Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-07-05
i, JULY 5, 1S49.


nately at me and at the fatal bottle with eyes
that seemed starting from their sockets. glanc-
ed towards the son he was also affected in a
terrible manner. His knees smote each other,
and clammy perspiraton burst forth and settled
on his pallid forehead.
"Again caution you" reiterated the magis-
trate, " that you are not bound 10 answer any of
these questions"
"The woman's lips moved. "No--never !"
she almost inaudily gasped, and fell senseless on
the floor.
AS soon as she was removed, Jane Withers
was called She deposed that three days prevl-
ously, as she was, just before dusk, arranging
some linen in room few yards distant from
the bedroom of her late mistress, she was sur
prised at hearing noise outside the door, as of
persons struggling and speaking in low but ear
nest tones She drew aside corner of the
muslin curtain in the window which looked upon
the passage or corridor, and there saw Mrs. Bor-
don striving to wrest something from her sons
not do it, or you shall not have it"-she could
not be sure which. A noise of some kind SEEM
ed to alarm them: they ceased struggling, and
listened atlentivey few seconds; then Alfred
Bourbon stole Of on tip.toes, leaving the object
in dispute, which witness could not see distinct
y in his mothers hand. Mrs. Bourbon contin-
ued to listen, and presently Miss Armitage, ope-
ming the door of her mothers chamber called her
by name. She Immediately placed what was in
her hand on the marble top of side-table stand
ing in the corridor, and hastened to Miss Arml,
tage. Witness left the room she had been in a
few minutes afterwards, and, curious to know
what Mrs. Bourbon and her son were struggling
for, went to the table to look at it. 1t was m
oddly shaped glass bottle, containing blackisll
gray powder, which, as she held it up to the
light, looked like black lead
would you be able to swear to the bottle If
you saw it 2"
"Certainly should"
"By what mark, or token?"
"The name of VaIpy or Vulpy was cast into
THAT is, the name was in the glass itself"
"ls this it ?"
cit is; | swear most positively"
letter was also read which was taken from
Bourdon's pocket 1t was much erased, ant
was proved to be in the handwriting of Mrs
Armitage. 1t consisted of severe rebuke 70
the young mans presumption in seeking to ad
dress himself to her daughter, which insolent in
gratitude, the writer said, she should never, 81
long as she lived, either forgotten forgive. Thi
last sentence was strongly underlined with dit
ferent ink from that used by the writer of tn
letter.
The surgeon deposed to the cause of death
It had been brought on by the action of iodine
u spsAss lss;sss~..-sl
duced symptoms Of rapid atrophy, snch q
had appeared in Mrs. Armitage. The glass bo
tie found in the recess contained iodine in pu
verised state.
deposed, that on entering the library on tn
previous evening, | overheard young Bourdor
add essing his mother, say, Now that it is don
past recall | will not shrink from any conse
quences, be they what they may"
This was the substance of the evidence ad
duced; and the magistrate at once committe
Alfred Bourbon to Chelmsford Jail to take hi
trial at the next assize for 6" wilful murder" !
coronor's inquisition a few days after also re
turned verdict of wiful muder against him o
the same evidence.
About an hour after his commital, and jus
previous to the arrival of the vehicle that was
convey him to the county prison, he requisite
an interview with me. | very reluctantly con
scented, but steeled as was against him, | coul
not avoid feeling dreadiully shocked at tn
change which so brief an interval had wrough
upon him. 1t had done the work of years. Des
pair-back, utter dGspair-was written in eve
ry lineamcnt of his expressive countenance.
81 have requested to see YOU" said the un
happy culprt, "rather than Dr. Curteis, becaus
he, know, is bitterly prejudiced against me-
But you will not refuse, think, the solemn RI
quest of dying man-for dying man ! lo'
myself to be-however long Or short the int
val which stands between me and the scafIol'
1t is not with a childish hope that any asscrtic
, of mine can avail before the tribunal of the la
against the evidence adduced this day, that
, with all the solemnity BETTING man who's
DAYS are numbered declare to you that am el
trely innocent of the crime laid to my charg
| have no such expectation seek only that yC
, IN pity of my youth, and untimey fate, shou
convey to her whom have madly presumed
worship, this message:-
"Alfred Bourbon was mad but not blood-gl
q ty; and of the crime laid to his charge he is
innocent as an unborn child"
e "The pure and holy passion, young man,
y said, somewhat startled by his impressive ma
ner, "however presumptuous, MS fer as soc
X considerations are concerned, it might be,
which YOU affect 10 be inspired, is utterly inco
sistent with the cruel, dastardy crime of whit
r such damning evidence has an hour since be
: given."-
"Say no more, sir" interrupted Bourbon, SIN
|. ing back in his seat, and burying his face in
d hands 1T were bootIess Grand; she cOD
not in the face of that evidence, believe my U
e supported assertion! 1t were as well perha
she did not. And yet, sir, it is hard to be ira
)" pied into a felons grave, loaded with the ma
dictions Of those whom you would coin yo
is heart to serve and bless! All, sir" he contin
10 ed, while tears of agony streamed through
firmly closed fingers, "you cannot conceive
unuttorablc bitterness of the pung which rem
< the heart of him who feels that he is not or
it despised, but loathed, hated, execrated, by j
h whom his soul idoizes Mine was no boyi
ut transient passion; it has grown with my grow
It, and STRENGTHENED with nv strength. MY !