The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-10-16
From the Rutiund (Vt.) HerGtd. of Oct. 8.
A SCENE OF HORROR AND MURDER.

The editor OF this paper summoned from bed
Friday morning last at the dawn OF day as
member of an inquest TO examine the case of Il te-
male living dead at dwelling house about ) miles
Of the village, at place called tloyti, snPpos
ed to have been murdered. On repairing to the
SPOT the board Of JURORS went into tue house, and
after being daily qualified by the coroner, General
Brown, proceeded to the examination and inquiry
And such a revolving scene ofhorror and bloodshed
is probably hardly without parallel. From the
testimony there seemed TO be no doubt resting on
The minds of The jury, that the deceased, Sophia
Dsnan, came to her end by being willully murder
ed by Henry Damun her husband, by cutting her
throat This we believe was the substance OF the
verdict in the case.
Some of the testimony disclosed in the examina
ton was too revolving to relate in his public man
ner But will attempt to give some OF the par
ticulars.
The house was characterized as of i'll fame
and had been visited that light by wretches
equally detestabe in our wow with some OF those
who dwelt therein, but not so we'll known--that
IA controversy had taken place between the husband
Daman, and hia wife, the deceased, in relation to
the visitors-aud that IN the atfray Danan procur.
ed ii razor while his wife IN bed and cut
her throat nearly from to ear, sercrng the wind
pipe, and both the gieni arierics nearly oil lie
then Attempted to cut his own throat but did not
50 cffrcUaIiv succeed MS to destroy life. lie adj
rntted that he killed his wife and intended t, des-
troy himself, not having any desire to live longer
and should so Judge from his wretched appear
ancc at that lime 1t further appeared in evidence
that those who visited the house that night carried
with them Jug of ruuI or that u jag OF rum was
brought into the room lust before the controversy
and that Damau drank of It two or three tunes
that there was another and his wife n. anotl
er bed in the room on the floor when the dispute
commenced between Daman and his Vile (ha' I'M
man. who belonged to the house remained there II
bed when the murder was Gonmitted--liis WIG ne
ing frigh tened bad left the room and The house-th
man in bed on tho floor had child with him, lei
there by the mother-and his location, was sl!cH
that his view of the transactions on the other ne
was chiefly utsiructeI there was then no iIg
in the room except what was derived from the moo
tlro' the windUws--thele was a woman IN anothe
room in the house. who rclutcd among other thlng
,liat she was So frightened by the racket IN an
about the house that she leaped out the windo>
and ran to the nieghhors-d did not seem TO know
what was going on in tho other part OF the house,
IT may seem 10 the reader from these Facts tina
Dnman mig hit be led Ia commit this a.roc!ous dee
on account of ralnu%iy, or III consequence OF DIS
covering SoiIG criminal Intercourse oil his wiie,W
Other male persons. But it was disclosed IN ovI
dence revolving and incredible as it may seem tina
the husband if he deserves the name tolerated an
was privy 10 this intercourse, and sought ont an
invited this infamous employment for the sake {
The gain thereby derived from it And 1t was "t'
wages of this than the brutal conduct ma
led to the revolving scene above attempted TO
described
Daman's wound was dressed the mornr
that, the above transaction took place, and IN III
course of the day was committed to prison; ana O
Saturday was ialleu before justice brown for exam
ination The evidence being very similar, as
are informed he committed.
The inquiry now is, when will the criminal
tried? BY the present law organizing our court
without some special proceedings he cannot nay
trial till next Sept 1t is to be hoped, howeVe
that special session will be called for the purpos