Erastus M. Boyden Fined $25 for Assaulting Mrs Helen M. Holton, Mother of His Son-in-Law.
There was an echo in the court here today of the Holton abduction case at Norwood. April 1, when that quiet town was disturbed by the trouble over the custody of the child of Mr and Mrs Adolphus Holton. It will be remembered that on the morning of the trouble, when the knowledge of the abduction of the child by the rather came to Erastus M. Boyden, father of Mrs. Holton.
He created quite a scene. As an outcome, Mr Boyden was brought into the northern Norfolk district court this morning, before Judge Grover, charged with an assault with a dangerous weapon on Mrs Helen M. Holton. mother of Adolrhus Holton.
James E. Wellington of Norwood testified that on April 11 he saw Boyden in Holton’s store. He asked twice If Dolph Holton was In the store. On the witness answering that Holton was not there Boyden put up the revolver and went out. saying: “If he Is It will be on your head”.
Mrs. Helen M. Holton, who is alleged to have been assaulted, testified that she was a widow and lived In Norwood. Mr Boyden came to her house on the morning of April 11, pulled out a revolver, flourished it, and pointed it at her. He wanted to know where her son was.
She told him she did not know. He said he would murder her and her son. The witness said she told Mr Boyden he could kill her If he wanted to. He caught her by the arm and shook her. All the time he was shaking her he was threatening her.
Chief Rhodes of the Norwood police testified to having taken a revolver from Mr Boyden on the morning of April 11. It was .38 caliber and was loaded. It had five or six chambers.
Erastus M. Boyden, the defendant, testified that about 9:30 o’clock on the morning of April 11 he heard of the abduction of his grandson. He said he worked in the car shops. As soon as he heard of the affair he went to the store of his son-in-law and saw Mr Wellington. He had a revolver, but he did not point it at Mr. Wellington.
He then went to the house of Mrs Holton. but denied having pointed a revolver at her. The witness said he did not touch her. Mrs. Anna D. Holton, wife of Adolphus Holton, said that on the morning of the 11th of April she and her boy were out on the sidewalk when the boy was taken from her by her husband.
She told her father. With him in she went to the store, where they saw Mr Wellington. Her father did not point the pistol at Mr Wellington. Afterward, they went to the Holton house. Her father did not take out his revolver.
He did not threaten Mrs. Holton and did not take hold of her. They told her they wanted the boy. The last witness was Mrs. Sarah P. Boyden of Norwood, Mrs. Holton’s mother, who said that she went to the house of Mrs. Holton the elder on the evening of April 11 and asked where her son Adolphus was and the woman didn’t know. The witness denied calling Mrs Holton a liar. She also asked Mr Wellington where Adolphus Holton was and he said he did not know, adding it was none of her business.
On cross-examination the witness sal! ber daughter told her of the abduction of her little grandson.
The government then put In Henry P. Mylod of Norwood In rebuttal, who testified that he was present when Mrs. Holton told Mrs. Hoyden that Mr. Boyden pointed a revolver at her. After the arguments, Judge Grover found that Mr. Boyden was guilty of an assault on Helen M. Holton and imposed a fine of $25. He appealed and was placed under sureties of $200 for an appearance in the Norfolk superior court.
On the charge of an alleged assault on James E. Wellington, drug clerk for Holton. JuJge Grover found that the defendant was not guilty.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)
