The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-06-23
PREMED|TATED
MURDER RULES
SPECIAL JURY
Indictment Returned Yesterday
Against Byron Pettibone
TO BE ARRAIGNED TODAY
Local Attorneys of Opinion that Judge
Wilson VIII Order Trial Early
in July.

Byron NJ. Pettibone, aged 81, ma
tive of Pownal who has lived in Ben
nngton for nearly dozen years, was
indicted for murder late yesterday al,
lernoon at Manchester by speclal
grand jury in a case that has at ract-
ed more attention than any alleged
crime in southern Vermont since the
trial of Mary Rogers for the killing Oh
her husband II years ago
The indictment returned against
pettibone charges premedita.ed muir
der in the killing of his Wiie hNa
Bond Pettibone, on the evening OF
April 6. The accused man will be ar
raigned at 2 o'clock this af ernoon,
standard time, at Manchester before
Judge Stanley NJ Wilson, who IS pre-
siding al the June term of Bennington
coun court in the north shire.
The prosecution has intimated ina +
il will move for an immediate trlai
of the case. 1t is expected that James
K Ratchelder and Henry Chase, coun-
sci for Pettibone, will ask for con,
tinuance 20 he December term OF
crurt to be held here in Bennington.
Developments yesterday of an unoul-
cial nature seemed to indicate that
Tndge Wilson would set the case LOT
the present term Of court, although
recess of week or more mlsh De
allowed for he benefit of the defence
Some delay was experienced yes
terday forenoon in the proceed
ing5 at Manchester. The JURY as
originally drawn consisted Oh
irving E. Grout Of Airing on, William
n Nichols and George X. Mathers Oh
Remington, Frank Benedict Oh DOT
set, r. b. Young OF Glastonbury j. u
Hale Of Landgroye, A. E, Bryant OF
Manchester, Asa Brown of Peru ).
Whine Gardner of Pownal, A. ). Jchh
son Of Readsboro. Frank K. Wlnches-
fer Of Rupert Guy E. Bentley OF sand
gate, George ]. Bond OF SearsDurg, r.
In Randall OF Shat sbury, G. s. Blshop
of Stamford. f. c. Bacon OF Sunder-
land. Harlie T. Benson Of Winhall ana
John Bugbee of Wocdford. Mr.. bry-
ant OF Manchester was out OF town
when the notifica ion was sent TO ms
address. Mr.. Gardner was unable 70
attend and MIR. Bacon was disquallied
because he had served on grand
Jury within two years. The vacancies
we're filed by the selections OF A. I,
Oryis. Frank wilson and q. II. Key
mold,
Following Judge Wilson's charge to
the Jury two witnesses, Rodney Wood
of the Wood detective agency, ana
Clarence Miller who is employed at
the d. A. Ward pharmacy from which
Pet.ibone, according to the alleged
confession originally oh aimed by the
detectives. obtained the sTychnlne
sulphide which caused his fes
death. we're examined
At the afternoon session of the jury
the witnesses examined were MISS
Nellie II. Hogan, stenographer Tor
states At orney Collins NJ. Graves;
Miss Helen Irene Gillow, the trained
nurse who had been much in Pe,u,
bones. company since the death oil
his wife; DR.. y. NJ GARDINER VINO
attended Mrs. Pettibone on the night
of her death; DR.. c. r. Whitney of the
sta'e laboratory of hygiene at Bur
lington who assisted at the au cpsy
performed four days after Mrs. Pettl-
bones death; Deputy Sheriff Edward
Shanahan. who has been closely con-
nected with the investigation which
was begun by the state immedla ely
following the repors Of the autopsy,
The proceedings before the grand
Jury we're conducted by States Attor'
ney Collins NJ. Graves and Attorney
General Frank c. Archibald. Sheriff
Perry b. Gardner was in charge cf
the jury.
r. ]. Wood of the Wood detective
agency. his stenographer, Miss Lena
Evers and Fred Stanley the latter a
special writer who has been in town
several days covering 'he case for the
Boston American left this morning for
Boston in MIR. Woods car. Miss
Evers is the mysterious blonde
who, according to Dame Rumor was
sent to Bennington some time ago for
the purpose of fascinating Pettibone
and thereby obtaining information
concerning the suspec ed crime, Miss
Evers was present in the jury room
at the county court house at the time
the Bos on detectives obtained the
alleged confession from Pettibone and
it was he rehearsing OF this feature
while Chief of Police Brazil was be-
ing examined at the preliminary hear
ing that raised the laugh in which
Pettibone joined as heartily as the
spectators.
pett.bcne left shortly after noon to-
day with Sheriff Perry B. Gardner
and Deputy Sheriff Edward Hawkins
of South Shaftsbury for Manchester
in the sheriff's car.