Lucina C. Broadwell - Trial of George R. Long

Trial of George R. Long

On Thursday, May 15, George Long and Isabelle Parker were arrested and taken to the Washington County jail in Montpelier. Arraignments occurred on Friday, May 16 and both Long and Parker were assigned attorney J. Ward Carver for their defense. Earle Davis represented the State. The grand jury hearing was scheduled for June 5. It is interesting to note that during the period between the arraignments and the grand jury proceedings, it was found that George Long was actually George Rath, and had only taken the name "Long" before moving to Vermont. It was alleged that he had an extensive criminal record. On June 11, Long and Parker were indicted by the grand jury.

George Long's trial began on October 7, 1919, at 9am with jury selection. On Friday, October 10, opening statements were made by the prosection and the defense, with a courtroom filled to capacity. On Monday, October 20, Long's second statement to authorities was read into evidence at the trial. In this statement he admitted to paying Lucina for sexual relations and Mrs. Parker for providing the room. On Friday, October 24, Daisy Luce testified that she spoke with George Long the morning that Lucina's body was discovered. During this conversation, Long stated: "There would be one less woman in Barre."

Long's trial lasted one month before it went to the jury. In its closing statement, the defense argued that Long had no motive to kill Lucina since they were intimate partners. The prosecution, on the other hand, demonized Long referring to him as a "thing." The prosecution relied heavily on the circumstantial evidence provided by the Wood Detective Agency. On October 31, the judge gave the jury its instructions. That afternoon, the jury came back with its verdict. At 3:30, the jury announced that George Long was found guilty of the second-degree murder of Lucina C. Broadwell. Sentencing was set for November 5, at which time he was ordered to serve a term of life imprisonment.

After sentencing, Long was moved to the Windsor State Prison to carry out his sentence. He appealed his case with exceptions made during the trial. In 1922, the Vermont Supreme Court held in State v. Long that "he record shows a brutal killing--one unmistakably indicating cool depravity of heart and wanton cruelty." His appeal was denied.