Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-07-23
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.


On Friday morning last the bloodost scene
we have ever heard of in Vermont was enact
ed in Calais, in this county. Early in the
morning a young man about nineteen years
Of ago,) named Ariel Martin, called at the
house Of Mr. Jonnison l.. Wheelock and in
quired for him. Though Martin was armed
with rife, Mrs. Whcelock had no suspicion
Of violence, and informed him that Mr.. Vince
lock was at work in field, a short distance
from the house, but surrounded by the forest.
Martin then asked whether Wheclock was
alone, and was informed that he was. Mar
tin then went directly to the field, and from
the edge Of the woods shot Mr. Whcelock
Mrs. w. heard the report of the rifle and a
scream from her husband. Being thus alarm
ed, she went Immediately to the field, and
found her husband in a brook-dead He
had moved four rods from the spot where he
received the ball. and apparently thrown him
self into the brook. The ball entered the
right breast and came out on the left side Of
the back. cutting off an artery near the heart
in Its passage OF course death must have
occurred nearly at the moment the victim
reached the brook. From this spot Martin
went directly TO the farm of Moses Goodell,
whore Mr.. Goodell, young man named Luz
cius Answorth, and two boys were at work
hoyng. After brief and unimportant con-
yorsation, mainly with Mr. Goodcl. Martin
drew up his rife and shot Mr.. Aiusworth-
the ball entering the left side Of tho back and
passing out ON the right As Ainsworth fell
Martin walked of deliberately, loading his
rifle as he went. Mr.. Goodol went at once
to Ainsworth, and surprising him to be dead,
started for assistance TO take Martin, the boys
in tho mean time having fed from fright
From Goodolls, Martin went to Kents cor
ner, aiming his rife at two other persons on
the way, and at the corner he was disarmed
and arrested. On Saturday, States Attorney
Joyce attended to the examination of the
prisoner, before w. w. Caldwell, Esq. when
Martin was bound over for trial and then
brought to this place in the custody of Depu-
ty Sheriff Winch. On Monday he was taken
to Burlington jail for safe keeping, the old
jail here having been demolished to give place
to the new one. None but the most frivo-
lous reasons have been assigned by Martin
for this double murder indeed, his own con-
icssion j., that he intended to kill six persons
all for lancicd and trivial offences or dislike.
The very circumstances of the case therefore
raise the presumption Of imbecility or insan-
ity, and it is said that this is strengthened by
antecedents in the family and in Martins pre-
vous conduct. lie wears the appearance Of
imbccility, rather than malico--is not much
inclined to talk, even with his acquaintance
and seems to have no consciousness of the
terrible consequences Of his acts, either to
his victims and their friends or to himself
Whcelock and Ainsworth were both Young
men OF good characters the former but re-
Gently married and fairly commencing life
the latter leaves a wife and two children
The Joint funeral of both Of the deceased wa,
attended on the last Sabbath by great con
course of people, and the scene was the sad
dest and most impressive of any that has ev
or occurred in this region.