Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-01-29

clutched his arm with the same nervous lren-
zicd gripe as before.
"Mrs. Strugnel, arc you there ?" once more
shouted the constable. IIc was answered by
low moan. In an instant that frail door
was burst in. and Mrs. Strugncll was soon
pulled out, apparently more dead than alive
from underneath the bedstead, where she in
specchlcss CONSERVATION. lay partially con-
ccaled. Placing her in a chair, they soon
succeeded - much more easily, indeed. than
they anticipated-in restoring her to con-
I seriousness.
Nervously she glanced around the circle Of
eager faces that cnvironed her, till her eyes
fell upon Armstrong and his wife, when she
gave loud shrek, and muttering, They,
they are the murderers % swooned, or appear
ed to do so. again instantly.
The accused persons. in spite of their fren
ziod protestatons Of innocence were instant
ly seized and taken off to a place Of security
Mrs. Strugnell was conveyed to q ncighbor's
close by; the house was carelully secured
and the agitated and wondering villagers de-
parted 10 their several homes, but not ! ian-
cy, 10 sleep any more that night
The deposition made by Mrs Strugnell at
the inquest on the body was in substance as
follows
son the afternoon in question she had. in
accordance with her usual custom, proceeded
90 town. She called on her aunt. took tea
with her. and afterwards went to the lnde-
pendent Chapel. After service she called to
sec Miss Wilson, but was informed that in
consequence Of a severe cold, the young lady
was gone to bed. She then Immediately pro-
cecded homcward and consequently arrived at
Craig Farm more than hour au before her usual
time. She let herself in with her latch key,
and proceeded to her bedroom. There was
no light in Mr.. Wilson's chamber, but she
could hear him moving about in it.
She was just about TO go down stairs, hav-
ing put away her Sunday bonnet and shawl.
when she heard a noise, as Of persons enter
ing by the back way. and walking gently a.
cross the kitchen floor Alarmed as to what
it could be. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong not be-
ing expected home for several days she gen
ty closed her door and locked it, A few min
utos after, she heard stealthy steps ascending
the crcaHng stairs, and presently her door
was triod and a yoce I'm q low, hurried whis-
per said,. Mary. are you there She was
positive it was Mr.. Armstrong; voice. out
was too terrified to answer Then Mrs Arm
strong She was sure it was hcr-said also in
whisper as if addressing her husband, 'She
is never back at this hour minute or so
after there was a tap at Mr. Wilson's door -
She could not catch what answer was made,
but by Armstrong reply she gathered that
Mr.. Wilson had laid down, and did not wish
to be disturbed He was often in the habit
of lying down with his clothes on. Arm
strong said. i will not disturb you, sir I'll
only Just put this parcel on the table. There
was no lock on Mr. Wilson's door Arm
strong stepped into the ROOM and almost i'm
mediately she heard a sound as of violent
blow, followed by deep groan, and then all
was still. She was paralvzed with horror and
alright After the lapse Of a few seconds, a
voice--Mrs Armstrong ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ed in a tremulous tone if all was over /: Her
husband answered Yes: but where arc the
keys of the writing desk kept; In the little
table-drawer was the reply. Armstrong then
came out of the bedroom, and both went into
Mr.. Wilson's sitting apartment. They soon
returned and crept stealthily along the pas
sage 90 their own bedroom on the same floor.
They then went down stairs to the Kitchen
One of thcm--the woman, she had no doubt
went outthe back way, and heavy foot
steps again assembled the stairs Almost dead
with fright she then crawled under the bed
stead. and remembered no more till she found
herself surrounded by the villagers"
In confirmation of this statement, a large
clasp knife belonging to Armstrong. and with
which it was evident the murder had been pcr-
petrated, was found in one corner Of Wilson's
bedroom and a mortgage deed for one thou
sand pounds on Craig Farm, the property Of
Wilson. and which Strugnell swore was al
ways kept in the writing desk in the front
room. was discovered in a chest in the prison
er's sleeping apartment, together with nearly
one hundred and fifty pounds in gold, silver,
and county bank notes. although it was known
that Armstrong had but fortnight before de-
clned very advantageous offer of some cows
he was desirous Of purchasing, under the plea
of being short of cash. Worse perhaps than
all, key Of the back door was found in his
pocket, which not only confirmed Strugnell's
evidence, but clearly demonstrated that the
knocking at the door for admittance, which
had reused and alarmed the hamlet, a
pure subteriuge The conclusion, therefore,
almost universally arrived at throughout the
ncighborhood was, that Armstrong and his
wife were the guilty parties and that the
bundles, the broken locks. the sheet hanging
out Of the window, the shiny. black hat, were.
like the knocking, mere cunning devices TO
misead inquiry
The case excited great interest in the coun-
ty. and | esteemed myself professionally for
tunato in being selected to hold the brief for
perusal of the dispositions, that there was no
doubt of the prisoner guilt, and detormin-
ed that no effort on my part should be spared
to insure the accomplishment of the ends Of
Justice | drew the indictment myself; and
in opening the address to the jury, dwelt with
all the force and cloquence Of which | was
master, upon the heinous nature Of the crime.
and the conclusveness of the evidence by
which it had been brought home to the pris-
onors. | may here, by way of parenthesis,
mention that resorted to plan in my adj
dress to the jury which have seldom known
to fail. 1t consisted in fixing my eyes and
addressing my language to each juror one af-
ter the other. In this way each considers the
address to be an appeal to his individual in
telligenee, and responds to it by falling into
the views Of the barristor, On this occasion
the Jury easily fell into the trap. could see
that had got them into the humor of put
ting confidence in the evidence had to pro-
duce.
The trial proceeded. The cause of the
death was scientifically stated by two medi-
cal men. Then followed the evidence as to
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