The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-12-28
COUNSEL FOR
MUDCETT TO
SEEK new TRIAL
Hope to Win Another Trial
On Exceptions and Newly
Discovered Evidence

old lumberman of johnson and con-
victed slayer of Miss Amy Shonio,
the pretty young factory girl, gave
notice To-Day of their intention to file
exceptions for their client and at
tempt to carry the case to the State
! Supreme Court, Mudgett was SEN
/ fenced Monday to serve not less than
( 80 nor more than 35 years in the
I State Prison in Windsor. Exceptions
/ include those taken during the course
! of the trial and also in Judge Moul-
tons charge to the jury Rumors
were circulated about this village to-
{ day that considerable information had
! come to the ears of the attorneys
for the respondent, which if it could
have been introduced as evidence be-
fore the rebuttals closed, might have
had an important bearing on the
outcome of the case. Having lost
that opportunity, the defense law
yers will undoubtedly bring this new
evidence before the supreme court Il
they are allowed to carry the case TO
that body.
After the jury had been out just
FIVE minutes less than four hours,
verdict of guilty of manslaughter|,
was returned against the accused
man. The jury came in once, shortly
after two O'Clock for Instructions,
They were seeking a second reading
by Judge Moulton of the summary
OF his charge which evidently was
not entirely clear in their minds. The
belief was. expressed that the jury
men were in doubt regarding the
meaning of the various degrees OF
murder, which it was possible for
them to return. A few minutes be-
fore Foreman Fred 3. Boyden Of
Cambridge asked to come in for IN
structionS ne had sent out request
for a dictionary, which was denied
the u men.
Mudgett followed the reading Of
the judges charge to the jury with
intense interest, never once taking
his eyes from the court magistrate Z
However, he appeared in the same
spirits as he has maintained through |,
out the trial.
Sitting in the courtroom at the /
time the jury reported were : Mud I
gett's three brothers, Perley, Earnest .
and Curtis. His aged mother, Mrs.
Abbe Mudgett, did not feel able to
bear the strain of coming down to
court again from her North Hyde
Park home. Miss Josie Mudgett,
the pretty young secretary to County
Clerk Smith Waite, although prescr1
during the delivery Of the charge, re-
NAMED in her Office downstairs while
the verdict was being returned. The
jurymcn entered the courtroom at
3. 10. They had been locked up since
1115. Clerk Waite commanded the
accused murderer to stand and receive
the verdict Mudgett came to his feet
in an instant, but it was noticeable
that he leaned against the table in
front of him for support. Although
his face bore no signs of emotion, his
body was seen TO quiver slightly. lie
received the decision Of the II men
without emotion. The judge thanked i
he iulymcn and Immediately eXcus-
,d them.
1t was more than an hour before
Judge Moulton arrived at decision
the sentencing of the con-
,ictcd man. In the meantime Mud
yctt remained in the lawyers room
comforting with his counsel. At 4.20
Tudgc Moulton entered the court
'oom. Mudgctt came in in the com
,any of Sheriff George Town and
vas requested to stand in the pris-
'ncr's dock to receive sentence. He
vas asked by Clerk Waite if he had
Inything to say why sentence should
'ot be pronounced upon him. The |
prisoner replied, "No Sir"
Judge Moulton said: arthur
Iudgctt, you have been found guilty |
'r taking the life Of Amy Shonio. 1t |
S something you can't give back. 1t |
S a wrong that is irTetrievable and
doubt if any punishment that this
curt can inilict upon you will be
rcatcr than the suffering you will
AVE in the rccollcctions of the death
i that poor girl. | greatly dislike
sentence upon people.
This is one of the hardest parts of
ny duty and | often wish | might be
clicvcd of this part of my duty. |
entence you to be confined at hard
lbor in the state prison at Windsor |
or not less than so no more than
) years"
AS soon as Judge Mouton had fin
7bed, Mudgctt stepped down from
he prisoners stand, walked briskly |
vcr to where his counsel was and
arricd on a rather lengthy Whisper
d conversation with his senior coun-
q, Walter A. button. He then left
he court Noom followed by Sheriff J
own. He was unmovcd although 4
ricnds swal'mcd about him on his
tay to the lawyers room, shaking
ands, patting him on the back and
lany women friends shedding tears.
)ne woman, friend of the family, |
lCnnlinneI on naae %