Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-06-14

ruu' I"S' S.aS VI uii' "ey "'e J0~"~ ~
4 good Loco F0cos!
lhial for Murder. The trial OF Nathan
tilh, for the brutal murder of his wife, Han
Smith, at Wayland, on the 2Sth Of Sep
4 Der last, has just terminated before the Su-
1 me Court at Lowell. The circumstances
|he case, as detailed in the report published
|he Lowell Advertiser, are of a singularly
Ellng and monstrous character. 1t appears
J Smith had quarrel with his wife, several
IS previous to the act, and separation had
! n place. She lived at Wayland, having
u her, two young children, between five
seyea years of age and in the mean time,
! lh had thrown himself upon the town of
|ibury, where he belonged, and was support
as pauper. The other children, live in
|nber, were living at different places, under
Smiths general direction, and the pro-
is Of their labor were in part appropriated
Au support, In June, 1888, while Smith
b in the employ of one Martin Moore Of
|ibury, he proceeded TO Wayland to the
Fuse occupied by his wife, purposely, accord
|! to his confession, TO commit the act for
|ch he has now been tried He burst open
+ door Of the house, and attempted to seize
| wife, but she fortunately escaped out of a
|Tate door, aud he then went away. lmme-
|hey after, she swore the peace against him,
be eluded the vigilance of the officer, and
/ warrant was not served. Smith soon after
4 the employ of Moore, and during the
|aths of July, August, and the first of Sep
|hber, was at work in various places.
|nthe night of the 9th of September, Smith,
.earlip ho av
fOation, proceeded from Sudbury TO Way
Ed, by circnitous route, and reached The
|Use occupied by his wife about o'clock
Fore arriving there he cuta green birch club,
Eermned that il his boys were there, not 10
Edriyen off at any hazard. Upon reaching
/ house, he broke open window, and sprang
DO room where Mrs. Smith and young
Hld were in bed She jumped up, slipped
ha bose dress, and attempted to escape from
hiurious monster. He seized hold OF her, back
her against the bed, and took large jack
bile from his pocket. The poor woman plead
amestIy for her life, and promised to live with
te prisoner if he would spare her. Smith re-
Frd, I'll not trust you again !" and imme-
lately stabbed her in the neck, separating The
Hsuar vein The child was left upon the
I'd unframed.
Smith then proceeded short distance from
be house, and with the same knife cut his own
iwat. He bIed profusely, but came to his
snses about daylight, when he crept back 10
BE house upon his hands and knees, and Gov
bed himself up with his wife's clothing upon
Se floor In this situation, Smith and his
Ere were found, about one o'clock on the 29lh
September.
A son of the prisoner who lived with Mr.
'amuel Thompson, about hall mile distant
TENT 10 the house of an Grand. He looked u
the window, and saw his father upon th'
boz, and Immediately alarmed the nelghbors
lrs. Smith was found lying upon the bed, II
" blood, dead and cold, with the wounds
Nscsely as before described. Smith laid up
3 the floor with his throat cut, though SUI
aSe Medical aid was procured and HI
sounds were dressed. When taken into Gus
My, he appeared perfectly conscious oil VIVA
y had done, saving "My wife ought to D.
lad, she has treated me so bad" The jack
lle with which the murder was committed
Vas found in puddle of blood, short dis
llee FROM the house, where lie cut his ow
atoat. In the spring of il there were seyera
ocks of hair, bearing an exact resemblance
he hair upon the, head Of the deceased.
Vas proved that the prisoner was manor IN
emperate habits, and that he abused his fam
y when under the influence of liquor
:, The case was submitted to the Jury o
Tuesday evening, and they returned ve5di'
d GUILTY, in short time afterwards
Tines.
lChief Justice Shaw pronounced sentence
Death upon Smith on Friday.J