Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-09-05
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY!
WOMAN MURDERED BY ura uusBASD.

ings which compose that notorious locality
has been occupied Of late by Wm. Barne
and bis wife, living alone in the house. II
is an Englisbman, sort Of cattle doctor o
farrier, also gaining his livelihood in part b,
such jobs as the cleaning Of sink hole
and privies. His wife was an Irishwoman
whom, it is said, he married in Quebec. Tn
testimony before the CORNERS inquest. show
that both were VIGOROUSLY Incorporate, and
when drunk were very quarrelsome.
/ About one o'clock Thursday morning, SOM
ol the neighbors were aroused by Barnet, ,wht
tjld them that his wife had cut her throat.
Sheriff Flanagan and DR.. Thayer were sam
moned, and revolving scene was soon dis
closed. On the bed, in a small bedroom ~
stairs, lay the dead body Of the woman, in
her customary apparel, her throat cut from
ear to ear, her right arm extended above her
head and holding a bloody knife-l coarse
dull bres d-knife or butcher knife with a wood
en- handle-the bed clothing and pillow soak
ed with blood, and the wall spattered and
stained with the same terrible witness Of
crime. The evidence would seem to leave
no room for doubt, that it was a murder, and
that she died by the hand Of her drunken
partner.
\ corOner's jury was forthwith summoned
at about o'clock Thurs1ly morning, by
JusticeHollenbeck, composed as follow-.
CorOner's Jipy.-T, E. Wales, Hiram
Walker, ". \ Tyler, j. 4 Shedd, j. 5.
Lloyd, o. H. Kimball, Jas. Carter, II. Blood,
II. c. Tenant, G. D. Weller, W. E Wei
ler, c. F. Ward, c. II. Stanford, J. ".
Roby, L. P Fuller
The jury after viewing the body and scene
Of the murder, proceeded to the investiga-
tion, which took place at the Office Of T. E.
Wales, Esq. The first witness was Barnet,
who testified as follows
William Barnet, sworn. Is 81 years old,
was born in England. Anne Barnet Is my
wife. When came home from work last
night about clock, found my wife with
her throat cut last saw her alive sitting in
a chair in the ircnt room. little after @
went out to Nelson Whites and got plug
OF tobacco was not gone over 20 minutes,
came right back, and up stairs found my
wife bleeding on the bed in the front room
lifted her head and put pillow under it,
then went and called Mrs. English and other
neighbors and then went for DR.. Thayer,
but could not ind him, and came back
that was about ii O'Clock. When pat the
pillow under her asked her what the mat
ter was she tried to speak but could not
say a word. Just a. | went IN she said she
had cut her throat She was then lying
on the bed with one hand down and the other
over her head first saw the knife when |
returned with Mr.. English--it it was in my
wife's hand, Just as when the Jury saw it.
did not touch Il. She was dead then
When | first went in she was groaninG and
thought she had a ft as she sometimes does.
She said q" have cut my throat" She
never spoke after. The butcher knife IS one
| have for butchering. | have five Of them,
think | sharpened this about three weeks
ago. My wife got me some tea about five
o clock, she then appeared TO look wild and
not right in her head. She told me about
days before she should give me trouble some
time. | never spoke an angry word to her.
drank about wine glass iull Of whiskey
yesterday, which is all have drank within
a month. Have had no difficulty with my
wife. She was 35 years Of age. She is a
catholic and protestant. When | raised
her head got myself bloody. have not
washed since. Don't know how the bruises
came on her face.
Eliza English, sworn. Live next door to
Barnet. About l o clock this morning,
Barnet came and called me knocked at the
window and SAID his wife had cut her throat.
got right up, and we went up together, into
he front room. lie handed me the light and
old me 10 see if she was dead. | found her
IuIte cold, and said "She is dead. He
aid she was breathing when he went to call |
ne. | saw her alive about o'clock, sewing |
It her own door. She has had a wild look 1
or two or three days. She was away week, |
bout month ago, in Williston, in the |
woods, crazy, and had all her clothes torn
fl when she got home. He was undressed |
yhen he called me-think he had on drawers, /
lut no pants or coat. He appeared excited. |
know 1t was about l o'clock when be call
d me, for heard the clock strike.
III. $. Lane, sworn. Knew Barnet and his
vile ; both were in the habit of getting in
oxicated. and quarreled frequently thinks
Irs. Barnet did not bear the character Of
ommon woman. She did work occasionally
OF him on cushions finished a couple for
i'm that day. Barnet came IN about
'clock in the evening and wanted money;
aid him small sum in P.O. stamps lie
eemed nervous was IN their house the day
efore, noticed rusty butcher knife in the
Oom, had no bright spots on it, saw bruise
n Mrs. Barnet's face, which she said she got
" falling down stairs. Another mark now
isible on the forehead Of the corpse was not
hen there; she had remarked to him that she
ras not on very good terms with Mrs. Badge
~ or English /; knows nothing further.
G. n. Irish, sworn. Was going past Bar
cts house last evening, between 9 and 10
clock heard loud talking and quarreling
p stairs; thought there were several per-
ms; raped at the door, and Barnet and
is wife came down asked them who was
p there, and they said ''no one ;" then left;
ad frequently heard disturbance in the
ouse.
Ransom COlberth, sworn. Passed through
ne Lane in company with Mr.. Geo Whit
sy between half past 10 and IL o'clock
~oAN AOA7S hANA SHfO7-sS NIS AS-7~f % VI
window falling at first thought some one
ad thrown a club 4; but then concluded it
as the dropping Of a window then heard
hustling noise up stairs, and remarked to
II. Whitney that there was hustle going
] up there heard light and heavy step,
hich might have been Of the same person,
art Of the time on tIptoe heard also Curl
is noise, as Of some one in ssufis and try.
g to breathe. There was no light in the
ouse. Every thing was quiet elsewhere.
lw Barnet yesterday was no more in liquor
IAN usual is commonly full have seen
9TH intoxicated saw Mrs. Barntt about |
clock P. M. yesterday she appeared to be
Der she spoke to him pleasantly, and he
W no indications of insanity or wildness.
Geo. Whitney, sworn. Passed the house
ith Mr.. Colberth about quarter to IL
ard window drop; passed on, while Mr..
1lberth halted before the house heard no.
ing more.
n. B. Flanagan, sworn. Was called up /
: Mr.. LabCnty and young Peter Lander, 9
,out o'clock, this morning, and went !
'wn to the Lane with them. Found no one
- k.,s Il. IL I