Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-30
Shocking Murder.


The Boston Times gives the following par
ticulars of the murder which occurred in that
city GU Sunday:
Yesterday at noon, the whole family dined
together Nothing unusual occurred at the
meal. After it was through, Davis left the
house and shortly after returned, and went up to
the room usually occupied by Mrs. Van Wagner
aud her husband. One of Davis children said
he heard his aunt exclaim, "Thomas, will you
hear me?" Soon afterwards the prisoner came
down stairs, washed his hands, and went to the
clubhouse. While he was absent, another of
his children went into Mrs. Van Wagners apart
ment and found her lying on the floor, weltering
in her blood, and her throat cut from ear to ear.
The child screamed and ran out of the house to
alarm the neighbors. Mr.. Barker, who resides
in the vicinity, led by the cries of the boy, en-
tered the house, and perceiving at once the ma
ture of the bloody deed. Immediately procured
the services of officer Tarlton and Coroner
Pratt, with whom he returned. While they
were examining the body, Davis entered the
room below, smoking cigar, and apparently
perfectly composed.
After examining into the circumstances as
far as he was able, the Coroner deemed il his
duty to cause the arrest of Davis, and he was
accordingly conveyed to the lookup. He made
no resistance and, declaring his entire inno-
cence, asked why he should murder his sister,
who had been so kind to his children? The
Coroner then summoned jury, and after short
consultation, the prisoner was ordered to be
committed and further examination was post
poned until Wednesday afternoon next, at two
o'clock.
Last evening we went to the scene of the
tragedy, and never did we behold more ghast
ly spectacle. The victim a young woman
scarcely twenty -four years OF age, her features
still presenting no little appearance of personal
beauty, lay there with her head nearly severed
from her body, and the wound presenting an
appearance as if the fiend, her murderer, had
actually endeavored to pull The iOindpipe from
her throat
1t is stated that the accused had been in the
habi Of abusing the unfortunate woman and on
one occasion knocked her down in the presence
; of her husband, towards whom he has OCCASION
ally manifested no little hostility. He objected
to his sister marrying him, and it is presumed
that ill.fee;ing was occasioned from this cause
On the shirt wristband of the prisoner one or
two spots OF blood were found after his arrest
On the stairs leading from the scene of the muir
der, to the place where he washed his hands, the
spots of blood we're also detected, and the wall
IN one place presented the appearance of having
been touched by bloody fingers. A bloody ra-
zor was found near the body. The deceased
mad been married but few months and her
husband is represented as worthy and indus
trous young man. Ills grief was heart-rending.
There Is the greatest excitement pevading
'hat part of the city where the tragedy occurred;
aud last night 1t was almost impossible to OBJ
tam ascess to the premises, so great was the
crowd. From all the particulars we have learn
ed and we trust, for the prisoners sake, they
are exaggerated, this seems to have been the
bloodiest and most cold hearted murder that
mas occurred in Boston for number of years.