Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-08-06
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY 4,
SHREWSBURY.
oNE MAN KILLED AND TWO OTHERS
WOUNDED,

anu iatal ARRAYS when ~ has been ON
province as journalists TO record as occur,
ring in this section, took place in what /,
known as the Cold River district in
Shrewsbury, ON Saturday evening last
the particulars Of which, as We have beer
able to CLEAN them by personal observa
ton at the scene OF the murder and from
eye-witnesses,are substantially rs follows
II appears that for many years feud
has existed between the Plumley and
Balch families in that ncighborhood, nu,
merous lawsuits growing ont Of the same,
and suit being al present pending be-
tween them in the Rutland County
Court,
A few days since couple Of horses
owned by Isaac ii. Balch broke into field
of corn owned by Ziba Plumley, doing
considerable damage, and as a eonse-
quenoe the animals were Iimpouaded. A
couple of disinterested persons were ap-
pointed to appraise the damages, which
they were engaged in doing on Saturday
afternoon, in company with George But
terhy, son-in-law of Plumley, when they
were approached by Balch ard 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 mcr-
ITS of the question under appraisal. which
they seemed to settle, and all started
toward the road, distant about 90 rods,
nearing which Balch and Butterfly shook
hands, the latter remarking that he was
willing TO let by-gones be by-goncs," and
that he would "stand the drinks for the
crowd With this explanation Butterfly
started for the house of his father-in-law
to get pint of rum with which to keep
good his promise. He was absent. how
eyer, for about an hour, during which the
appraisers had departed, but young Gill
man remained in the field within few
feet Of the road, his father and Balch
standing in the highway. Atthe expira-
ton of the time mentioned Butterfly re-
turned, in company with Horace Il.
Plumley, Frederick Plumley and Ziha,
their father. Horace Immediately ap-
preached Gilman, pointing a loaded shot
gun at him and ordered him out Of the field,
with which request Gilman expressed his
willingness to comply, but the gun being
in what he evidently regarded as too
close promixity TO him, he seized hold Of
the barrel of the same and attempted un-
successfully To wrench it from the hands
of Plumley. At this juncture Frederick
Plumley approached Gilman and threat
ened to stab him with pitchfork, with
which he was armed, unless he quilted
the field. Gilman turned TO ward off he
blow of the fork, and in doing 50 loosed
his hold on the shotgun in the hand, Of
Horace, when the latter deliberately fired
at him; the charge of shot taking effect in
the region Of the heart. making a hole
about two inches in diameter, passing en-
tireiy through the body. and killing him
instantly.
\ couple Of workmcn in the employ y
Balch, named VIM and Quarter, thru
came up, when cro,s-friur cn,ucd be-
tween the belligerent parties, during
which several volleys were discharged,
resulting in inhicting severe wound in
the left leg of John Gilman Sr,, and "A
flesh wound in the right leg, Is vel! rs "A
scalp wound, on the person Of Horace Il.
Plumley, who fired the first shot.
Deputy-Sheritf Allen Sandersou. who
happened TO be in the immediate yic.uity
of the strife. approached the contestants,
and effected the arrested Of Horace Plum
ley, taking him, at his own request, to his
,P'sl house, where he proposed to change
his clothing, after which he would accom-
panyithe officer. While there, however,
and upon temporary parole Of honor, he
attempted to escape TO the woods adjacent,
and thoughat the time a ball WAS lodged
in his thigh, he led the officer vigorous
chase Of some thirty or forty rods, when
he was again taken into custody by Mr.
Sandereon, and carefully watched until
lodged safely in Jail at this place at an
early hour on Sunday morning Mr. San
derson, before leaving, cared FOR the body
of young Gilman and delivered ii to his
friends, while, assisted by Mr., Elan \.
olarA' one oil inc appraisers Ia 'h' a. s'"''
heretofore 'i'''"hen' he succeeded III
aiSarihinS 'he G"moa''''s ana quoting
the disturbance ana with Mr., D.. Is
Aldrirh, first constable Of the. town, ar
rested IN addition to Horace X. Plmnley,
Ilba Piumley, his father and Abraham
VIM and Napoleon Quarter, the two