Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-07-25
Fearful Retribntion.

ter the discharge, men were seen running 10
and fro, as though some frightfnl deed had
been committed. The immediate occasion
ofthe stir and confusion is soon told, though
beyond the act there is history, we fear,
darker in its complexion than the tTansac-
ton we are about to relate
About 10 o'clock girl named Henrietta
Blanchard stood III the front of Mr. Kendigs
store, and beckoned 10 some one to come to
her. Mr. Kendig, imagining that she dcsir-
ed TO see him on business, stepped up 10 her.
He was told that il was not him she wanted,
but Mr. John Parker Pettiway, ,oho IS
negro trader. Mr. Pet!iway hereupon APP
preached her. She asked him to walk out
with her, when he turned to Mr. Kendig and
desired that gentleman TO step ont and hear
what she had to say. Mr. X. refused to ac-
company them into the street, but said if
they would go into the back room he had no
objection to being present at the interview.
He then took Pettiway by the arm, ard tlsey
were walking together to the rear ofthe bull
ding when pistol was discharged and Petit
way exclaimed that he was shot Pettiway
reeled, but was supported by Mr. Kendig
and borne into an ante-room, where he re-
manned until his wound was examined by a
physician. The ball struck him in the back
TO the left Of the spine, just below the ribs,
and passed out in front, making danger
Gus, though it is not thought mortal
wound.
As soon as she fired her pistol, Henrietta
threw il down aud turned deliberately to
walk out. Mr. Kendig requested some one
TO detain her. She then remarked that she
did not wish to elude the officers fthe law /;
that she intended to give herself up 10 the
Recorder. She however took seat, and in
few minutes was surrounded by large
number Of citizens She is fne-looking,
wel-formed woman, about eighteen or TWEEN
ty years of age as we should Judge. She
has blue eyes, light brown hair, rather above
the ordinary stature and was dressed in a
neat, comely and plain style. Her mien was
as digni6ed as the agitation belonging TO such
a scene would allow, while at the same time
she seemed to be laboring under deep ex-
element which bore many of the character
isiics of a whitening sense of wrong endured
through shame, abasement and outrage.
She was told by some one that she had
killed Pettway. She replied that he had
done worse to her. She said she was a
poor, deienceless woman, who had been
brought nearly TO the grave by him, had
been wronged beyond endurance and aban-
doned in her despair. To some one who
asked her why she did this thing, she re-
piled, "He knows" She then added in, a
voice somewhat shaken and tremuIous,
"This is fearful tragedy, but he deserved
it." short time afterwards she seemed
TO be oppressed, and asked for water. A
x,,hr bo InI Lo. -.
that she might have drunk laudanum or
something Of the kind, so violent was her
agitation, asked her if she had taken any,
thing else that morning. She looked him
earnestly in the face for moment, and re-
peated the words taken anything else '
and then with more sternness added mo,
sir,-nothng but revenge p When the
officer was about taking her to the lock ~,
house in Barronne street she remarked, with
much 6rmness and resignation, ''they can
but kill me, and have suffered more than
that already"
There was nothing in the manner OF this
unfortunate woman that indicated an aban-
doned character. We hear that she is
dress-maker, and resides with her sister in
Royal street, who is married 10 respecta-
BILE citizen. We hear, moreover, many re-
ports of seduction and desertion II is said
also, that recently she took the offspring Of
guilty love to the house Of Pathway where
she was turned away with rcproaches, and
her child cast out as the fruit OF an illicit
connexion with some other person. How
ever this may be, she appeared to us like
one who had been wrought up to deed of
fearful import by sense of injuries unre-
Quilted and irreparable. The bosror occa-
stoned by scene so bloody was qualified
by sympathy for the principal actor in il,
who seemed beref Of every emotion but that
of revenge for wrongs that were too greivous
to be borne, and incapable of exertion ex-
cept in resenting injuries for which, il must
be confessed, human laws furnished but a
poor redress.
lfwhat we hear of her past history be
true, the blood of Pettiway could not have
washed out the stain that soils her reputa-
ton forever, there is for her but one atone
ment-one refuge. Imbruing her hands in
the blood Of her seducer, If he be such, can
not make clean her garments and sanctify
the errors of life to her good But may il
not be admissible to pardon something to
the frenzy that seizes upon mortal means to
accomplish ends that have no remedy in hu-
man aid, as II is surely natural to be merci-
ful TO such as have been robbed Of all claim
to the consideration Of society, except that
which pity exacts for the forlorn and bruis-
ed daughter Of sim
Since writing the above, we learn that
Pettiway was still alive, although in much
pain, last evening, and that there was some
reason to believe he would finally recover