St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-01-03
CiI'culH st0Rfi0l EcideHce.


The following remarkable sketch is
from the Albany Erenng Jour,al, and
was furnished in October last, by re-
porter OF the Supreme Court of New
York. The facts are given with SO much
mnutencss and candor that the story
cannot be pronounced unworthy of at
tcntion, while at the same time the read
CT cannot but feel that some Of the cir
cum>tanccs must be mi>stated. 1t is
certainly one of the most remarkable
murder Irials Of which we have ever
read
Six miles southcrlv from the village of
platteburg. but within the limits of the
town. there now live and have long dwelt
several families hv the name of Weather
wax. They constitute Il neighborhood
OF clan, all related to one another, such
as is not unircquently found i'll country
districts. Their general position, charac-
ter and condition now is substantially as
it was eleven years ago, at which time
the facts of this case take tier rise. In
1886 the eatherwaxcs were numer-
ous widely known connection of hearty,
vigorous people, rough, daring and ener
1ctic, and engaged, for the most part. i'll
the ordinary pursuits of laborcrs. The
mUuotumous labor of the farm was not
| well suited to the character and natural
disposition OF some OF their number.
Unusual physical power, and that rest
| ic.SucSs OF spirit which is impatient OF
regulating influences or of control. inCiin-
ed them to pursuits i'll which something
of hazard and danger could hc found, and
which wCuId give some opportunity for 4
rowing lite. Some OF them turned their
attention to boating upon Lake Clam
plriu, aS the pursuit which most readily
met ami gratiiied in a good degree their
natural tastes and preferences. Ot this
umlber was Captain John C.. " Weather.
wax. Il man described to Inc as type OF
his class, hale, hearty, fearless fellow
of fine physical proportions and dauntiess
spirit. that would not brook contradic-
tion. He was the captain and probably
the owner OF Il lake boat which he piled
between this ana other ports on the New
York and Vermont shores, and down the
Lake across the line to the ports of Can
ada.
There was another OF the boatmen,
Andrew WcathcrwaX, 4 cousin ot the
captain. At the date of which | am
writing Andrew became the employee OF
Cattam John G.. WeatherwaX, and aid
cd him in The navigation Of his vessel.
1t was in the latter part Of June OF the
wear 1856. as | have gathered the facts,
that captain w, attended by his cousin
sailed from l'lattshu.g for a Canadian
port In the course OF the cruise. hav-
ING, it would seem. discharged his cargo
he came with his boat 10 Pike River, {
stream or estuary that empties into ol
connects with Lake Champlain, Just be
vomd the Canada line and upon the eas
= side of the lake. At Pike River ther
was a settlement of considerable extent
and a wharf at which the boat was con-
veuiently moored. Here captain W.,
was to obtain a lading OF wood, witt
= which to freight his boat ard return It
lIattsburg. And here occurred tn
tragedy which constitutes the body OF th
crime in this remarkable case.
The boat was living at the wharf, am
the loading of the wood had already com
menced. Al this point another persoi
comes into notice. In addition to tn
captain and his cousin Andrew, thcr
WAS third man upon the boat, who wa
an employee, and made up the necessary
complement required to constitute an'
complete the crew of the craft. TIN
. thirl man became the important witnes
Il in the case. During the day, while the,
were loading the boat, this witneas, us h'
afterwards testified, observed the captain
AMI his cousin in a violent quarrel
There were high and passionate words
and threats employed without stint o
measure The quarrel and wranglin
continued at intervals, and the angr
feelings OF the parties did not appear t
= subside at all as the day wore on, bu
Z seemed rather to increase than diminish
ID and the quarrel was at its hight nca
~ ni@htfall.
- At evening, while the captain and hi
cousin Were near the bow OF the boat, tn
on witness stood alone at the stern. DARK
III ness had settled around him, and the still
~ ness OF the summer night was disturbe
only by the alteration, which, if it ha
lulled ut all, had again broken out bc
tween the captain and his employee, tt
cousin. As time passed on, althoug
nothing could be seen by this man at til
stern OF the vessel, the noise of a word
conflict and threats of violence continue
), to he heard by him. Finally, howeve
the quarrel seemed to have been brougl
to Il sudden termination and in vel
, singular manner. There came throus
Il the darkness to the ear Of the listener Il
sound of dull, heavy thud, as of pow
- erful blow with some heavy weapo
crushing through a skull, and then {
i was still.
Soon after this the captain game al
but without his cousin. What could Il
witness who had listened to the transa
ton, do or say? He had seen nothing
ed he could prove nothing. The CAPITA
was his employer, and they two we
po,y olona Tho emplovet took no ste