Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-06-02
The St. Albans Murder.

ARREST AND Confession OF TIE MURDERER.
We have the following particulars Of the ST.
Albans shooting affair in the Messenger Of
Thursday evening.
About Il O'Clock las. wednesday, night.
George W. Flanders proposed to one Of his a.
socist.s, S. b. Watson, TO accompany him to a
house Of il-fsme, kept by one Margaret Patter-
son, No. Water Street, in block owned by
Ralph Lsselle On arriving, Watson stood at
the gate and Flanders raped at the door.
Thomas Patterson, son Of the woman who keeps
the house, aged 20 years, appeared at the upper
window and asked what was wanted. Flanders
replied that he wanted to 20 in, whereupon Pat
terson told him to leave or be would shoot him.
Flanders stepped back to the gate, and after
standing there psrleying q minute, either he or
Watson asked Patterson Why he didn't 20 10
shooting, and Immediately he fired, the
discharge, which consisted of buck shot,
passing through the hands and entering
the bowels Of Flanders, ,inhieting injuries from
which he died at half-past eight this morning.
He turned and ran and Watson did likewise,
though in a different direction, a. he did not
know his companion was shot shortly how
ever, Flanders called to him, and by following
the sound Of his voice Watson found him stretch
ed upon the ground and suffering great pain.
He Immediately went for help, FLINDERS was
taken into house near By, ,sni Drs. Branch aud
Fsssett were called and likewise the dying
mans friends
Sheriff Place was notified and be proceeded at
once 10 the scene Of the murder and arrested
Thomas Patterson, who promptly confessed the
shooting, also Margaret his mother, and two
young women, one of whom caimel 90 be
Thomas Patterson wife and the other Is Mrs
Rollins. formerly Of Swant3n, who IS the mother
Of a child whose dead-body was found in a cellar
in Swanton two years since, and for the allegei
murder Of which her husband was sfterwari
tried and acquitted in the coanty court. The
whole crowd are spoken of IS decidedly tough.
The gun used was a British musket, and when
the prisoner was arrested, Sheriff Place found
that lie had loaded it again.
Mr. Flanders, the deceased, vas a native Of l
sharon. vas y years Of age, aud was employed /.
OF wood work in the department Of the master /
mechanic Of the railrosi He was very respect |
ably connected, and MS friends, who have 1one l
all that lay in their power % reclaim him from /
WsyEard paths, viii have the sincere sympathy /
Of the community.
As usual n such eases. We are obliged % r5- /
cord that rum is probably responsible for the |
tragedy. As poor t.4niers lay upon the ground /
be called upon tie hystandeIs TO take notice Of |
what run would DO. To Be sure, lie might have /
sought the house even in periec; s1briety. but he
mad been drinking, Lai often drank before, and /
il seems that in ais dying hour he realized that /
he wss reaping the ThiTlWiai where he hal sogu 4
the wind.
The young man, his mother, sister a3l wife
were al! arrai-ued this forenoon before Justice
Il. II. Farnswo1.h. the hIst on complaint for
murder, the second anl third en- complaint for 4
beng accessories before The fact, ami all four on
a complaint for keeping a house Of 90 fame
They severa.ly pleaded d" net guilty and the
examination proceeded. 4. C. Saiflri, assisted /
by NJ 3. Carpenter. appeared for tho prosecu-
tln AMI willard Harrington for the defence. /
The testimony for the prosecution established |
without material vsTist.ln the facts ss above de-
tailed, ami the defence then offered numerous /
= tnesses 10 prove that the deceased and his
assoli-te were intoxicated before going t. the 1
hosse
Patterson vas held for trial