Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-27

VINO Hooked, IN large NUMBERS, 10 MS asSis'ahoe'
On the neighbors arriving at the house with
him, he stated in answer to their inquiries what
be had been told by John in regard to the mur-
der, the circumstances attending his getting up
and meeting his brother returning from the
room in which his parents lay, the finding the
door fastened on the inside, &c. John stated to
the neighbors that he had heard the noise, had
got up and found person in the house killing
his parents that he alarmed his brother, and
went from the house part Of the way to the
neighbors, and on returning met negro CON-
ing from the house. -, - y. ' i'.i'. .' e,
In relating the circumstances, Mr.. McEchron
was in q state of great nervous excitement, and
manifested great deal of emotion. He said
that appearance pressntsda a most horrible
appearance, their heads and faces covered with
deep gashes. The weapon used was an axe. ''
The little boy was found on his hands and
knees on the floor, yet living, with blood aow-
ing profusely from from a wound which he re-
ooiNouiu VIZ hoau' lo was uu1 iupcnSlpio uub
spoke wildly and incoherently, calling for wa
ter, and begging to be removed from the place.
He died in short time The brother was sit
ting at the foot of the bed of his murdered pa
rents, wringing his hands, and manfesting great
agony of grief. In reply to repeated questions
put to him, he gave contradictory, evasive, and
unsatisfactory answers, and his statement was
as before mentioned. The elder
brother repeated what his brother had told him,
and that he went to alarm the neighbors, and
positively declared that John did not accompany
him, but that he left him in the house and saw
no other person about the house or coming from
it. To all questions put to him he gave direct
answers, and manifested frankness in his
quite different from that of his broth
er p
Naturally enough, from the circumstances
attending the first investigation, strong suspi-
cions are entertained of the brother John--there
are circumstances connected with the previous
relations existing between him and his father,
which will go far to establish such supposition,
which in may not be well to mention until af-
ter the proper investigation has been made
The whole affair is one of those occurrences of
deep-dyed inhuman brutality which occasional
ly stultify the moral sensibilities, and illustrate
the depth of human depravity.-Os1ego Pal
lddi,rn.
[Since writing the above, an attentive CORES
pondent, was present at the scene, has kindly
furnished US with the following statement, which
establishes the guilt of the son beyond doubt
One of tho most horrible tragedies that was
ever perpetrated was committed few weeks
since in the town of Sterling, County of Cayu-
ga, about eight miles from this city. The FAM
lily of Mr. Fitzgerald, consisting of himself,wife
and three sons, retired to rest about ten o'clock.
The second son,whose name is John, aged about
twenty years, was but short time since bailed
from Jail in Auburn by his father, where he was
confined for stealing horse. By his wayward-
ness and criminal conduct he had brought upon
T
himself the censure of his parents and brothers.
which, instead of reclaiming him, embittered
his feelings to such degree that his revenge
could only be gratifed by their death. The
family oil slept on the same floor. The father,
mother, and younger son, aged twelve years, oc-
cupied one apartment, and John and his brother
Patrick another. John refused to sleep with
his brother, and accordingly lay down on thu
floor, after removing his boots and stockings.
Soon after midnight Patrick distinguished
groans, as he thought, proceeding from tn
room of his parents He sprang upon the floor
and approaching the door leading to their room
met his brother John, who informed him that
negro had murdered their parents and brother
Patrick Immediately alarmed the neighbors, VIII
very soon, in great numbers focked to his assist
anoe. t.
When they entered the room, one of tn
most appalling spectacles was presented tha
eyes ever beheld. In the centre of the floor la,
the youngest son. welterng in his own blood
pathetically calling upon his mother, and i'm
ploring the beholders to remove him from there
The instrument used to commit the deed was al
axe. He had received two gashes, about fou
inches in length, on the side of his face, an,
both severed the temporal artery. He died il
about three hours, from the loss Of blood. Il
the further corner of the room, on bed, lay tn
aged parents, with their faces and necks horri
bly, mutilated.
The old gentleman appears first to have beer
dispatched by several deep gashes in th'
neck. completely severing the spinal cord ant
the great vessel of the neck. After which tn
old lady appears to have been struck with tn
same instrument upon the back part of the neck
with the same effect.
Great excitement exists at the scene Of th
disaster.
A Justice was soon summoned, who after que
tioning the two surviving sons, ordered John
be taken into custody. He exhibited guilt
his looks, which was further evinced by the pr
varica ton he manifested when answering inte
rogatories.
, He stoutly denied all knowledge Of or partic
. patton in the affair, till about three o'cloc
l Thursday afternoon, at which time DR.. Plum
a arrived, in whose family the said John hi
: resided for few months, about four years sine
The doctor, after summoning all persons to lea
: lhe room in which the prisoner was. con6ne
t kindly conversed with him in relation to Il
s enormity of the deed which had been committee
Q reminding him of the love which his paren
Q Ibore for him, until the fountains Of his so'
: were stirred up, and amid sobs and anguish an