Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-29
IRASBURGH, VERMONT, FRIDAY, MAY %. 1863

Armstrong, who appeared to have
somewhat recovered from his panic,
darted at once up the staircase, followed
by the whole body Of rustics On reach
ing the landing. place, he knocked at Mr..
Wilson's bedroom door. No answer
was returned. Armstrong seemed to
hesitate, but the constable at once lifted
the latch; they entered, and then a mel
ancholy spectacle presentented itself.
Wilson, completely dressed, lay ex-
tended on the floor lifeless corpse. He
had been stabbed 10 two places in lthe
breast with some sbarp-pointed instru-
ment. Life was quite extinct. The
window was open. On farther inspec-
ton, several bundles containing many of
Wilson's valuables in jewelry and plate,
together with clothes, shirts, silk hand
kerchiefs, were found.
The wardrobe and a secretary bureau
had been forced open. The assassins
had, it seemed, been disturbed, and had
buried off by the window without their
plunder. A hat was also picked up in
the room, shiny, black hat, much too
small for the deceased. The constable
snatched it up, and attempted to clap it
on Armstrong; head, but it was not near
ly large enough. This, together with
the bundles, dissipated suspicion which
had been growing in Johnson's mind, and
he roughly exclaimed, You need not
look so scared, farmer; it's not you;
that's quite clear"
To this remark neither Armstrong nor
his wife answered a syllable, but con-
tinued TO gaze at the corpse, the bun
dies, and broken locks, in bewildered
terror and astonishment. Presently
some one asked if any body had seen
Mrs. StrugnelI?
The question reused Armstrong, and
he said, 50 She is no: come home: her
door is locked"
"How do you know that ?" cried the
constable, turning sharply round, and
looking keenly in his face. "How do
you know that p
"Because-because," stamered Arm
strong, "because she always locks it
when she goes out"
Which is her room ?"
"The next to this"
They FASTENED out, and found the next
door was fast.
"Are you there, Mrs. Strugnell ?"
shouted johnson.
There was no reply.
"She is never home till half-past ten
o'clock on Sunday evenings" remark
ed Armstrong in calmer voice.
"The key is in the lock on the inside" !"
cried a young man who had been striv-
ing to peep through the key-hole.
Armstrong, it was afterwards sworn,
started as if he had been shot; and bis
wife again clutched his arm with the
same nervous, frenzied gripe as before.
"Mrs. Strugnell, are you there 7" once
more shouted the constable. He was
answered by low moan. In an instant
the frail door was burst in, and Mrs.
Strugnell was soon pulled out, apparent
ly more dead than alive, from underneath
the bedstead, where she in speechless
CONSERVATION, lay partially concealed,
Placing her in chair, they soon sue
ceeded--much more easily, indeed, than
they anticipated-in restoring her to
consciousness.
Nervously she glanced round the cir
Gle of eager faces that environed her,
till her eyes fell upon Armstrong and
bis wife, when she gave a loud shrek,
and muttering, "They, they are the MUIR
derers !" swooned, or appeared to do so,
again instantly.
The accused persons, in spite of their
frenzied protestations of innocence, were
instantly seized and taken off to place
of security; Mrs. Struguell was con-
veyed to a neighbor's close by; the
house was carefully secured; and the
agitated and wondering villagers depart
ed to their several homes, but not, fan
cy, to sleep any more for that night.
The deposition made by Mrs. Strug.
nell at the inquest on the body was in
substance as follows -
"On the afternoon in question she had
in accordance with her usual custom, pro-
ceeded to town. She called on her aunt
took tea with her, and afterwards went
to the Independent Chapel. After SER
vice, she called to see Miss Wilson, but
was informed that, in consequence of a
severe cold, the young lady was gone to
bed. She then Immediately proceeded
homewards, and consequently arrived at
Craig Farm more than an hour before
her usual time. She let herself in with
r. lotob L., 81 ,,.oooolol a. L.. III