Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-01-10

| ensuing year II. MtdueI oeCICIAI " auu
E. L. Landon Treasurer.
THE GRlswoLD MURDER CAsB-SEN-
TRNcE OF THE MURDERER WARD.-Our
readers will remember the shocking
tragedy committed in the town of Will
| liston this State about year and
half ago in which Mrs Grswold was
inhumanly murdered by an unknown
assassin. A man named WaId alias La
vigne was subsequently arrested upon
suspicion, and Ipon his trial at the
Chittenden County Court was clearly
proved to be the murderer Here the
matter rested until at the term o; the
Supreme Court inst closed in Burling-
ton, a motion was made by the counsel
of the convicted that a new trial be
granted him on account of alleged errors
in the finding Of the court before which
he was first tried. The application was
carefully considered by the court, and
! decision given sustaining the previous
action of the County court and denying
| the prisoner a new trial 1t then re-
manned for the presiding Judge (Barrett)
at the term, to pass the sentence OF the
! law upon him, and he accordingly was
on Monday forenoon last placed in the
dock to receive it. He stood up prompt
" at the order, and when asked by the
Judge if he had anything to say why
sentence should not be pronounced on
him, according to law, replied clearly and
simply nothing" Judge Barrett then
! proceeded to deliver the sentence in the
following solemn and impressive words:
You, John Ward alias jerome Lavigne,
have been charged with a murder com
mitted on a harmless, unsuspecting and
UNPROTECTED woman, in advanced life,
and resting in supposed safety in quiet
community, and in her own house. That
murder was appalling in its circum-
stances and most hOrrid in the manner
of it's execution. Not only is murder
one of the highest crimes known to the
laws Of civilized nations but this muir
der has few parallels in the desperate
wickedness that prompted it, and the re-
lentless and savage barbarity with which
it was perpetrated.
Upon the charge of having commit
ted that murder you have been tried &C
cording to the laws of the State, by an
impartial Jury, and an able and upright
court. You were defended in that court
by learned, able and faithful counsel.
rrora foupH Uuj1fu Of tho cricon To
give you every advantage and shield
which the law accords, that trial has
been reviewed in this court upon points
Of alleged errors In matters of law com,
mitted by the County Court. After full
argument by learned counsel, and care
full consideration by the court we feel
compelled to hold that no error in law
, was committed in the trial and verdict
and that that verdict of guilty, must
stand recorded against you.
! 1t is now the duty Of this court to pro.
nounce the sentence of the law for the
crime Of murder. But before doing it
! the occasion seems to require that your
mind and thoughts should be specially
= called to the fearful condition to which
= your great crime has brought you. The
law duLnOIiLGS IuC COuIb Ill llS uIEGIS'
: ton to defer the execution ut the Ana
!. sentence for proper space, in the mean
n time holding the convict in imprison
# ment in the State Prison. You are t
/ have such space given you. 1t behoove!
: you to improve it in such reflections anC
/ exercises Of mind as may bring you t.
r your last agonizing moment, peniten'
:, and pardoned sinner. Though the char
i acter of your case portends only that a.
s the appointed time your life must upor
the gallows pay the forfeit incurred BY
q your crime, the all Astounding mercy Of
1.-THE Judge of all the Earth" may reach
e and save your soul.
e So far as has been brought 10 light,
s this is your only resource against the
J.. present and eternal consequences which
: otherwise await you. Human law re-
4 quires the penalty to be executed, both
f as q just punishment to the criminal,
: and as means of protection and safety
| to the community, against such scenes of
, blood and horror. tits within the scope
OF legislative clemency to abate the pen
atty of death and substitute imprison-
= ment. But no hope should be enter
; tanned by you in this respect, in view of
anything that has thus far appeared in
your case. 1t Is therefore recommended
that you prayerfully consider and dwell
upon your earthly doom, and the causes
= that have brought you to it, to the end
/ that divine justice may be reconciled by
= atoning mercy, and you may be saved
from that second death, to which that
, the law now dooms you, may be the
, precursor and the seal.
, The sentence of the law is now to be
pronounced, and it is that you be hanged
, | by the neck TIL dead, at such time as shall
be fixed by this court in warrant to be
issued thereby at the next term thereof
commanding this sentence to be carried
into execution; and that you be impris.
oned in solitary confinement in the State