The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-01-08

membrane of the BRAIN causing considerable escape
| of The same. About one inch from the termination
Of this backward and one inch above the ear 10 IN
other three inches in eugh with corresponding ana
large riacure off the bone; this fracture extends TO
The back of the head; another on the right side oil
the heud, inches aud half in length, two inches
above and forward ofthe ear, with slight fracture
| Of the skull. There n confusion on tho rght
side of the head extending from tho cheek bone and
over the temple which depressed the former, toge-
Their with large portion Of bone which forms the
right side Of the forehead. The skin not broken
at this place. There was n blow the LEFT temple,
which fractured the bono into many pieces; the
bridge of the nose was badly fractured; there was
wound on the lower margin and front of the chin, one
and half inch in length, and fracture Of the bone
at this part. There gunshot wound in the fore
right arm; the ball entered nj the end Of the outside
bone of the arm, at the wrist, taking Oblique di-
reclion upwards, and passing out four inches above
its entrance, on the top of the nrm; the bill did not
enter his head. No other wounds discovered.
! II is evident that the murder was consummaed
without struggle. Mr. Sprague was an I'M
commonly stout and athletic man, and Of determined
personal courage. The ground bore traces of an en-
counter, and appearances indicated TINT there might
have been two assalants. The pistol which was
| found not discharged, although the percussion
cap had been exploded A piece orn musket stock,
with hair clingng TO it, found the spot; and
marks of blood visible for distance Of seventy
five feet. II would seem that the assnssirs Of
them, fired at him with n musket iGe, as he was
the brow ofu slight decliviy which terminated in
foot bridge. The bali entered lis right arm, at the
wrist, ms described above; and TINS disabled he fell
upon his hands, and after recovering HIMSELF turn ed
towards the bridge where he appears TO have met his
assnant Here the pistol snapped would
seem from its being found at The spot. lie then pas
sed to the bridge nearly half way and fell
or was knocked Off A scufle appears 10 have Ia
| ken place here, and the marks of blood the
path to direction Of some twenty-five feet back,
where the unfortunate found dead, lying
upon his face and weltering in his blood. The blows
tho head appear TO have been given by some
smooth, blunt instrument, probably the end Of n
musket.
There strong reasons TO suppose that the deed
not the sudden impulse of passion, but delibcr-
ntey planned. A rock near the spot affords place
Of 'conceament, and tracks in the leading
to il. Trucks also found leading TO n swamp
in the vicinity bu, they could be traced beyond
money, and gold watch were left untouched in his
pockets. Plumber, evidently formed no motive for
| the deed.
Since tho above was written, we learn that Nicho
las s. Gordon, and his brother, John Gordon Irish
men, arrested yesterday afternoon on suspicion
of having been concerned in the murder. They were
brought before Henry l. Bowen, Esq. Justice OF the
Peace, and committed for examination at future
IL, Ike ounI. oc Gill
olas S. Gordon has frequently petitioued the town
council Of Cranston FOR license for the sale OF ardent
spirits, but, through the opposition of MIR. sprague
his petitions have been refused At the las; time his
application was rejected he threatened Mr. Sprague,
and said he "would settle it with him elsewhere'-
FIe has been repeatedly within the last week,
with gun in his hand, where Mr. S. was found
Ills premises havo been searched, and no gun has
been found them though it is well known that no
had one. bnyonet, cnrtridge-box and sword
were found. The two persons arrested are, so far
can be learned, the only ones Of oil the neighbor
hood who have not visited the house Of MIR Sprague
since the murder. It cannot now be ascertaned
how FAR these suspicious will be confirmed by testi
mony.
| A reward OF one thousand dollars has been offered
by the family Of the deceased for the apprehension Of
the murderer. town meeting held upon the
subject in Cranston. yesterday, at which addition
al reward OF $1,000 was offered
A letter received in Boston from Providence sthtes
that some tracks in the followed from the
spot ofthe murder into the swamp, where the breech
of the broken gun was found also stained with blood
After further search, coat was found also stained
with blood and this coat has been identified us be
longing Of the Gordons who had been arrested
previously. The residue of the gun was also found
in tho swamp, and the ramrod has been identified as
one made for Gordon The Gordons were seen com
ing from the swamp after the murder, one OF them
without coat. The letter states that very little
doubt exists in the minds Of tho people in that vcin-
ity that the two Gordons the men who committed
! the murder.
Farmers nf Essay Cnnntu