Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-02-29

My father died when was young, about
six years ago, and my mother was very
kind, which / soon took advantage of,
and by my wickedness often caused her
much sorrow When | was fourteen
years old joined the volunteers, which
grieyed mother greatly, but | continued
with Them and to that step, and the
bad company arising from it, attribute
my being where l am. Gradually lost
| all relish for the company of my family
and friends, and gave myself up a good
deal to the follies my companions in
dulged in. Early last spring my brother
and | undertook to build house for Mr..
John Johnston, of the Fifth Concession
of East Gillimbury, about mile and a
half from our own place, and for a
time appearedto be favorite with him,
and everything went on well until the
time came for the annual drill, when |
went with my battalion to Niagara,
putting man in my place at Mr. John
stOns. On my return from the front l
found that nothing satisfied Mr.. john
stOn, and in every way he showed dis
like to me, and Mrs. Johnston acted in
a similar way. I confined to work on, eX-
cept at short intermissions, until Septem-
Der, when | finally left. While | was
working at JOhnston's [ formed an init
mate acquaintance with Miss Elizabeth
Nichols, a daughter of Mr. John Nichols,
who lived near Johnston. On several
occasions Mrs. Johnston used very sar-
castle language about my going to Mr..
Nichols, limiting that | would not be al
lowed to visit there very long; and
at last learned that he was in the habit
of going to Mr. Nichols and misrepre-
senting me, until he brought about what
he threatened, an uukindly feeling in
Mr.. Nichols family towards me, and al
though for time Miss Elizabeth did not
show herself unfriendly, yet eventually
the effect was seen in her also. | tried
in every way to find out what Johnston
had been saying; but to this day | never
could, as Libby was afraid to tell. 1t
would be a great satisfaction to find out
even now. Things went ON in this way
after | left JohnstOn's until the 22d of
November, my feeling against him in
Creasing all the time. This day | took
my pistol in my pocket on leaving home,
and thoughts of revenge were certainly
entertained by me, but nothing de-
finite as to what course | was going to
take to get satisfaction. That evening
| went to a revival meeting in the Meth
Odist Episcopal church. Mr.. Nichols
family were there, but l did not speak
to them, and at the second singing one
of Mr. JOhnstOn's sons and | came out.
Passing by JOhnstOn's door young john
stoA pressed me to go in and stop the
night, to which | asscnted. This was
about nine clock, and the family did
not go to bed until near twelve. There
was not much said by Mr.. and Mrs.
Johnston to me. and | retired with my
usual kindly feeling for the young peo-
pie and still with revengeful feelings to-
wards Mr. and Mrs Johnston. In the
morning about eight o'clock Johnston
started in the sleigh for Queensyillc,
and as a mile of the road was in the same
direction ] wanted to go | jumped in the
sleigh too. ! believe he would have or
dcrcd me out, but he knew | would not
90, so we went on. | tried to find out
what he had said about me at Mr..
Nichols, but he gave no satisfaction,
and ! felt desperate. As we came to
where | intended to leave, near my Sis
tiers place, | was in the act of stepping
out. with one foot still in the sleigh.
when | turned half round and discharged
the pistol just behind his ear which
took fatal effect. He never saw the PTS
toll. nor had any idea of my intention.
He immediately dropped down in the
sleigh, the horses keeping on their way,
while | walked across to my sisters and
told her what had happened. The rea-
son mentioned the facts to my sister
was that ! intended never to be taken
alive. but to defend my life against the
officers of Justice. | knew ! should
have to Kill more people, and ultimately
al Al