The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-07-21
Prosecution Proceeds. Rap
idly in the Petit
bone Trial
TRYING TO PROVE
PREVIOUS ATTEMPT
Made by Bennington Man
to Make Way With
His Wife

fiuhNiNSANit phiy "Nl t'~NN-N+
tion in the trial Of Byron NJ. Pettibone,
charged with the murder of his wife at
Bennington on April Q last, proceeded
to-day in its effort TO establish that
Pettibone, who was an undertaker's as
sistant, poisoned Mrs Pettibone be-
cause of his alleged infatuation for
Miss Helen l. Guillow, nurse. The
trial moved rapidly after the jury was
chosen and the state Is expected to
complete its case sometime tomorrow.
The prosecution introduced evidence
by which II hopes to show that the de-
fendant attempted to poison his wife
few days before she died
The jury was completed yesterday
afternoon and is composed of the fol-
lowing men;
Ernest Beebe, farmer, of Rupert;
W. j. Young, employed in factory at
North Bennington; William O. Will
cox, farmer, OF Sandgate; Frank
Sheldon another Rupert farmer;
Frank Boynton, teamster, from
Woodford; G. J. Edgerton, a factory
employe of Manchester; j.. p, Torrey,
a painter, of Dorset; George Il, Living
ston, a Dorset farmer; L. II. Abbott,
a farm lshorer from Landgrove; John
Flynn, a laborer, from Dorset; Clyde
Bryant, farmer, and John Raedel of
Stamford, who works in a mill in
North Adams, Mass.
The state exercised but two of its
preemptory challenges while the de
tense challenged four times during the
process of selecting the jury.
Eugene Rice and DR.. E. NJ. Gardiner
were on the stand yesterday after
noon and the former, who had a room
at the Pettibone house, told of being
nj the house on the Sunday evening
previous to the tragedy with Mr.. and
Mrs. Pettibone and Bessie Wright. He
said that on this evening Byron Petit
bone prepared something to eat, includ-
ing tea. Mrs. Pettibone started to
drink her tea and said that It was
bitter. She did not drink it, but took
another cup. Rice stated that Mrs. Pet
tibone spoke words to the effect that
somebody was trying to poison her
Later, on cross examination, Rice said
that the first time he mentioned this
incident was few weeks ago to a
sister of Mrs pettibone, and that he
later gave this information TO the at
tornet general and the county attor-
ney.
DR.. Gardiner described the condi-
tion of the woman preceding her death
as a succession of convulsons with in
tervals Of relaxation and clear mind
There was little stir in the crowded
court room when DR. Gardiner testi-
fed that when he and DIR. Hurley, who
arrived after death occurred, were going
out to their automobiles, Byron Petit
bone accompanied them and said II
there was any suggestion of poisoning
to say nothing as rumors started so
easily in small place, or words to
that effect
During the examination Of Rice the
story Of the salts was rehcarsed. Il
seems that on this evening Pettibone
came into the house about $3.50. A
neighbor, Mrs. Westoh, was there, but
went before 9.30 when Pcttibone said
he felt logy and was going TO take a
dose Of salts. Mrs Pettibone said she
would take a dose also and that Petit
bone then prepared the salts and he,
Rice. drank his glass Mrs. Pettibone
saving that she would wait until she
was ready to 20 TO bed When Rice
left the kitchen the two glasses had
not been drunk and were on the warm
ing oven OF the range. He came back
with two oranges from his room and
then went upstairs and stayed until he
was called by Pettibone after 10
o'clock. Rice also testified to the ef
feet that a. far as he har ever seen
Byron Pettibone always treated his
wife properly