The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-04-27
WARRANT ISSUED
FOR Mrs. STEARNS
Grand Jury at Newfane Re-
turns True Bill In
Murder Case
JAIL SENTENCE
FOR GARDNER LENO

Pleads Guilty to Charge of I4ewd and
T.ascivious Conduct States AttOr
ney Mol Presses Carpenter Liquor
Case and Some Others.
\ true bin indicting Mrs May Stearns
Of Bellows Falls for the murder of her
husband Lynn L. Stearns. on March 80,
was returned by the grand jury at New
fame. before whom evidence was pre-
sented this week BY States Attorney
Earold f. Whitney and Attorney Gen
eral Frank c. Archibald, and warrant
from county court was issued today.
Mrs. Stearns is in the Rockingham
hospital in Bellows Falls. where she has
been since her husband was shot, at
which time she jumped from a third
story window and broke one leg, the
bones of which wcre fastened together
With silver plate a few days ago. The
trial Of the respondent viii take place
as soon as She IS able to stand trial.
Progress was made yesterday after
noon in cleaning up the state cases on the
Niudham county court docket. several
cases being mol pressed ard one being
tried, the respondent pleading guilty and
receiving 4 Jail sentence. Other cases
viii be tried before the present term OF
court ends.
Gardner Leno of Stratton. who was
charged with a violation Of the Mann act
III his relations with Laura Moulton
pleaded guilty 20 a charge Of lewd and
lascivious conduct, States Attorney Har-
old T.. Whitney having reduced the
charge against him. Judge Stanley c.
Wilson sentenced Leno to serve not less
than two and a half months nor more
than three months at hard labor in the
county Jail. Leno already has been in
jail several weeks. Attorney Frank c.
Archibald Of Manchester was present to
assist the states attorney and Attorneys
i. W. Gibson and c. S. Chase repre-
Sented the respondent.
It was expected that Ieno's brother
Ernest Leno of sStratton. charged with
statutory rape, growing cut of conduct
with Della Cobb, would be tried. but on
account Of tie necessary absence OF i
material witness the case was continued
to later in this term of court
The case of tire state against Frank T.
Phelps of Brattlebore was mol pressed.
Mr.. Phelps formerly was farm manager
for the late GuStaf StrOmberg on AmeS
hill and was charged with embezzling
funds belonging to his employer Nov 3.
1919
Another case Of considerable interest
here which was mol pressed was that Of
the state against Frank O. Carpenter
of Brattleboro. who was arrested a year
ago charged with selling cider in barrel
lots TO Archie Mellen of Guilferd States
Attorney Whitney said ia mol pressing
the case that at the time Of the alleged
So les il was not Illegal for 4 farmer to
sell cider in barrel lots, irrespective OF
tie alcoholic content. He also said the
case was receiving attention from the
federal authorities.
Two yenereal disease cases mol pressed
because Of compliance with certain con-
ditions imposed some time ago were
those of the state against Ella Under
wood and Wayne Buffum
The eases against Henry Blake and
James GGrham of Bellows Fails young
men alleged to have been involved in the
beating up of workman employed by
the international Paper Co. at the time
evidence at hand did not seem to be suf-
fcieRt to secure convictions
4 Bellows Falls strike case which
stands for trial is that of the state
against Augustus Rocker, an active
unlon man. who IS charged with intimi-
dating worknen of the International
Paper Co
1t Is expected that the case Of the
state against Mrs. Ellen Fits Manley of
BrattleborO viii be tried at the present
term Of court. Mrs. Manley Is charged
with attempted arson at a place on the
Guilford road occupied BY George Stark
Mrs. Manley was seen at the premises
one night by man who questioned her
a candle and some excelsior were found
there. Mrs Manley is said to be work
ing in an institution outside the state