The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-02-14
MRS. BULLARD
SENT TO PRISON
FOR nine YEARS
Found Guilty by Judge
Wright of Setting Fires
In Newport

Mrs. Florence Bullard, confined
in Orleans Co., JAN awaiting trial
for setting fire to the old School
Hall, - attempted Sutcide tWt,e
late Monday forenoon Both at
tempts were foiled by the vigilance
! of the officers, though the second
attempt was serious enough TO
require the ministrations of ply
sician before she was able 10 ap-
pear at her trial which was held IN
the Jail office at 2.30 in the after
noon befoe Judge William NJ.
Wright. A. G. Prebble, State en-
utv Fire Marshall of Barre, to
whom she made a confession and
States Atty Albert W. Farman
were present.
After the hearing Judge Nught
imposed a sentence Of not less
than nine nor more than ten years
in states prison and she was taken
to Rutland TODAY by Chief Of Po-
lice Ora A. SWEET, where she VIII
begin her term in the Woman :
prison. Late in the afternoon
Mrs. Bullard was allowed to visit
her home, accompanied by Con
stable SWEET, who kept close
watch on her action and found
a razor concealed in her clothin@
after returning her to the jail.
Mrs. Billiard was arrested last
FRIDAY on suspicion of having
started fire which threatened to
DESTROY School Hall. and was only
averted by the prompt Work OF tae
ianitor. James Martin, and fire
chief, II. H. Green.
At the preliminary hearing be
fore the State Deputy Fire Com
missioner A. G.. Preble, She at first
stoutly proclaimed her innocence
of the crime and attempted to
prove an alibi. but finally broke
down and made a full confession.
Mrs. Billiard said in her testi-
monv that she was influenced by
fancied i'll treatment bv the offices
of the Red Gross Thrift shop, who
refused to give her clothing after
tho had learned that she had sold
dress which had been given to
lher She left that Others were "iv-
en- articles who were not "a needy
as she and for this treatment She
resolved to get revenge. 0ne IS
also thought to have stolen nine
dollars from the cash box at the
Thrift shop.
Her story in substance i, that
she carried a bottle to the store Of
L. Lane and Son which they filled
with kerosene oil for six cents.
This she concealed in a brown
paper and carried to the School
Hall, and watching her opportu-
nitv slipped into the building
while the janitor was busy in tie
basement, and pouring the oil on
the woodwork and floor near the
door of the room used for the
Thrift Shop. She touched a match
to it and hurried out, meeting NJ.
Martin on the way out, and ask
ing him when the Thrift Shop
would be open, thus allaying any
suspicion for her presence there
Mrs. Bullard has d mania for'
setting fires in revenge for anvl
real or fancied grievance, and
admitted that she burned a barn
in the Lane district, belonging to
f. c. Blanchard, two years AGO
and also a building on the East
Side in the vicinity of the iron
bridge at another time She ha-
served a term of ten months for
disturbing the peace She ha
been married three times and has
three children, GLADYS jenkins and
a Younger son and daughter.
Mrs. Bullard is weak mentally
and j. entitled 70 sympathy rather
than condemnation. She Is tho
victim of a vicious inheritance and
an unfortunate environment. That
he is a menace TO society Is con
ceeded and it Is 4 wise move 70
place her where she can do No !
further damage.