Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-06-02
Murder at st. Adams.
RUM AHEAD, AS USUAL,

A St. Adams correspondent OF the
Rutland Herald gives particulars OF
murder that took place on Wednesday
night of last week. Ii appears to have
been rum murder, and rum murders
in Vermont are very like rum murders
elsewhere. Here are the details;
"a young man by the name Of Geo. W.
Flanders, in company with another one
like himself, wentto the house of Mar
garet Patterson, which place it seems
these young men were in the habit OF
frequenting. The two attempted to en-
ter, but as it appears the occupants were
entertaining other company, and admit
lance was denied them, whereupon they
attempted to force open the door, declar-
ing that they were officersand must be
admitted, which representation did not
seem to be needed. A bout this time
Thomas Patterson, Young man about
twenty years of age, sonof Margaret Pat
terson, appeared at the chamber window
and warned the disturbers Of their quiet,
to leave the premises, at the same time
threatening to shoot them if they did
not comply with his order to leave, but
the nocturnal visitors, made fool-hardy
with rum, not only refused to leave but
dared him to shoot, which he immediate
ly did, the charge of buck shot passing
through young Flanders hand into his
bowels, from the effect of which he died
at half past eight this morning. Upon
hearing the discharge Of the gun, S. B.
Watson, the companion of Flanders at
tempted to leave in another direction,
but his wounds we're of such serious ma
ture that he faltered and fell a few feet
from where he stood when shot. Wat
son hearing Flanders cry for help re-
turned to find his companion MORALLY
wounded. Medical aid was summoned,
but in vain. Sheriff Pace was immedi-
ately notified and when he arrived he
arrested all the inmates of the tenement
except the children. The four persons
arrested are Margaret Patterson, her son
Thomas, and woman claiming to be
his wife, and another disreputable woman,
Mrs. Rollins, the dead body Of whose
child was found in cellar in Swanton
some time since-a poor, degraded lot of
humanity This morning the house in
which the creatures (shall we dignity
them with the name of men and women p
lived presented squllid and wretched
appearance when entered by your cores
pon6ent, No one was in charge of it
save three small boys, the children of
Margaret Patterson. Every indication
spoke of degradation and sin. The boys
seemed As unconoernea as though moth
| ing Of tny special importance had hap
pened5 they seemed to be struggling un-
fder The most discouraging prospects to
satisfy the demands for the morning
breakfast They told The story Of the
shooting without hesitation. It is, be-
i lieve, frankly admitted by all concerned.
/ Need call attention to the.oft Eepeat-
led words TO which CHS sad story Of sin
and shame and murder points, 10 this
young man, at the dead hour of mid
night, weltering in his gore, and as hig
life current GIBBS away, he calls upon his
associates in sin and all other who knew
him, to bear witness to the terrible end
to which rum had brought him. 1t is
said thatyoung Flanders had respectable
family connections to mourn over his
sudden and disgraceful death. The anx-
ious friends have the heartfelt sympathy
of the community. This sad event should
teach every tipping young man that he
is in the same road to death, and it might
| possibly lead some rejecting mind to in
quire how much ought man to pay for
a license to be permitted to lead the
young men Of our land in such ways,
even if he only sells TO moderate drink
ers and the respectable" young men"
| From the S.. Adams Messenger we
learn further particulars. The name OF
| Flanders associate was S, B. Watson,
Watson, in The darkness Of the night
following the sound Of Flanders voice
went to his AID.
1 The gun used was a British musket,
and when the prisoner was arrested, Sher-
if Place found that he had loaded il
again.
i Mr.. Flanders, the deceased, was ma
tive Of Sharon, was ~ years of age, and
was employed on wood work in the de-
partment of the master mechanic of the
railroad.
i The Messenger makes the following
wholesome comments on the affair
i As usual in such cases, we are obliged
to record that rum is probably response
BILE for the tragedy. As poor Flander;
| lay upon the ground he called upon tn,
: bystanders to take notice of what run
, would do, To be sure, he might hav,
sought the house even in perfect sobriety
1