Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-01
ST. ALBANs, MAY 25th.

with the sad tragedy just enacted in this
place. This morning the people of this
quiet New England town were startled
by the intelligence that a murder had
been committed during the darkness of
the night. Upon repairing to Ne. 9 Wat
er street, the place where the sff4ir oc-
CURED. I learned by inquiry and observa-
ton, the following facts: A young man
by the name Of Geo. W. Flanders, in
company with another one like himself,
went to the house of Margaret Patterson,
which place it seems these young men
were in the habit of frequenting. The
two attempted to enter, but as it appears
the occupants were entertaining other
company, and admittance was denied
them, whereupon they attempted to force
open the door, declaring that they were
officers and must be admitted, which rep.
resentation did not seem to be needed
About this time Thomas Patterson, q
young man about twenty years of age
son of Margaret Patterson, appeared al
the chamber window and warned the dis
turbers of their quiet to leave the premis
es, at the same time threatening to shoot
them if they did not comply with his or.
der to leave, but the nocturnal visitors
made fool-hardy with rum, not only re.
fused to leave but dared him to shoot,
which he Immediately did, the charge OF
buck shot passing through young Elan
ders' hands into his bowels, from the eff.
feet of which he died at half past eight
this morning. Upon hearing the dis
charge of the gun, s. B. Watson, the com.
panion of Flanders, turned and fed
Flanders attempted to leave in another
direction, but his wounds were of such a
serious nature that he faltered ana fell 9
few feet from where he stood when shot
Watson hearing Flanders cry for help re.
turned to find his companion mortally
wounded. Medical aid was summoned
but in vain. Sheriff Place was immedi.
ately notified, and when he arrived he ar.
rested all the inmates of the tenement ex.
cept the children. The four persons ar.
rested ars Margaret Patterson, her son
Thomas, and a woman claiming to be his
wife, and another disreputable woman,
Mrs. Rollins, the dead body of whose
child was found in a 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 ?,
lived presented squalid and wretched
appearance when entered by your cores
pendent. No one was in charge of it save
three small boys, the children of Marga-
ret Patterson. Every indication spoke OF
degradation and ain. The boys seemed as
unconcerned as though nothing of any
special Importance had happened ; they
seemed to be struggling under the most
discouraging prospects to satisfy the de-
mands for the morning breakfast. They
told the story of the shooting without
hesitation. 1t il, believe, frankly adj
mitted by all concerned.
Need call attention to tho OFT repc tod
words to which this sad story of sin and
shame and murder points, to this young
man, at the dead hour of midnight, well
tering in his gore, and as his life current
ebb away, he calls upon his associates in
sin and sll others who knew him, to bear
witness to the terrible end to which rum
had brought him. 1t is said that young
Flanders had respectable family connec-
tions ts mourn over his sudden and dis
graceful death. The anxious friends have
the heartfelt sympathy of the commu-
nifty. 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 inquire how
much ought a man to pay for license to
be permitted to lead the young men of
our land in such ways, even if he only
sells TO moderate drinkers and the "respec,
table young men.
CORRESPONDENT.
From the 1t Adams Messenger we
learn further particulars, not given
by our correspondent. The name of
Flanders associate was s. B. Watson.
Watson, in the darkness of the night
went to his aid.
The gun used was British musket,
and when the prisoner was arrested,
Sheriff Place found that he had loaded it
again.
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.
The Messenger makes the following
wholesome comments on the affair:
As usual in such cases, we are obliged
to record that rum is probably RESPONSE
BILE for the tragedy. AS poor Flanders
lay upon the ground be called upon the
bystanders 10 take notice of what rum
would do. To be sure, he might lave
sought the house even in perfect sobriety,
but he had been drinking, had often
drank before, and it seems that in his dy-
ing hour be realized that be was reaping
the whirlwiud where he had sown the
wind. This, of course, does not justify
nor mitigate the rash crime of the pris-
oner, but it il a fearful commentary upon
the comparative indifference with which
nine-tenths of the respectable portion OF
the community contemplate the lion of
destruction that prowls in our midst, al
midnight and at midday, awakening all
base passions and leading to "ail shames
and crimes" r.
We also take the following account of
the examination from the Messenger
The young man, his mother, sister and
wife were all arraigned Thursday fore.
noon before Justice FL. Fl. Farnswortb,
the first on complaint for murder, the
second on complaint for being access
series before the fact, and all four on
complaint for keeping house of ill-fame.
They severaIy pleaded mot guilty." and
the examination proceeded. A. G. SAT-
ford, assisted by Mason B. Carpenter, ap
peared for the prosecution, and Willard
Harrington for the defence. The testi-
mony for the proeecution established