1903-10-01; Clare Sentinel

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AUnerlnTHE SENTINEL
will Sell, Buy or Exchang*
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Established 1878.
OLAR®,   MICHIGAN,   THURSDAY AFTEK&QQN, OOTOBEK 1, 1903.
NewSeries: Vol. 11,No. 45
OUR FALL
Opening Sale
„ , * Commences . „ ■,
Saturday,".Oct. 3, '03
* and continues until *
Saturday, Oct. 17, 03
BARGAINS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT
BE SURE AND ATTEND.
Davy & Company
BVEiRYTHING Td IA/JBAR
J^OWBSIT/ PRICES
Wm, H. Bicknell
& Company.
NS ON TRIAL
Suicide Theory for Burr's Death Put Forth
by Defense.
WORDEN CRINGES ON GROSS-EXAMINATION.
Other Cases—Church Pleads Guilty.    .Jury Disagree in
Incest Case.
By j special representative.
Harrison, Sept, 29,—The trial of
Varnam H. "Worden and his wife,
Etta May, charged with the murder
of Silas Burr March 31st of this year,
is in progress and mild indeed is the
appearance of Worden as for the
secoud time he he appears for trial before Judge Dodds. ■*■
The case is one of the most sensational in the annals of Clare county's
criminal records. Twenty eight witnesses have been called by the prosecution and the defense will place a
goodly number on the stand. Prosecuting Attorney Cummins and Attorney C. W. Perry of Clare appear for
the people and Attorney John Quimm
of this city is acting for the defense.
Dr. Worden as he appears in the
court room is a very meek, mild-mannered, decrepid, harmless old man.
Two big tears rolled down his cheeks
as he took his seat in the court room
for the first time on this trial. He
* has large, striking blue eyes, an emaciated look on his face with thin
gray locks and beard, a pathetic figure
as he barely drags himself to and from
the court room. But 'tis whispered
by those who know him well that,
while his long stay at'the jail has
greatly worn him down, he has all .the
ability of a skilled actor in lending
pathos to his appearance. His wife is
sturdy and strong with a meditative
"demeanor. During any odd intervals
as opportunity affords, he converses
freely with her, she nodding or shaking her head and occasionally adding
a word or two. His manner in these
conversations is argumentative as if
he wished to enforce his ideas on her.
The present Mrs. Worden is not the
only1 one to bear that name, for 'tis
alleged that of buxom widows,
mothers and their daughters fair, no
less than nine in all he has led to the
marriage altar. He was formerly lived
near St. Johns but away back
in the eighties even then with a son
about fourteen, he took" up his residence at Hervana in Lake county.
But soon he married Mrs. Belle Van-
Horn and later moved to Brinton in
Isabella county. He lived also near
Bad Axe and in the changing his wife
deserted him and he married her
pretty daughter, but in the family
mix-ups he was charged with bigamy
and sent to Jackson. After his release, in 1892 he married Ada J,
Teller sweet sixteen, oi Huron county
giving his age as forty-one. Along in
1898 he became enamoured of a buxom
wlnow, Mrs. Pritchard. But before
the marriage could be consumated she,
fell sick, nigh unto death. Then calling her lover and her sixteen-year old
daughter, Phoebe May, to her bedside
and with the.hope of keeping Worden's
pension in the family, urged their immediate marriage. A justice was
called and soon her former lover was
her soa-in-law. But she didn't "die
and soon recovered by the aid of the
doctor's concoctions of herbs. But
when free from the delirium of sickness sire revealed that her daughter
was -fifteen, not sixteen, and a family
council soon set aside the marriage, as
null and void since Phoebe was under
age. The son-in-law and his mother-
in-law visited a justice of the peace at
Brinton and became man and wife.
But Worden was prosecuted for perjury in obtaining the license for his
marriage to Phoebe May and Judge
Dodds sent him to Ionia for ten years.
This term, was commuted to ton years
and subsequently Worden was paroled.
Later he went to Ohio and
passing over the line into West "Virginia there in June 1902 married Mrs.
Etta May Brammer, his present wife.
Early in 1903 he came to Brinton again
and a little later settled at Lake Station. On the receipt of his pension in
March he sent for his wife, who leaving seven children ""in Indiana, hastened to join her beloved only a few
weeks before the death of Silas Burr.
Sept. 30th,—At ten o'clock this
morning a jury in the Worden case
was obtained after the examination of
thirty jurors continuing through yes-
V'/i
mmaf   aa *»jssr»is*j».. k JtfftiCTBfr-Mftfc—
Cloaks
An extensive showing of Ladies', Misses', and
(Children's Winter Cloaks and Capes, embracing .the
newest ideas in styles and fabrics, howon sale in our
Cloak department. Every garment "is priced at an
attractive figure. ■•.    •..'■.-•■
A Special Value.   New box coat.    Fine all
wool Kersey.   Black or colors; lined with Ci  £\0
good quality satin and handsomely trimmed. *** ■V*H-''
(Other styles up to $25 00)        '
Men's Overcoats.
It will soon be cold enough
to wear them. Why not make
your selection while the assortment is complete?
-The'new coats are very attractive and our prices are the very
lowest ranging from
5.00 to 20.00
Clothing to
Measure.
We are taking orders for custom made suits and overcoats
and furnishing work of the
highest order. Perfect fit and
entire satisfaction guaranteed^
See the new fall samples.
V-..d;& Co.
Siioes.
We illustrate here one of
our latest arrivals in. fine
shoes for women. It has fine
patent leather vamp and
quarter, mat Kid top, light or
heavy soles. It's "Pingree
Made"'and at the O  r\r\
it's an extra value.
Walking Skirt Special,
Seven gored walking skirt,,made of Flint Woolen
Mills, all wool, waterproof skirting^ the identical
material that is used in all our highest priced skirts,*
strictly tailor made. Black,. Grray and £T AA
Blue regular 6.50 value our special price   **-' •*■ ^* ^*
New Flannellette
Wrappers.
We are showing the largest line we ever carried.
Notwithstanding the big advance in cotton goods we
secured our supply at figures which enable us to offer
better values than ever.
A Special Value. Heavy weight with braid
trimmed shomlder capes, and deep flounce QC-xp
(Other Styles at $1.00, $1.25 and $1.50.)
I
only
lUDuer atyies ac iw.oo, nu.zb and ijil.50.) £
D. & Co."-*
Lid
mnaafmmtaAmymVmmamam
Varnum H.  Woulcn as he Appeared
at Ionia,
terday up to late last night and up to
ten. this morning.   These are the men:
Charles F. Rogers.
STels. Davis.
Austin Trumble.
C. W. Sweet.
Jas. Saul.
George Stoddard.
A hush fell on
Elmer London.  ,
John Keith.
Jeremiah Bennett.
Rennie Thayer.
W. H. Collins.
R. B. Campbell.
the court room as
the jury was sworn and Prosecuting
Attorney Cummins opened the case
for the people, his brief statement of
the facts to be proved occupying thirty
minutes. These are the main facts
he expects to prove: On the afternoon of March 31st Dr. Worden and
Silas Burr started to drive from Lake
Station to Harrison to look *up the
records of some' property, including
Burr's store, which Dr. Worden was
about to purchase. Late that evening
Worden returned with Burrta dead
body across his knees, saying that
when neat Lake George Burr had com
plained of\ not feeling well, leaned
heavily on him and expired. Physicians pronounced Burr's death due to
heart failure and the remains were
interred at Vassar. Meanwhile the
Wordens claimed that $956 had been
paid on the Burr property and demanded posession.. The body was exhumed and a chemical analysis of the
contents of the digestive system
showed the presence of a deadly
poisin. Hearing of the chemical analysis the Wordens turned over a capsule to the officers which was found to
contain the same poison as found in
Burr's stomach. In explanation they
stated that the day previous to the
journey to Harrison Mrs. Worden saw
Mrs. Burr make up two capsules, giving one to Mr. Burr and one to Mrs.
Worden for her liusband which she
never gave him. Worden also stated
that Burr haU eaten a lunch near
Lake George and taken a capsule but
had eaten no apples. The chemist
found undigested apples in the dead
man's stomach. The prosecutor also
stated that they would prove that
Worden had purchased the poison,
potassium cyanide, a short time prior
to March 31st from Dr. Frye of Brin-
t6n, and furthermore that both the
Wordens were in want and dependent
on charity in Indiana only a short
time before coming to Lake Station.
As the prosecutor narrated graphically
yet in moderation the facts to be
proved not a sound could be heard in-
the court room but his full orotond
voice, the prisoners sit stolid and
unmoved. Judge Dodds is very emphatic in his directions regarding the
jury and there is prospect of a most
exciting trial.
Mrs. Burr was- the first witness
called. Her testimony was substantially as follows: Burr had a store at
Lake Station for th'eee years. She
had known Worden several weeks and
had seen Mrs. Worden only a few days
before March 31sfc. Wordens boarded
across the street at Mr. Silloway's.
Had taken inventory for selling goods
to Wordens. On March 31st Burr and
Wofden left for Harrison. At eight
o'clock Worden returned with her
husband's dead body and said, that
when near Lake George, Mr. Burr
said he was too ill to drive and asked
to be taken home. He leaned heavily
on Worden and soon was dead. Dr,
Grillet of Farwell assigned heart disease as cause of death and burial was
had at Vassar. No money was paid
over for the property to be sold to
Worden who was to deposit money in
Harrison bank, having received a pension reissue. Burr had $2 with him
when he, started and took no lunch.
Worden mentioned no capsule or
lunch when he returned with the dead
body. She had given her husband no
capsule. Messrs. Carson, Sillawayand
Patnode were given charge of property
during her absence at f uneral with instructions not to turn over property
unless Wordens paid the amount of
purchase price agreed rn Bill of sale
of the property had at ]Yji Jen's desire
been drawn in his wife's n me to surprise her. No transferal Of papers.
Mr. Burr was sound physically. He
was insured for $1,000 in the Foresters.
They had had a fire, burning outstore.
Bill of sale and deed were in Burr's
possession and after return of his dead
body those papers were handed to her.
i>R. h. l. morris, vassar.
Had made postmortem examination
and found all organs normal. Embalming fluid was in cavities of body
not injected into biood. Such fluid
has an hardening effect on the t'ssues. ■
He had removed stomach of Burr and'
later kidneys and liver. «
Edward Humes, Under Sheriff of
Tuscola, and R. G. Lyon, Justice Of
Peace at Vassar were sworn to inden-
tify the delivery of Burr's organs to
Sheriff Updegraff and Justice E, S.
Youngs of this city was also sworn to
certify tb the proper transferal of certificates as to the organs in question.
DR. B. D. BEBD, ANtf ARBOR,
Chemist at homeopathic laboratory at
University of Michigan testified that
he received the stomach April 10th
and made analysis of contents next
day. Found red apple, dried beef and
crackers or bread in stomach and contents were alkaline. Normal stomach
is acid. Analysis showed the presence of small-quantities of hydrocyanic
or prussic acid. This probably entered stomach in the form of sodium
or potassium cyanide which probably
caused death. Found a corrosive spot
beneath the tube by which food enters
stomach showing the poison had probably entered in the form of a capsule
dr a pill dropping there andif emaining
long eonugh to produce the corrosive
effect. Had it been in the form of a
powder it would Have diffused, not a
little.. The jplire acid-could not be
taken as it would produce death be-
DOHERTY OPERA HOUSE,'     .
Central Michigan Opera House Circuit
Floyd E. Doherty, Local Mgr.
ISSOURI GIRL"
October 5th, 1903.
*    A FIRST CLASS ATTRACTION.
Your JVloti&y Back After Second Act if
you ar© not Satisfied.;
Prions 25c, 35c, 50c.
fore it could reach stomach. The
a.cid may be used as a medicine in the
form of a one percent solution. Mo
other chemical compound was found
in the stomach that could produce the
corrosive spot and, if that spot was
produced by potassium cyanide, the
amount was sufficient to produce
death. The poison in question gradually diffuses and ten days before, immediately following the death, there
would undoubtedly have been a much
large amount found. If the pure acid
had been used it would have all disappeared in ten days. Death probably
resulted from potassium cyanide in
the stomach, its effects being paralysis
of nerve centers thus stopping respiration and other important functions.
He had found pure potassium cyanide
in. a capsule furnished him by Sheriff
Updegraff. From two to six grains
produced fatal effects.
"OR, J. T. DICKES, PORTLAND, IND. .
knejv Worden at Portland a year ago
and loaned him $12 to go to Michigan
to collect old debts—took a fiote
which had not been paid. Had stood
good for $lo worth of cupons at a grocery-for Worden. Money -had not
been paid. Thought Worden in very
meagre circumstances.
ROBERT GARSON, tAKE STATION.
Supervisor of the township, stated
that a jury for a post mortem examination was tailed but later the matter
was given up. He was given charge
of papers with instructions to hand
them over to the Wordens when
money was paid. Wordens had said
nothing to him as to capsule nor had
they claimed to have paid over money
on the property bat the day after the
departure of Burr's body Mrs, Worden
stated that $056 had been paid to
Burr, Ho receipt was taken. -Burr
took the money to the room back of
his store. Mrs. Worden asked him to
hold papers as-property was' hers. He
was later made administer of the Burr
estate.
L. D. SILLAWAY.
The Wordens boarded at bis hotel
across from Burr's store, but he got
no pay. Mrs. Worden, soon after
Burr's body left," asked him to put a
new lock on Burr's store, saying she
had paid over $956 on the property,
Worden gave Burr capsules twice before March 31st.
JEROME STEVEN'S.
Worden said to him that heart
trouble waa the cause of Burr's death.
SHERIFF TODEG/RAFJF.
There were a number of houses
along and near the road from Lake
George to Lake Station. On tlie Sunday following Uls return from Ann
Arbor Mra. WordeD gave hitn a cap- ,
sule, saying tbat Mrs. Burr had given
one to Mr. burr and one to her for ber
"husband which she had not given him
aud which she now handed over as
their defense. The doctor said to
witness that Burr took,, capsule just
before being taken sick,
Oct 1,—The third day of the Worden
trial was one of sensations with the
c?oss-examination of Mrs. Worden
still in progress as court adjourned.
The case maj* go to the jury tomorrow
evening.
Those present in the crowded court
room will not soon forget the scene as
for two full hours Attorney Perry in
(Continued on Efchtb. Page.)