Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-03-18
A Visit with Streeter.

/ came from NJ d n a last evening,
where, yesterday, myself aud wife had a
long, interesting and solemn interview
with the unhappy Streeter. / would say
"a visit to the murderer" did xnow he
were. / do not KNOW that he is; l no
tice too that those who most firmly believe
him to be the murderer, say ~ do wish ]
knsw." Still every body believes him to
be such, and l shall speak Of him as
such.
now proceed to narrate the occurren-
ces of our visit TO the murderer's cell, for
the qualification of all who wish to know
the experiences, appearances and actions
of one who has seen and acted his part
probably in the awfullest drama of life.
OF course l can give but little; what
little can give l freely give.
To US he was an entire stranger; we
had never even seen him, hence he had
not that feeling of prejudice, and should
Judge a kind of resentment which he
manifested to others. Although stran-I
gers, still, he entered cordially into the
arrangement Of our visit. | myself went
in with the Waterman first; we passed
within the iron door and bars in mo-
ment we stood in the same room with a
murderer. was situated as never had
been before; of course wished to, APP
pear calm and collected in order that !
might get and do the most good. While
waiting in the ante. room | felt deeply,
strangely; trembled when l thought /
was to appear in the presence of one who
SO wantonly had butchered family.
The Waterman led me forward a few
steps, around the corner of the cell wall,
there | saw the murderer sitting in
rocking chair near the stove, bolstered
up with pillows, dressed and wrapped
with quilts, not being very well. As
entered he had pan of apples in his lap,
some Of them were decayed, he seemed
to be Willing away his time separating
the SQUAD from the unsound.
was introduced; he met me quite
cordially but somewhat wildly; l SET
down close by his side and handed him
the Bellows Falls (Vt.) Times, contain
ing an article written by me with respect
to himself, expressing also my feelings
towards him. When | first handed it to
him he took it and held it up in lstless,
wild, wandering way, and in a low NUT
tered, chilling, terrible undertone said
severa! times with look which Streeter
only knows how to put on, "what is this ?
what is this 2" Said I-pointing to the
you not read that p Said
be, Il don't know anything about it."
then pointed to several passages in it
his whole manner began to change, the
terribeness of the few moments previous
were laid aside, he replied pleasantly,
"Oh yes, read that last Saturday, but
in different paper" Said be, "my mo
Their first showed ii to me, and she liked
it SO well that she has written you, but
she did not know where to direct" he
smilingIy added, 81 want your address
and name in fu | SO that mother can
send her letter when she comes back"
He had read the letter, hi S mother
and sister had, and they were anxious
to see and know the writer. Did you
write the letter, &C., was asked. By
this means / had won the poor mans
confidence to a certain extent, SO that
the remaining part of our visit was free
from embarrassment. began TO ask
him questions to his past life u; be
told me as he had told others recently,
that the past nine years of his life is
blank. He says h e remembers only
very recent events, and those which &C.
Cured previous to his sixteenth year
He told me the following incident which {
when he was fourteen. He |
was learning the BARRIERS trade; one day {
he was going home TO dinner, when he {
met an old woman who asked him for I
some money 10 buy bread he gave her 3
all Ii had-he mentioned a | ! this TO
show his benevolence. After he had i
given the old hag-he spoke Of her as c
4 witch-his description was unique in 4
he extreme and he laughed heartily as c
ne gave it, When be had given her =,
he money-ffty-six cents--s h e shook i
his hand and said be was a noble boy, :
,uG he would be hung for tue crime OF
mother. This was his story. How j
much like Josephine's and the gipsey.- d
After l had been with b m a little Z
While b G walchman asked m if the 4
ady who came with me was my wife. Il
said yes, and turned to Streeter and b