Under an information or indictment charging the commission of a felony, according as the proof is, the jury may return a verdict that the respondent is not guilty of the principal offense, but is guilty of an attempt to commit the same, in the manner stated in section 9 of this title, or the court may allow the respondent to plead guilty of such an attempt. In either case, the court shall pass sentence accordingly.
13 V.S.A. § 10