Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-04-16
A Southwestern Tragedy.


from m Indiana paper. The scene OF
the tragedy was at "Island No. lO'
place which our readers will remember
became Il little celebrated during the
war
A difficulty had arisen between fam
ily named Lane and another named OAR
nell, which created some talk in the
neighborhocd, and gentleman named
Edwards, n school teacher, had incurred
the displeasure of the Danells by re-
marks he had made with reference to
the difficulty, and they had made threats
against him.
The condition of affairs became so UNI
pleasant that Edwards determined to
leave the neighborhood The Darnells
learning of his purpose, swore that he
should neverleave then eighborhood alive.
Ascertaining the time and place of en-
barkation of Edwards, who had wife
and one child, three of the Darnells, two
brothers and one cousin, armed them
selves with double-barrel shot-guns, re-
volvers and knives, and took passage
from Darnells landing on the Belle Mem
phis. They told the officers Of the boat
that parties on the Island or opposite the
Island desired to come on board. As the
boat landed, twoof the Lanes, Edwards,
his wife and child, and man named
Watson was seen on the bank, which was
there very high. As the old man Lane,
with Mrs. Edwards and her child, were
coming on board, one of the Darnells
took his position at the head of the stairs
by the side of the clerk, Banker, who
was passing down to escort the lady
As old man Lane started up the steps
Darnell drew up his gun and fired, nine
teen buckshot taking effect in Lanes left
breast, killing him instantly. AT the
same moment the other two assassins took
aim at young Lane and Edwards, who
were coming down the bank, and firing
they both fell dead, Edwards rolling down
the bank, and Lane falling over against
the bank
Immediately after shooting old man
Lane, the fend who committed the deed
walked down stairs to Mrs. Edwards anC
told her she had better go back and sec
what had become of her husband AT
ter Edwards was dead, one of these in
human devils went to him, and placing
the revolveraga the back of his head
fired !; then turning him over, he again
shot him through the forehead. The,
also fred at Watson, who had accompan
led the Lanes to the boat, but misseC
him. The bloody work was done so sud
denly and so unexpectedly that the off
GERS of the boat were for moment Ter
ror-stricken, and before they had full,
recovered, the assassns had left the boat
and indeed, any attempt at interference
would doubtless have involved furthe
loss OF life, as the three desperadoes wer
fully armed to the teeth. After leaving
the boat they walked across the neck 0
land to their horses, mounted and rod
away.
AS soon as the awful tragedy becam
known, the whole neighborhood turne
out to hunt down the assassins, who,
found would, no doubt, receive summG
ry punishment. The Lanes were burie
at Island No. 10 and the Norman brough
the remains of Edwards to Hickman, tt
gethcr with his widow and child.
This is unqnestionably one of the mos
atrocious, cold-blooded and villainous al
sassinations that ever transpired in tn
: West. Edwards is represented as gu
ct, inoffensive and worthy gentleman
and his wife as beautiful and accom-
plished lady. The Darnells were know
as desperate characters, who should l
hunted from the face of the earth