Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-11-02
ORLEANS COUNTY COURT
Rev. Wood Found Not Guilty of
Charge Against Him.

"Not guilty." were the words spoken
by Foreman E. HI. Hitchcock Satur-
day afternoon when court assembled
following the usual noon hour recess
IN the case of the State VS.. Rev. Ed
ward F. Wood of Irasburg, which
went on trial Thursday morning.
Following the charge by Judge Harry
Chase the jury took. case at IL As
and the reaching of a verdict during
the noon recess, completely vindicates
the minister of TIE Irasbure Meth
odist church.
Owing to the fact that Rev. Wood
holds one of the highest and most
sacred callings that can be under
taken by man, the trial, in which he
was charged with having improper
relations with Mrs. Ila Messier, caus-
ed sensation among the people of
the county. During the trial, which
opened Thursday morning, a large
crowd assembled and the courtroom
could not seat the people at times.
Main street in front of the court house
was lined with automobiles throughout
the trial.
The most brilliant and forcible pleas
during the entire session of Orleans
county court were made by the three
attorneys connected with the case.
States Attorney Albert Farman pros
ecuted and made the opening and
closing argument. In the final plea
he bitterly scored the respondents
attorneys, j. Rolf Searles of St.
yohnsbury and Frank HI. Thompson Of
Barton, in which he referred to them
as the unscrupulous. DR. P. C.
Templeton of Irasburg, the family
Of he
the parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Nit
chell, also came under the states at
torney's list for scoring. Mr.. Far
man referred to the doctor as the 90
between. He accused him of irving
to block the law, and for the part
he played in the case said he was
one of the most dangerous men to
society. He accused the doctor of at
tempting to rob the state of one
OF its most valuable pieces of evidence.
Mr.. tarman's final plea was more
powerful than the opening one, and
his entire strength and effort was
thrown into it, which might have been
inspired during the hour of terrible
scoring which he passed in the plea
of j. Rolf Searles who Saturday morn
ing made the final plea for Rev. Mr..
Wood.
Frank d. Thompson, one of the re-
Spondent's attorneys, followed the
states attorneys plea FRIDAY after
noon, and for an hour covered every
point In the case. He placed every wit
ness before the jury, in his picture
and he never made better argument
before jury in an Orleans county
court. j. Rolf Searles of st. Johns
bury, who has been connected with
several cases in county court this
'erm, held the court room spellbound
when making his argument Saturday
morning. During that hour Wilfred
Messier, husband of the woman who
lied the accusations against Rev. Mr..
Wood, came up for one of the most
bitter scorings that ever was handed
% man before the court. States
Attorney Farman was often referred
o In his argument and on one occasion
aid ne had resembled a hound instead
# prosecuting officer. He scored him
or confinlng Mr.. Wood in jail until
! hearing and bail was secured. while
N Sunday night following the arrest
# Mrs. Messier for the same charge
he was allowed to go to the Ray
nond hotel with her husband and stay
.ntil she could appear in municipal
ourt before Judge Wright on Mon
ay.
Like all important cases there ap-
eared the usual disputed evidence.
la Messier, who filed the complaint
gainst the defendant was the first
witness placed on the stand by the
tate when the trial opened Thursday.
n the examination conducted by Mr..
'arman she carefully rehearsed all
he circumstances surrounding the
ase. This woman, who gave her age
S Fl, but resembled a girl of Ia {.
ears, withstood the examination and
rilling of ]. Rolf Searles from the
me the case opened until nearly 3
clock in the afternoon without a
uiver. That she never realized the
eriousness of the charges or the po-
tion to which she was exposing her
vn character was very evident by her
tanner upon the stand.
Her testimony tended to show
lat she first met the respondent on
[emorial Sunday when he baptized
er baby, at which Mr.. Messier was
,t resent. The second meeting was
/ the following Memorial Day and
later meeting being at fair in
e town hall at Irasburg, at each
which meeting they only ex-
anged greetings. The pastors first
IL at the Messier home, which is
,out three miles from Irasburg, was
/ Friday, Oct. 14th at which time
stayed to supper upon an invitation
ON Mrs. Messier. On the following
,turday night they passed the time
day when they met at the post
ice. Mrs. Messier testified that he
ain called on Monday, arriving
out 2 o'clock and leaving about a
M, that her husband was digging
tatoes in the field in sight of the
use. 1t was on that visit she
limed that the minister made i'm
oper advances to- her.
Her husband was the next witness
d he testified that as he was ap-
ln'ching the house he saw the min
+ leaving, that he went to the
use and occused his wife of inn
oper relations with the minister,
1T after doing his chores he carried
+ and the baby to the home of her
rents, Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Mitchell
Irasburg. He admitted that he had
yer suspected his wife of any such
ong doing during their married
; until he saw the Rev. Wood leav-
!. the house. Testimony was in
duced showing that Mrs. Messier
lied the charges to her husband up
Wednesday, xuha,, Cfafa,c A++ovx~o.x