The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-02-01


that reminded him of the affair that had cost him
so much unhappiness. After this, he again wrote
Mr.. b. that the store, in which he had been en-
gagged, had been burned; aud thar his Thousand
dollars, and his tulismanc paper, which he had Sc
creted in chink in the cellar wall, had been des
troYed. And in consequence Of this he had given
up his intention of going west, and had obtained
a place in u store. in village in the northern
part Of Vermont
Here ends that part Of our account which relates
TO the confessions OF the unhappy young man
But how asks the reader,b by this time, all this
brought to Irght' Ii is that which remains TO be
told though, writing tale Of fiction, we
should almost hesitate through fear Of mourning the
charge Of improbability TO present such incident
as the one which exact truth now compels
relate.
In June, 1911. Governor Jeuson, the late wor-
thy chief magistrate of Vermont, received letter
from Mr. w, then residing in New Orleans, pros
pounding suudry extraordinary questions. The
principal of these inquiries were, ''whether there
Il large fishing pond in tho town of Berlin,
Vermont; and if SO ,whether stage road by it,
and whether Il thick swamp situated between
the pond and the road; and whether also, there
story house the pond, south east
of the sw amp. And still further whether, four or
five years before, had been missing in that
vicinity The writer then stated that If these
questions were answered the affirmative, COM
muncanou would be made ola matter which
would demand the action OF the public authorities;
and he closed by referring his Excellency, ior
quries relative to his character, TO gentleman OF
high standing, in Cincinnati, OhIo to which place
this AIr. w. saId he beIonged-hIs residence in
Z Nav Clrfpnns heinz n remuotary
The Governor, having been appraised, through
his Secretary that all the above questions could be
answered in the Affirmative, except that relating to
a man being ulissing-with regard to which noth-
ing defuila could ba sceTtaiaed-TetHTned IN
swer to Mr. W. accordingly while, at the same
time his ExceIIency dispatched another letter to
the gentleman in Cincinuati.to whom he had been
referred To both these letters in due time, he
received replies. The from the gentleman in
Cincinnati assured the Governor that Mr. w. the
man concerning whose character inquiry bad been
made was person On whose word and Judgment
the utmost reliance could be placed. The one
from Mr.. w, proceeded unfold a tragedy, of
which his Exceiency fotewarned he had been,
hv the ouniunus import of w 3 former letter, was
liule prepared To hear. The writer after stating
his belief that a high handed murder vet unreveal
ed TO the public, had been committed, some wears
ago. in the town of Berlin, Vermont, went tn
give, in substance the following relation Of The
pan of obtaining the Information he was about
10 COMMITMENTS, which for interest and snguiariy
as before utimated finds few parallels in the mos,
ingenious OF romance but which, nevertheless, II
in strange keeping with the rest Of this most
strange transaction
+ He one dav, the month Of 4 pril last, went
out, by invitation, dine with friend in tho city
and at this house, he met another invited guest
a Mr.. B., formerly fEum Vermont. In the course
of this visit, the conversation turned upon The St
Louis murders, when bet Mr. w )stated that he did
not believe that murder committed that
was not, sooner or litter, brought to light From
this opinion, Nr. b. wholly dissented, expressed
Il decided opinion to the contrary, bnt evaded, or
declined giving any reason for that opinion This
statement of SIR b. together with the positive
manner in which it was made, soon led Mr.. w. to
suspect that Mr. B. must, himself be knowing, to
some case Of unre Sealed murder. And having rea-
sons of his own, wishing to know where the crime
! if crime there had been-had been committed
he determined to follow up the slight cline thus OBJ
tained- With this secret object IN view, he, with
in few DAYS exchanged his boarding place for .ha
/ ia which Dir. B. and fanny were then residing
! He cultivated acquaintance with the family in
question:, and with servant girl in the city, who,
rs he had first ascertaned formerly lived with Them
he at length succeeded in fishing out. from Mrs. 3.
aud this girl, wiihoHt making them of his
object, even conscious what they had done, all
/ the leading features of the affair, which had been
disclosed to hlr., befnre related, his visit
| to Vermont the preceding summer.
Mr.. w. then proceeded in his letter to detaiI the
/ circumstances of the murder gathered by him as
above stated, closing the account by informing the
governor, that the young man, who had this score:
SO long in keeping, had come out west and was
then residing in Cincinnati, which place he him
self expected in a few days to repair and that Mr.
B. and family had already left New Orleans for the
same place or the vicinity.
On receiving this Information, the governor con
sidered it his duty to institute Investigation oil
this my serous affair;and accordingly he Dispatched
his secretary on a journey to Ohio, provided with
all the papers and powers necessary to procure the
arrest and delivery Of G., that he mightbe brought
TO Vermont under the charge OF being an accesso-