Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-18
~ .u.sRu.BLOUs Bv.B.rT.

lived in 1898, at Hardwick Hall, in the
county of Dunham, England. Mrs. Now
bray was tall, powerful woman, of great
energy and bravery, in her fifty-fourth
| year. Her sons were aged respectively
thirty-iour, twonty-seven, twenty four and
| twonty-one. Her husband had been dead
many years. Her two eldest sons were
married, and their wives and families lived
with her. The youngest, George, was wild
and dissipated, and had given his mother
much trouble. He was deeply in debt,
and had been repeatedly threatened with
arrest. Mrs. Mowbray was wealthy, and
kept in her bedroom, besides quantity of
valuable plate, large sum of money.
On Christmas eve Mrs. Mowbray's son
and daughterin-law paid visit to the res
idence of a relative, Mr.. Chaker OF Chat
T tersburg. Inc dofrestfcs, reneveu rrom
| duty, were in their own portion of the
dwelling, enjoying the festivities of the
season. The watchman, who was ordinari-
ly on duty in the kitchen garden, took a
hasty survey of his beat and joined the rev.
ellers in the kitchen.
On Christmas night they were TO have a
small gathering of friends and neghbors,
and Mrs. Mowbray began to consider the
arrangements necessary. She would re-
quire the old punch bowl, and the ladies
and goblets which she kept in the closet OF
her bedroom. She would go and get them
out at once. She went accordingly, and
entered her closet, took out the silver and
laid it on the shelf, ready for removal next
morning. At the same time she took out n
large, old-iashioned carving knife and fork
of quaint pattern, and deposited them also
on the shelf. She then returned to the par
lor, After sitting and musing for some
time, she took up the Bible and fumbled
for her spectacles. She could notfind them,
and at length remembered that she had left
them on the shelf in the closet. She at
once returned for them. Entering her bed
room, she placed the candle on her dress
ing table, and lighted a small lamp, with
which she entered the closet.
As she took the first step inside the clos
ct, she heard the sound as of some one
breathing heavily. She looked up and saw
right before her the face of man. She was
a brave, resolute woman. She advanced a
step and observed that the mans head,
arms and body were through the small win
dow at the end, as though in The act of
wriggling himself through the opening.
In the mans right hand was n pistol, and
his left had hold of a shelf which ran along
the side of the closet. The man raised the
pistol and fired. Mrs. Mowbray in an in
stant seizcd the huge carving-kniie which
los, sl. ,a1T 4
ruilian. He was struggling to draw him
self from the window. His hands were on
the sill and his head somewhat raised,
leaving his throat somewhat exposed.
Being unable to work himself out Of the
Spcrture, he raised his pistol as though to
hurl il at Mrs. Mowbray. The coui agoous
old lady made one step forward, and dash
cd the keen blade across the mans throat,
laying ii open from ear to ear. She then
closed the closet door, blew out the lamp,
and taking up her candle returned to the
parlor, first having satisfied herself that
not a drop of blood had stained her dress
or hands.
Half an hour after midnight her children
returned home. They found their mother
Bile. They greeted her afiectionately, and
prepared To retire for the night. Mrs.
Mowbray said: "Boys, remain behind
little. / wish TO speak to you. You my
daughter can retire"
When she was alone with her children,
she said, with dignity and calmness: "My
children, have killed man! You will
find his body fast in the small window of
the closet Of my bedroom"
Her sons stared at her in amazement.
They at first imagined that she must be la
boring under some mental disorder but
when she related TO them plainly and ra-
tionally, and in her own straightforward,
terse fashion the story just told, they saw
that she was telling them simple fact.
$50" she said, "and make what arrange
ments you please. l will wait here, and
you can tell me what course it is best to
pursue in this matter"
The sons took tho light and went 10 their
mothers room. They opened the door,
and there sure enough was the body of
man hanging half way through the win
dow. The floor was pool Of blood. With
difficulty the eldest son got near enough to
the body without stepping in the gore, to
raise the head, which was dropped on the
chest. He grasped the hair, and lifted the
head so that the light might fall upon his
face. As he did so, a cry of horror escaped
from all.
"Great God ii is our brother GeorgeW
"What do you say2" asked Mrs. Now
bray, in voice horribly calm, from the
doorway. whittier she had followed unper-
ceived. George what do you mean p
The eldest son dropped the head to pre-
vent, if possible, his mother recognizing it,
and all of them endeavored to explain
their exclamation and get their mother a
way from the spot. 1t was in vain.
"Boys," she said, in her old, well known
tone of authority, "stand aside and let me
see the face OF the murderer have slain."
With that she put her sons aside as though
they had been mere lads, aud walked
through the slippery gore that lay upon
the floor up to the body. She took the can
die from the unressting grasp of her first
born, and with a hand that trembled not,
lined the head of the dead man so that the
light shone full upon it. She gazed upon
il steadily for half minute; then she
said. gently lowering it until it rested up
on the breast again, "Its my boy George y
Mrs. Mowbray was the only one in that
household who remained calm and emo
tlonless. The family were in the widest
state of sorrow. The three brothers with
difficulty extrcated the body from the
window. The authorities were notified,
and every thing was kept as quiet ms pos
sible. The inquest was duly held. Mrs.
Mowbray was fully exonerated, and the
body was tenderly prepared for the burial.
The real story was known to few outside
the family and authorities. 1t was believ-
cd by them that George, instead of going
to Devonshire, had remained lurking in
the neighborbood, aud had planned the