Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-12-26
The HydeviIie Affair.
WAS IT MURDFR /?

On Monday evening the citizens of
Hydeyille ard vicinity were thrown into
an interse state of excitement over the
report that an elderly womar, named
Smith, had
DIED SUDDENLY
under circumstances which pointed
strongly to the suspicion that she had
met with her death at the hands of her
son-in-law, with whom she made her
home. The matter was investigated be
fore the proper legal authorities, as soon
as they could be convened, the inquest
commencing at about o'clock a. m, of
Tuesday, and ending at about A o'clock.
The facts as elected were these: The
son-in-law and his wife had some
LOUD WORDS oyER PAIR OF SHOES
The mother came into the room and re-
proved them for their wrangling. The
son-in-law said he did not want any in
reference on her part. She continued
her words, whereupon he told her TO
leave the room, and pushed her toward
the kitchen door. She then passed out
through the kitchen into the wood-house.
In a few minutes she was heard toreturn
into the kitchen, and the next moment
to fall. The son-in-law left his wife
and went into the kitchen. He saw Mrs.
Smith lying on her face upon the floor,
and called for his wife, saying,
81 FEAR YOUR MOTHER Is DEAD"
His wife ran into the other part of the
house, occupied by family named Har
rison, and cried out,
ISL. HAS KILLED MOTHER;
ST. has killed mother" Next the son-in-
law ran into Harrison's room, and asked
Harrison to 90 with him into the kitchen
and see if anything could be done, say
ing he feared his mother-in-law was
dead. Harrison hesitated. The daughter
then ran across the street and called
upon two women for help, saying her
mother was dead. They came, and With
their assistance the son-in-law placed his
mother-in-law upon bed. They found
she was still breathing, and she did not
breathe her last until some ten minues
afterwards.
DR.. Burton made thorough eXamina
ton of the body. A slight bruise and
cut was found on the upper part of the
forehead, caused by
NAIL N TIE FLOOR
where she fell, which was raised about q
quarter of an inch above the flooring.
Various rumors have been afoat-va--
ious opinions have been expressed-and
many damaging things said of the SON
in-law; but ii is believed that all the
material factsin the case are given above
We have received, from prominent
citizen of Hydeville, the following state
ment of
WHAT TIE AUTHORITIES ARE DOING.
At about half-past ten o'clock, Mon
day night, Mr.. Harrison, who occupies
half of the house in which the death oc-
CURED, came to my house and reported
that Mrs. Smith, an aged and infrm wo-
man, who was living with her daughter
and son-in-law, Silas Gould, had, very
suddenly, died, and under circumstances
which TO him seemed to demand investi-
CATION. Twas about retiring; told him
to 90 to the hotel and say to Mr.. Dawley
and any others that be might find there,
that / would be down immediately and
wished them TO be ready TO 60 with me
to GOuld's house. AS soon as | could
get ready l went to the hotel, and found
Mr.. Dawley, Mr.. Chaplin and Mr.. Har-
risOn waiting. We Immediately went to
the house and found Mrs. Smith on q
bed. After making such an examina-
ton as we were able to make, we sent q
messenger to notify the husband and
son of the deceased, who were living In
another part of the village. Another
messenger was Immediately sent to Cas-
Teton for surgeon and a lawyer, and
still another TO call up twelve citizens of
the place, in order that, as soon as the
| surgeon could make an examination, We
might be prepared to take such action as
would appear best. 4 surgeon and a
lawyer came Immediately fromCastleton,
the people of the village, who had been
notified, also came and met at the hotel
With the surgeon and lawyer and such
persons as | thought the circumstances
demanded, we went to GOulds house
again .(having left persons there in our
absence TO watch every circumstance
and then made fun and thorough sur
face examination of the body, as well as
every article, or such articles as we
could find, about the premises. We then
went to the Office of the Hydeville Com
pany and took the testimony of all per
sons who knew anything having the
slightest bearing on the matter. This
examination kept us in constant work
until four o'clock Tuesday morning.
Without stating the particulars of the
evidence taken, it may be sufficient 20
say that at that time there did not seem
TO be anything developed that would
warrant the arrest Of any one. What
may come to light hereafter, of course,
l cannot say, but the public may rest as
sured that we are a law-abiding and
order-loying people, and that there IS
not in our village citizen who viii not
do all in his power TO bring to speedy
trial any and all persons against whom
sufficient suspicion may rest 70 warrant
such action
AccIDEST.-About8 s O'Clock last even
ing, Frank Seecoie, an employe Of the
Harlem Extension railroad connary