The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-06-14
From he Ba'ioa O,,risr, Jvas Q.
AWFUL TRAGEDY IN noxnURY.

One OF the most distressing events that has
occurred in this heighborhood for many years
took place at Roxbury, on Saturday evening.
A man named Ephraim l.. Daggctt, Of Hope,
Me, had been noticed, A. if laboring under
some hAlucination, wandering about the city
during Friday, and called nt several houses.
lie represented that he was subject 20 epiiep-
tic fits, and pleaded great poverty and begged
food. Among other places, ho called al the
house OF DIR. Train bat the doctor not being
at home, Daggett inquired for the resideDce
Of Rev. Mr. Trafton, and being told where il
was, he left and proceeded in that direction,
though &c does not appear that he called upon
the clergyman.
r. On Saturday morning about rleven o'clock
he called at the house Of DIR. A. j. Cummings,
who resides in Church Place, Ruggles street,
near the Freewin Baptist Church he said he
was hungry, and that he was willing 10 chop
wood, or do any other jobs about the house
for his dinner. llo was supplied with food
and uftcr dinner loitercd about the house un-
! I'll SIS o'clock, when he was furnished with
tea. The doctor went out about seven o'clock
on n professional errand leaving naagett, who
soon ater complained Of pain in his heart
lie asked leave 10 sit nj the Kitchen FIRE for
the purpose of warming his feet and pcTmis-
SION was granted He subsequently entered
the sitting room, still complaining Of pain,
took seat, united his meek handk erchief,
aud said he wanted 20 see DIR Cunminep.
His strange manner alarmed Mrs Cummings,
aud she asked Miss Crosby, who was pres
emit 20 20 and call in some Of the ncighbors.
Miss Crosby, who was holding in her lap Dr.
Cummings daughter, n child about four
years Old, set tho little girl down for the pur-
pose OF complying with the request
The moment she did so, Daggett rose, and,
after muttcring in a low tone for a moment,
cxelaimed--'it's no use, she must go" He
seiEcd the child by the hair Of the head, pull
4---t-as=-s E-TEs=z Hfs Knee and cut her hcad al
most of with razor which he drew from his
pocket The appalled, mother attempted to
! rescue her sweet innocent from the grasp OF
the slaughtercr; but she was attacked, and
sustained a wound in the hand. She finally
succeeded in rcscuing the lifeless body OF her
child and with it ran into the street, the in
iants head dangling over her shoulder, Dag
rett still IN pursuit, attempting TO strike her
neck with the raised razor
The appearance Of the affrighted mother
as she ran frantic through the streets for help
holding in her arms her almost headless
| child bleeding from every severed vein--was
a sight too awful TO be described. The neigh
bors soon heard her outcries, and upon their
approach, Daggcit. who had followed Mrs
! Cummings some distance, receded 10 the pi-
ara Of the doctors house, and there cut his
own throat in such manner as to produce
death in less than ten minnteA The scene
of blood was terrible TO behold--the sitting
room and hall OF the house,the piazza outside
and the streets adjacent were stained with it
but these blemishcs can be wiped away;
the neighbors, who were appalled, with what
they saw, will forget the sight; but the rccol-
Elections Of mis- awful tragedy win never pasS
away from the memory Of the mother.
DR.. Cummings returned in the midst Of the
confusion He found Daggctt in tho parlor
with his throat cut from ear TO ear, and still
breathing. He attempted to dress the wound,
hut death rendered the task upnecessary.--
All shis time the doctor was unconscious that
it was the body of his only child, whom nc
had rarcSsed half an hour before, that lay
bleeding upon the table
| Daggett is supposed to have been insane.
His strange manner the day previous to the
murder and suicide would seem to warrant
that supposition. He carried in his pocket
small bible, and several times during the az
ternoou, and lust before the slaughter he took
it out and pretended to read from IL The
razor with which he committed the deed he
took from a shelf in DR.. Cummings kitchen
tpnpotice1y -
Dr. CnnlsHiHgs allowed Daggctt 60 rcnasin
about the house during the afternoon, in the
hope that in the mean time he would be able
to see some of the city authorities, and obtain
for him permit to the poor-heuse. He did
not regard him as dangerous person, and
though he seemed demented, there was moth
ing in his manner 10 excite fear. The City
Marshal of Roxb bury has taken charge OF Dag
getts body. Daggett was attired in green
sack coat, black satin vest, striped cotton
pants. It is supposed that he had recently e.
capped from some mad-house.