The New York herald., 1871-01-20
TIE HINESBURG TRAGEDY
A BOY to be Executed at Windsor,
Vt., To-Day.
His Crime and Node Of Performing It-condact in
Prison-Keeting with His Mother and Sis
ter-Visit to His Intended Grave.

WINDSOR, VT, Jan. 10, 1871.
Henry Welcome, a lad of nineteen, who has been
in close confinement IN the State Prison In this
place the past for the crime OF MURDER Is to be
executed here tomorrow. This yourg man was
born In Hlnesburg, VT. His father a. q French
Canadian and his mother an American. Though
poor they were very respectable and the mother, a
protesting Christian, trained up her family, con-
sistng Of eleven Children in the same pathways Of
virtue in which she herself had been instructed.
But alas, her pious teachings did not restrain
Henry from early career In the paths OF crime.
At tender age he developed some very bad quail
ties; was idle, dsobedient, il-tempered and of a
very revengeful spirit.
HIS FIRST EXPLOIT
which brought him into the clutches OF the law, at
the age or six teen, was the hiring Of horse and
buggy, which he ran away with. He was captured
ana lodged In the jail at the city OF Burlington; here
he remained awaiting trial until he was nearly
seventeen years old. His case coming before the
County Court the jury brought in a verdict ex0nera-
ting him, on account of his extreme youth from any
vii intent, more than a boysn scrape in running
away with the team. He was accordingly discharged
from custody and arrived home jus three days pre-
vious TO the night OF the murder.
TIE VILLAGE OF HINEsBURG,
where the deed was committed, is mere hamlet,
consisting OF q few houses, church, store, tavern,
&C., the central trading point and Post olce OF the
township or the same name The population are
almost wholly farmers. 1t is situated In the
southern part OF Chittenden county, about ten
miles from Burlington, the county seat. The
railway station is Charlotte on the Rutland
Railroad, about five miles distant. One would sup
pose that IN such quiet, Christian and compare.
lively secluded community incentives to vice would
be rare; but where is evil not foundY
THE MURDER
was committed on the evening of the Sd OF October,
1888, about halfpast eight. The victm was Mr.
Perry Russell, O well known and highly respected
farmer, OF considerable property, aged about sew.
enty-sx years and member OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The possession Of this property
was the moving cause OF the dreadful deed. Wei
come having been told by q man who worked 70 r
States bonds, made up his mind TO obtain them, even
though the life Of the venerable man stood in the
way. As Young Welcome started from
matured In his bosom, his mother kissed
him affectionatey, and with tears IN her eyes, be-
sought HIM 20 be good boy little thinking that her
wayward but loved son was soon to perpetrate one
OF the foulest murders ever known in the State OF
barn door hinge about twenty inches long, and pnr-
sued his way to the doomed mans house, which
was on farm not far out OF the village: Going to
early retired with his wife, got up and coming to
tne door inquired, 'who is there ~ Joe Busby;
door was opened. terrible blow fiom the murderous
hinge, and the old man lay stunned, bleeding and
dying III tue ieet OF The young assassin. Mrs. Rus
sell, aroused by the noise ana tne exclamation 30
Lord !" from her husband, came upon the scene
put immediately ned with uncomfortable terror to
the nearest nel9hbors, who returned with her only
TO find the aged victim dying aud the murderer gone.
He fingered IN an unconscious until ten O'Clock
next day, then died. The bonds which Welcome ex-
pected TO 6nd as the reward OF his diab0lica per-
formance, and Tor which lie ransacked the house.
had been deposited In a bank at burlington but d
III MS purpose. The bloody deed was all for naught.
THE PURSUIT
OF the assassin was vigorous aud successful OF
course the excitement in the quiet little village
intense and indignation burned heavily against the
rest, and detective N. h. Flanagan was almost I'M
mediately upon the track. in two days he was
ton jail he met the funeral procession OF his vIctim
at sight OF winch he exhibited cool indifference.
consisted Of a preliminary Examination before a
Justice, anu lhen triai In the County Court the
.a,w do1wnw 1, APr ahs Jury brought IN verdict Of
Pending the session OF this tribunal he was re-.
manded to the State Prison at Windsor, the Jail not
being considered sufficiently secure ne remained
several months whiting TO hear his fate at the hands
OF All outraged law. lie was taken back to Burling-
ton and after receiving sentence brought TO Windsor
again.
THE STATE PRISON AT WINDSOR
ls large and very secure building or rather, series
OF both sexes IA well as workshops for their EN-
ployment. y l. surrounded by wall twenty feet
~ II DeRmt, WHICH Is paroned by guards during The
daY. Ine TWO main buildings or cell rooms, con-
nec,ed W me keepers ih0nse and guard rooms,
lront upon state street. The iemale prison IL OF
stone; the male prison Of brick, containing four
tiers Of cells all Of which are scparateI from the
outer wall, and, besides being fastened by very
strong locks, have movable iron rod running
along the tops OF the cells. which, in case OF rny
failure on the part OF lock- will still secure
le ,ne door. A great many noted characters have
been connned mere at dlneiont times. Among
Them, several years ago. Bristol BII,'ian English
bank robber,. and Christian Meadows, a wsll.known
cngravsr ana forRer OF the same nationality. Four
men have been executed here SIX or seven wears
ago Thomes Cavanaagh ana Bernard Cassidy were
hanged together. Later, John Ward, alias Jerome
LarGne. weli-renlembered New YORK rough suf-
tered the death penalty, notwithstanding his de.
caraiiQn Thst no little one horse State like Yer.
mont would ever hang him. Vain boast. ver-
mont executes her laws slowly, perhaps but sure
Iy Later sstl, In 1865, Hiram Miller was hanged Tor
o crime very hncb like Welcomes