Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-03-22
INFAMOUS viLLAINY AND TER
RlBLE RETRIBUTlON.

RlBLE RETRIBUTlON.
The annexed revolving aud horrible story
-"an over true. tale COMES 10 US FROM
the Upton Eng Journal. SO circumslan-
italy is the whole account related. that We
[tlinksthere can be no doubt Of lis truth; vet
Iiifis terrible strarge--r stranger than nc
Ilion Il IL MOI often that we publish state
I'nents &, fail OF narrowing interest but the
olthe events AZ their dcnoue@snL
impars to them a sacrifiriaI solemniiy, like
that which hung about the course Of a
Joan OF Arc. ora CHARLOTTE CoRDAY.
Whatever may be thought OF the maddened
heroism OF The desperate wife and mother
by whose dread hands the sangulnary catas-
lrophe was consumated. language cannot
| sufficiently execrate the Unreasonable wick.
edncss by which il was excited.
In The spring OF 1888. two young ladies.
sisters. named Louisa and Ellen Price, Of
Liangenoch Park. were placed By their wild
| owed mother at the boarding school OF
celebrated Mrs Sherwood. between Powick
aud Worcester. (three miles from the latter
place. Louisa WAS then 10. and Ellen Ia
years Of age. ltapprars that Mrs. s. was
in the habit Of assembling her pupils and
friends of both sexes, every other week, for
the purpose OF performing concerts Of sacred
music To these parties there came, among
others. two young merchants from WoTces-
ter. named Harris and Benson.
We pass over the occurrences. Of three
wears. during which time. these two young
creatures. naturally interesting, and gifted
with superior abilities. were singled out by
Ilnrris and Benson for their marked and IN.
divided attentions these becoming obvious.
were communicated by Mrs. S. TO the moth.
Ter. between whom and the young men nh
explanation took place, and they were ulli-
lnaIely received at her house us the future
husbands Of her daughters. A brother Of
Mrs. Prices dying in 1885, left them, il
srems. sum of IT oney, on condition Of their
not marrying until they had attained respec.
lively The age OF twenty-five; and as the
mother refused her sanction to the marriage
Of her daughters until the arrival Of that
time. this circumstance was made pretexl
by their proiessed lovers TO induce them to
consent to an elopement. and private MARI
age aud in an evil hour. these two innocent
girls. with all the fond affection Of young
and confiding hearts. embarked their future
worldly hopes and happiness in one Trail
bark-io the honor Of their admirers-apd
eloped with them before DAY break from Mrs
Sherwood's house. They proceeded to a
nrighboring church, (HalIow.)a few mile,
Oh. the keys Of which they had obtained BY
bribing the sexton. who asserts that he was
totally ignorant OF their intentions. Here O
mock ceremony o; marriage was performed
hy an accomplicr, who was dressed ia III,
habiliments OF Clergyman. They resided
for some months after this in cottage ornee
in the suburbs OF Worcester; and here. il
April. 1887. Louisa. the eldest. gave birth t6
"A daughter, the child Of MIR Benson, tt
whom she thought herself married. IL
June, Of the same year. Harris proceeded ic
Lisbon on business connected with the firm
where. as j, subsequently turned out. he maj
rird daughter Of Mr. Kent, wine mer
chant. OF the firm OF Kent and Brothers.
He returned TO England IN February ofthi.
year, bringing his real wife with him. ane
purchased house a, Krmpsy. on the banks
Of the Severn. Soon after Harrs's return
Benson left Lonisa, then the mother Of two
children, with whom aud her sister he hat
been constantly living up to that time. ant
took up his residence ia Harris's house
f,om which be sent the unfortunate victims
letter, stating the facts in relation TO thu
vllany praciisrd upon them. and offering
in the name OF himselfand partner. TO maxi
settlement upon them by way OF repaia
lion.
Words would fail in describing the shocI
produced by the communication ofthi total
~ unexpected blow. which robbed them o
all that rendered life. in their estimation
worth preserving.
Ellen died fortnight after. in the lunaii,
asylum neal Droiiwich, in the arms Of be
sister, whose mind il seems was sustained b,
a determination TO execute fearful ven
geancc on the guilty causers Of their bite
su6Ierings; which she TOO faithfully perform
ed Learning that her pretended husban,
was to be married on the 10Th Of March, an,
that he was to return from Worcester /,
Ilempsey on the preceding evening. in
J gig with Harris. 10 the latter. she planne,
: and put in operation the following frightfu
/ mode OF rctribulion.
i After strangling her two infants and leav
: ing letter on the table stating as reason
that she would not lei them live TO hear o
. their mothers Disgrace she dressed hersel
! in mans clothes. armed herself with
! brace ofpis,ols, & knowing the probabetim
! oftheir appfoach, took her station in small
shrubbery midway up steep ascent wber
the road overhsngs The river. On the ap
J proac h ofthc gig il appears That she dis
: charged both the pistols, one Of which tool
| effect in the brain Of Mr. Benson, who wa
4 driving. and who fell dead from his seat
S 1.-The horse tukinq fright started Of, and be