Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-08-07
Murder In Shrewsbury.
ONE MAN KILLED AND TWO wouNr


The Rutland Herald gives full particu-
lars Of shocking tragedy which occur
red in Shrewsbury, in what is known as
the Cold River district, on Saturday after
noon last. 1t appears that an old feud
has existed for many years in that place
between the Plumley and Balch families
and that numerous lawsuits have grown
out of the same.
A few days since couple of horses
owned by Isaac IL. Balch broke into a field
Of corn owned by Ziba Plumley, doing
considerable damage, and as a conse-
quence the animals were impounded. A
couple of disinterested persons were APP
pointed to appraise the damages, which
they were engaged in doing on Saturday
afternoon, in company with George But
terAy, ason-in-lawo of Plumley, when they
were approached by Baleh and a man
named John Gilman and his son, John
Gilman, Jr. Some words took place be-
tween Balch and the Gilmans on one side
and butterfly on the other, as to the mer-
its of the question under appraisal, which
they seemed to settle, and all started to-
ward the road, distant about 80 rods,
nearing which Balch and Butterfly shook
hands, the latter remarking that he was
"willing to let by-gones be by-gones, !"
and that he would "stand the drinks for
the crowd" With this explanation But
terfy started for the house of his father
in-law to get pint of rum with which to
keep good his promise. He was absent,
however, for about an hour, during which
the appraisers had departed, but young
: Gilman remained in the field within a
few feet of the road, his father and Balch
standing inthe highway. At the expira-
ton of the time mentioned Butterfly re-
) turned, in company with Horace r. Plum
: ley, Frederick Plumley and Ziba, their
4 father. Horace Immediately approach
t ed Gilman, pointing loaded shot gun
= at him and ordered him out of the field,
S with which request Gilman expressed his
b willingness to comply, but the gun being
e in what he evidently regarded as too
# close promixity to him, he seized hold Of
9 the barrel of the same and attempted I'M
It successfully to wrench it from the hands
y of Plumley. At this juncture Frederick
l. Plumley approached Gilman and threat
9 eaed to stab him with pitchfork, with
v which he was armed, unless he quilted
It the field. Gilman turned to ward offthe
If blow of the fork, and in doing SO loosed
1t his hold on the shotgun in the hands Of
8 Horace, when the latter deliberately fired
., at him, the charge of shot taking effect
o in the region of theheart, making a hole
J. about two inches in diameter, passing en-
If tirely through the body, and killing him
If instantly.
A couple of workmen in the employ
4 of Balch, named Winn and Quarter
~ then came up, when cross-fring ensuet
,e between the belligerent parties, during
d which several volleys were discharged
), resulting in inficting a severe wound il
,e the left leg of John Gilman, ST., and {
Sc flesh wound in the right leg, as well as {
l. scalp wound, ON the person of Horace B
Plumley, who fired the first shot.
t, Deputy Sheriff, Allen Sanderson hap
y pened to be in that immediate vicinity
Is and Immediately arrested Horace Plum
ley, who soon afterward attempted to es
. cape by running to the woods, but wa
q followed and again arrested and safel,
= . lodged in Jail at Rutland Sunday morn
u ing. Geo. Butterfly and Fredericl
y Plumley, fled to the woods but both hav
:, =, since been found and arrested. lib;
Plumley, Abraham VIM and Napoleol
:, Quarter, the two hast in the employ Q
IN Balch, have also been arrested as partiC
ipants in the affray and all arc in Jail.
ie The affair in all its bearings is yer
~ sad one, as the young man murdered wa
- highly respected by all, and by his ow
. confession, by none more than by tn
~ murderer himself. Young Gilman wa
- % years of age and was a resident
- Little Falls, New York, and was stol
" ping but temporarily at Shrewsbury t
Z" y, help his father through haying and ha
% vesting. The Plumley and Balch fam
lies are said to sustain anything but fl
We vorable regulations in that communit,
rs, and the fight must have been more {
"a less premeditated, as both parties rallic
ng their forces, and to a man we're arme
Mt with deadly weapons.
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