The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-01-04
The Fr0ncouia Murder.

The murderer of Geo. Maxwell of Fran
COMA had eluded pursuit TO last accounts.
As we published on the week of the muir
der, the perpetrator Of this horrld butch
erv was undoubtedly an Emgli>hman.
named Sam. Mills. who had been employ
ed in the Lisbon gcld mines. Facts have
come to light showing that the murder
was premeditated. The Sabbath evening
previous to the murder he called at Max
wells, but finding neighEor in ne made
short call. After the murder. imdic;l-
] tions pointed out the route I" Canada by
way OF Lancaster. as the one Mills would
most likely take, and pursuit WAS mostly
made in that direction: but in>tcJpd OF
! that Mills went direct to Gorham. The
! following account of what he then did, we
condense from the Litlleton Gazette 4
part of it seems very improbable for if he
rode into Canada Oh the SINE train with
his pursuers, we mus: consider the latter
decidedly stupid:
When he got to Gorham he had his
horse pu: up and itsi. took breakfast. lad
down and slept until supper iim2, and al
ter eating supper he went 10 4 gr"ccry
where he made the acquaintance of an
lIShman: who cave him the required III
formation in regard 10 tie leaving at the
morning freight train. the direction 10
Canada, &c. The early freight train Oh
which lie male his escap. from Gpr!:am
had but little freight AIN there were -ev-
er;,l empty box cars connected. l. s.
cretcI himself in one q! these box cars and
slept there Sumdly night I" ayoil vi, pIlr-
Sucrs and make sure OF Il passage "a C.n-
ada unobSSIvcd Whcn ta Train r..t,-.l-
ed Grovcton Depot. AMI while til. Train
was being made up and :rti @hi tal:,n on.
he left the car went 10 tie hJici t. X
breakfast, Il glass OF wli>Nev. AMI eur
Ell TO the car again, unnb-eryci inv his
pur>uers, who ware ut the depot )n Ih"
arrival OF the freight on tic lookout NJ.
w. {. Goodwin ot Bc!heicm 60. :. !nal,t
this train 10 90 10 Island PpnHi in s,,rrh
of the murderer. AMI IL t:ir conductor IN
formed him l.i;ti there were but tlr,.,.
passenger, on hoar,l. AMI they bcil.
known IN b'lung III thu: section. IL Sis
pirlon- of the murler'r heinz un tha train
were cntcrtunel. When tie Train arri,-
Ell al Island Ponl he agIin lei the train
AMI cvadrl lis pur>uer>. and went Ia :,
grocery near tine depot and tod Tire pre-
priclor that he WIS tired and a>kcI him il
he could show him i place il hi> i ~,
where he could lie down AMI res: H..
grocery keeper directed hun un stair ia =
room h. had formerly occupied ~ u i. en-
ing room. and there ltti him. \; u.ta
when the grocery keeper wa> about to
shut up shop to 90 L. dinner. H. Went un
stars t" inform lhr stranger that ic WIZ
GOING to close his Shop, but finding him
asleep. he did not disturb Inn. bnt 1T, a
boy 10 tend shop Willie H. sv"nr - dinner.
lie returcd from dnn1r AM heard no;hil.
more OF the STRANGER until supper time.
when he went up STARS to im!rrin him
tiIai he must vumI> d.'.>n a. Ia w.-nr.! ~ q
close his shop, He appeared to h, a>I,rp. .
and >prtn" 10 his tr.t in an Instant an! .
wildly cnqnirr:l what H. wanre II in
formed him ami lac came dD;;a inl pl->-
ed ont. cnqulIIng huw ion" it would be
before ne should r>tHrn. aui i ia inform
ed hc left. When he returned. L.. i.HIu.
the stranger at hi> door. and h pr>>c! m
To his grocery with hlm AMI rnIiirin. il
there WAS Il ni"ht tram 10 hlpnirc., ami
when it was due there. wen; mp >:air> AMI
remained there until about tie time the
tram was dnr, when he rtmr drVn. Just
before he lett he purchased Il steel w.;c!. (:
chain. took out Il watch. detached a silver
lob cham and substituted the steel cham
IN lis plLcc. The @r'cC:y man took The
-llver Cham and examined i: AMI :-h.,
him why he preferred the sci chain. IL,
Informed Lin that he had soil the si:.c"
cham and wanted the Steel one 10 take l.
place. J:I>t at this time the train arrived
and he started Tor the depot.
When The new, ot tie mur,l.r reached
thl~ grocery keeper H. lmme lately sis :
pccte'! liz strange visitor, and w..rn T.,
'aw the ru'Smcr>, ne iniormtI ;h,m oi
his event, an !he chain proved 10 b. IL, =,
same one which lie stole at Lisbon. Tni~
was the Ia>: po-i,iva trace ol' III. murl - ..
r. IN ii Is supposed tina. he t,o.> IA" -,
'lGht train anl H'I in the direction of -,
Montreal. H., e-cap, hl> been very i
nySterlous-no. htyinL shown Il spar. or !,
'hFewln,>> from the bc.inning.' 4