Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1867-01-16
LAMOlLLE COUNTY MEMS.


LAMOILLE COUNTY NEWS.
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT EDEN I!
, On Friday last, the town of Eden wa
the scene Of terrible tragedy The Gil
cumetances of which are as follows:
Patrick Finnegan, the deceased, had
bond for deed of certain piece of Ian,
in Eden. In Sept, 1864, he enlisted il
Co. H, 9th Vt. Regiment, and served lik
a good soldier to the close of the war
During his absence Leonard Mcdowell
who lived not far distant from Mr. Fin
negan's farm, also got bond for deco
of this same piece of land from another
man. Then commenced dispute regard
ing the ownership-bOth claiming posses
sion. Mcdowell had to cross part Of
Finnegan's farm in getting onto this land
which MIR. Einnegan had repeatedly for
hidden him to do.
1t appears that on the day of the tras.
edy, Mr.. Finnegan had fallen a tree
across the path which Mcdowell was
won't to use when going to the disputed
territory. Leonard Mcdowell, his son
and Patrick Gillian, man in the employ
Mcdowell came along and attempted to
pass, but Finnegan ordered them off the
premises-teling them they might have
FIVE minutes to do SC. Mcdowell refused
to 60, and seemed determined to have an
encounter. Mcdowell and Finnegan
thereupon pulled off their coats in prep
aration for the ARRAY. They were how
ever persuaded out of it by Gillen and
the boys of tie beligerents, aud they re-
sumed their coats
Gillen then told Mcdowell to pass
along saying: "there is room enough
get out of the way Mcdowell vowed
that he would never run, but would fight
it out there, Mcdowell and his son, aud
Mr.. Finnegan then seized their axes and
commenced to use them vigorously. Gil
len claimed that Finnegan struck the
first blow but two other witnesses claim
ed that Mcdowell struck first 1t ap
pears that Mcdowell received light blow
on the shoulder from the head of Fine
gan's axe Thereupon McDowell's boy
struck at Finnegan's back with the blade
Of the axe forward, hard blow, which
was partly turned aside by Finnegan's
boy who had no axe, so that it took slight
effect on Finnegan's hip. This throwed
Finnegan off his guard, and Mcdowell
drew up his axe in manner like as if he
were to strike q tree, blade foremost, and
hit Finnegan across the right breast
sinking The are so deep as to hit tic back
bone
This ended the fight, aud Mcdowell I
started on his way. Finnegan lived but
i've minutes after he fell. He spoke to
Mcdowell, saying "You havekilled me
i am dyiDg" which received the re-
,elved the responsive answer-"Let him /
le.-Let him 'diel" Finuegan was then
heard to exclaim, "My blood mas heen
spilled on my own soil,-may God have
nercp on my soull" He then crossed
himself and expired.
Mcdowell and his son were soon arrest
ID and brought to Eden Mills, and on
Saturday a hearing was had before JUS
ice Amasa Stevers, where Mcdowell was
POUND up for murder and his son for man.
daughter. They were committed to Jail
lere on Sunday.
1T is aaid that Mcdowell cvinces no
ceiling Of regret or renorse. 1t is also
tated that but day or two previous,
dcDowell was heard to say that if they
hould come together one or the other
hould be killed Il
Of course an affair of this kind causes
reat excitement throughout che commu-
ity and much speculation Concerning it.
!. +. Parker States Attorney, and P.
!. Gleed, conducted the examination for Q
be State, and Hendee &c Lewss for the
,spondent
MAsoNIo.--At the annual communica- c
90 of the Mt. Vernon Lodge Of F. A. M.
e following officers were elected for the 4
,ar 'onsping:
II. Henry Powers Worthy Master. z
7. *. Gleed, Senior Warden.
r. Il. Parker, Usinor Warden. ,
g. 8. Page, Senior Deacon.
Norman Camp, Junior. Deacon. n
IL. Gates, Secretary.
J. A. George, Treasurer. A
O. The friends of Rev. j. ID. Beeman
Il make him Donation Visit ut the Sc
wn Hall, on Friday afternoon and eve
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