Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-02-23
Sad Tragedy at Sutton, N. q.

The town of Sutton, N. H., has re-
Gently been the scene Of a brutal
tragedy. 1t is so horrible in its de-
tails that perhaps the reader will not
give full credit to the enoruity of the
crime. The following particulars,
however, have been obtained person
ally by your correspondent from peo-
pie living in sutton, who are acquaint-
ed with the parties concerned, and
who saw them Immediately after the
facts to be related occurred, and the
statements in all their main features
may be relied upon as correct:
Two weeks ago this evening the
residents in the vicinity of a small
neighborhood in the town of Sutton,
about half a mile from the South Vii
lage. so called, were alarmed by cries
for assistance coming from the house
Of a man named Melvin MITCHELL
They at once proceeded to the place,
where they found Mrs. Mitchell almost
burned to death. The clothing she
was wearing was nearly consumed,
and her lower limbs, one of her arms
and other portions of her body were
shockingly eaten by the flames. A
physician was Immediately sent for
and everything possible done for the
sufferer by kind and sympathizine
neighbors, who feared she could not
survive until the next morning. She
fingered, however, until the next day
and was alive this morning, although
her recovery is extremely doubtful.
Soon after the above occurrence
many OF the Sutton people had then
suspicious aroused as to the manner
in which the accident occurred. Mrs
Mitchell said it was caused by the
bursting OF kerosene lamp. 1t was
known at the same time that Mitchell
was a hard character, and that he had
often practiced cruelty upon his fami
Iy. The physician, DR.. James R
Smiley entreated the sufferer to ex
plain all the circumstances of the case
For a time all his efforts in that di
rectiOn were unavailing. At last she
said one day that she wanted to tell
but was afraid her husband would
kill her. Finally, when assured by
the doctor and the neighbors in whom
she confded, that under all circum
stances she should be protected from
her husband. she gave her testimony
before a Justice of the Peace as fully
as her feeble constitution would per
nit. She stated that on the evening
of the accident she was sitting in one
corner of the kitchen near an open
fire, when suddenly her husband threw
bottle of kerosene oil into the
flames. The bottle instantly broke
and its contents flew in all directions
considerable of it going on to Mrs
Mitchell's clothing. AT the same time
it took fire, and she was immediately
enveloped in flames. Unassisted by
her husband she endeavored to ex
tinguish the fire, but without success
She then ran into an adjoining room
her burning clothing dropping from
her at every step. At last her hus
band pretended to assist her, bu
what he did, whether intentional OF
not, only aggravated his wite's suffer
ings, for he opened a door and als(
took a stick and poked about hel
clothing. At last, when the flames
reached the poor woman's face anC
threatened to choke her, he displayeC
some feeling, and getting some water
he after much effort succeeded il
nearly putting out the fire and ther
called the neighbors. Mrs. Mitchell
also gave further particulars Of hel
husbands cruelty to herself and chill
dren. One evening about week be
fore the sad event above related, oc.
Cured, Mitchell took his youngest
child, babe about three months old
and under the plea of endeavoring tc
stop it from crying, he held it be
tween two rocks in the fireplace, useC
instead Of andirons, and over the
flames until one side of it's face was
horribly burned from Its chin to its
scalp. He afterwards struck The
child a severe blow on the one side
of its face, checked it until it wa;
black and blue, and then gagged il
with a handkerchief. All this wa:
done in the presence of the mother
who dared not utter a word lest ht
should kill both the child and herself
She also related other crueltieS which
she and her child had suffered at the
hands of her brutal husband.
Mitcnell is about thirty years of
age, and has long sustained bat
reputation. He is sometimes intem
perate, but there is no evidence tina
he was in liquor when committing th'
above diabolical deeds. He is shift
less and indolent, and his family have
always lived in extreme poverty, ant
have several times been on the pool
farm. 1t is said that he came origin
ally from some town in Grafton coun
ty. He has a mother living in Sutton
Mrs. Mitchell was formerly a Rowe
and her first husband was named Par
ker. BY him she had children. HI
was killed in the late war. Som'
three years ago she was married t.
Mitchell, being deceived as to his tru'
character. By him she had two chill
dren. She is a well meaning woman
but does not possess much energy OF
character or action. When her ca
lamity was made known the most re
spectacle ladies of the town went t.
her assistance and are now supplying
her with everything that kindness O.
sympathy can suggest. 1t is man.
years since, if ever before, that any
thing has happened in Sutton that ha
caused so much excitement as tn,
ovantS above narrated