone, April last.
| Things move quietly during the dues
tioning by attorneys of the first four Jury
men, but then many began to indicate
that they had opinions which would re-
quire evidence to change and a total of
eight were excused by the presiding judge.
A total OF fifteen jurynen were dues-
! toned during the afternoon session and
seven Of those were in the jury box when
court adjourned about $50. But no chai-
lenges had been made by the attorneys
SO that probably the work Of securing the
jury is far from half completed.
Attorney General Frank c. Archibald
Of Manchester is assisting County Attor-
ney Collins NJ. Graves of Bennington in
the prosecution and the veteran James
x. Batchelder is associated with j. c.
ZONES Of Rutland and Harry Chase Of
Remington for the defense.
Every juryman questioned was asked
II he had any conscientious scrupies
against ca Dital punishment as the penalty
in Vermont for murder in the first de-
gree is death and not one Of the IL indi-
ated any such scrupe
The original inquest in the case brought
out that the respondent had made a con-
fessinn to officials just previous to his
arrest and 1t is assumed that the States
case will center around this confession.
Interest in the case also attaches to the
testimony Miss Helen Outflow, a trained
nurse. with whom Pettbone became in
fatuated and who has been held as
material witness.
Manchester. July 2O.-ConsiderabIe prog
ress was made in the trial Of Byron NJ.
Pettibone for wife murder in County Court
to-day. the selection of the jury being com
pleted about three o'clock this afternoon
and the testimony of both DR.. Il. NJ
, GARDINER and Eugene Rice. the man who
roomed with the Pettibones. being com
! pleted
Eugene Rice, the roomer. brought a new
element into the trial when he told OF
, being at the Pettibone home on the Sun
' day evening previous to the tragedy with
Mr.. and Mrs Pettbone and one Bessie
S Wright. He said that this evening
3 Byron Pettibone prepared something to
S eat including tea Mrs Pettibone started
to drink her tea and said that it was
bitter. She did, not drink it. but took an
G other cup ice-stated that Mrs. Petit
| DoHe Spohe WOTuS 10 the eIIeCI Lndt SOME
body was trying to poison her. Later on
cross lex animation Rice said that the first
time he mentioned this incident was a
few weeks ago to~a sister of Mrs. Petit
bone and that he later gave this infor.
nation to the attorney-general and the
i county attorney.
DR.. Gardner described the condition of
the woman preceding her death as a sue
,cesson of'convuisons with intervening in
= Itervals of relaxation and clear mind.
There was A little stir in the crowded
II court room when Dr. Gardiner testified
that when he and Dr. Hurley. who had
: been called in consultation, but arrived
: after death occurred. we're going out to
: their automobiles. Byron Pettibone &C.
T. cDmpanied them and said il there was any
: suggestion of poisoning to say nothing as
y rumors started SO easily in a small place
or words to that effect.
During the examination of Rice the
! story of the salts was rehearsed. 1t seems
n that on this evening Pettibone came into
e the house about 8:30. neighbor, Mrs
l. Westoff. was there. but went before 90
n when Pettibone said he felt logy and was
going to take dose of salts. Mrs. Petit
q bone said she would take a dose also anC
- that Pettibone then prepared the salts
II and he, Rice, drank his glass. Mrs. Petit
: bone saying that she would wait unit
she was ready to go to bed. When Rics
left the kitchen the two glasses had no
been drunk and were on the warming
oven of the range. He came back with
p two oranges from his room and then wen
=. up stairs and stayed until ne called
by Pettibone after ten o'clock. Rice als'
J. testified to the effect that far as hi
!. had ever seen. Byron Pettibone Away:
k treated his wife properly
y The name of the pretty nurse, Heller
l. GuiIlow. has not yet been heard in tn
l. court room and she has not been seel
& about the place, but her testimony i
l. awaited with interest by the large numbe
Al of spectators
II The jury sitting on the case is as fol
81 lows: Ernest Bebee. farmer. Of Ruper
u w. j. Young. employed in a factory a
North Bennington: William o. Wilcox.
le farmer, of SYNDICATE; Frank Sheldon, an
ie other Rupert farmer Frank Boynton.
~ teamster. from Woodford; G. j. Edgerton
VI a factory employe OF Manchester; l.. T
VI Torrey. painter OF Dorset; George F
;, Livingston, a Dorset farmer; L. II. Abbott
= a farm laborer from Landgrove; job
~ y, Flynn, a laborer. from Dorset Clyd
Bryant farmer, land John Raedel of STAN
ford who works in a mill in North Adams
- The State exercised but two of it's pre-
20 emptory challenges while the defens
"a challenged four itimes during the process
:. of selecting the jury.
"