Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-11-22
Horrible Murder.


Shepard, woman not yet seventeen years
old, and the criminal, James +. Shepard,
her own husband. In consequence of his
harsh, brutal treatment of her, she left
him, few days ago, at Lawrence, where
they have been living together, and came
home to the house Of her father, Alexan-
der Weston, who resides in the village of |
New Worcester, within the Worcester
city limits, bu, few miles west of the city |
proper. To this village her husband fol-
lowed her, arriving there yesterday morn
ing. He easily learned the fact that his
wife was not at her fathers, but had gone
TO nurse a neighbor, Mrs. Curtis, who had
been recently confined. So he went to
Mrs. Curtis house, where he found Mrs.
Shepard. The two then had pretty
rough conversation, Shepard swearing
loudly and roundly at his wife for leaving
him, and threatening to "post her 4" or do
something worse. He went away, evil
IDENTIFY much incensed, and walked TO the
city Of Worcester. On his way he met
team-ter whom he knew and whom he told
that he was going to Worcester to get a
pistol TO shoe: his wife with. This was,
in fact, his intention, though the teamster
supposed at the story was merely one of
Shepard's rough jokes.
i Shepard obtained Iis,ol--a small sim
gle shooter-and returned to New Wor-
cester, where he arrived about ? p. nj.
/ Mr.. Curtis was outside and and near his
{ house, and going up to him, Shepard asked
if Laura (his wife) was in there. Curtis
, replied affirmatively, when Shepard said
cooly, }" want to see her; come in with
me- Curtis, not suspecting any foul play,
was in no haste to follow him. but when
he did 60 in, which was only moment
later, he found Shepard holding Mrs. S.
by her hair and pointing pistol at her
E head, while the terrified woman screamed
: for help. Curtis instantly seized Shepard
: causing him to desist temporarily from his
a purpose, while Mrs. Shepard rushed for
$ safety into the adjoining bed room, where
Mrs. Curtis lay sick. Shepard, in his
n rage, determined not TO be fcile1, burst OPP
l. en- the door after her, quickly entered, and
closed and held it, so that Mr.. Curtis
! could not 60 in. The latter had by this
l. time become thoroughly frightened, and
n instead of bursting open the door at all
n hazards, he ran out of the house and
around TO the back side, intending to get
: in at the bedroom window. But he was
e too late. The frantic appeals of the two
women availed nothing. Mrs. Curtis be-
sought Shepard to spare her, if not his
q wife, and Shepard replied that not a hair
OF her head, abiding to Mrs. Curtis, should
:, be hurt; but for his wife he had no pity.
i Despite her tears and entreaties he DELHI
- erately fired a shot at her. 1t harmed her
= not, aud Shepard, with horrible conlness
!, and determination, loaded his pistol again,
4 and again fired. The first shot had lodged
n in the bureau; the second entered the
wall, and still his wife was unharmed.
: Mad almost to frenzy because his thirst for
:, blood had not been stated, Shepard loaded
= his pistol third time, and placing the
weapon within few inches of his wife's
!. head, fired again. His demoniacal work
J. was done; the ball entered her right tenn
;. pie; her screams and cries for mercy
! ceased, and after staggering few steps,
/, she fell ,ifeless upon the floor.
n The deliberate determination of the
r murderer was scarcely more horrible than
n his unconcerned and inhuman conduct af-
70 forwards. lie left the house Immediately,
a after committing his awful crime. and
ID meeting an elderly man with whom he was
p acquainted, told him what he had done,
70 and said he would kill any man who at
: tempted to arrest him. He then went to
of his sisters, and told her the same story,
70 but she, although almost overcome with
a. horror, induced him, after much persua-
,r sion, to give up his pistol to her. Shepard
r. also boosted of his crime in one or two
stores, but added with SO much vengeance
that he would surely kill any man who
E. touched him, SO that nobody, not even an
- officer who had an cppotunity, dared to
of arrest him. All accounts agree that he
no was not at this time under the influence of
is, liquor. He shortly after disappeared, and
e. the news reaching the ears of officers who
S had pluck CROUCH not to be fri .htened by
ge his bloody threats, pursuit was underta-
i . ken. He was tracked throu Oh by-roads to
ISIS Clappville, about five miles distant, but
t there all trace of him was lost. 1t is i'm
S /; possible, however, that he can long elude
of arrest.
70 Shepard is dark-comple fellow,
nd sparely built, five feet and seven or eight
At inches tall, and weighs l45 hounds. He