Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-09-19
q Marvellous Event.

fourth year Her sons were aged r,
spectively thirty-four. twentv-seveI
twenty-four and twenty-one Her hui
band had been dead many years. He
two eldest sons were married. and thei
wives and families lived with her. Th
1 youngest. George, was wild and diss
/ pated, and had given his mother muc
trouble. He was deeply in debt. an
had been repeatedly threatened with AZ
/ rest. Mrs Mowbray was wealthy. an
/ kept in her bedroom besides a ouantit,
/ of valuable plate, large sum of mon
! cy.
On Christmas eve Mrs. Mowbray's Sol
and daughter-in-law paid a visit to tn
residence of a relative, Mr.. Chaker, o
Chattersburg. The domestics, relieved
from duty. were in their own portion
OF the dwelling, enjoying the festivitic
of the season. The watchman. who wa!
ordinarily on duty in the kitchen garden
took a hasty survey Of his beat. anC
Joined the revelers in the kitchen.
On Christmas night they were to have
"A small gathering of friends and neigh
bOrs, and Mrs MowbraY began to con.
slider the arrangements necessary. She
would require the old punch bowl, and
the ladies and gOblets which she kept in
the closet of her bedroom. She would
90 and get them out at once. She went
accordingly, and entered the closet took
ont the silver and laid it on the shelf,
ready for removal next morning At
the same time she took out a large old
fashioned carVing-knife and fork of
quaint patterns and deposited them also
on the shelf. She then returned 10 the
parlOr After sitting and musing for
some time, she took up the bible and
fumbled for her spectacles. She could
not find them: and at length remember
ed that she had left them on the shelf in
the closet She at once returned for
them. Entering her bedroom, she
placed the candle on the dressing table.
and lighted a small lamp with which she
entered the closet.
As she took the first step inside the
closet. she heard the sound as if SOME
one breathing heavily. She looked up,
and saw right before her the face of
man. Size was n brave resOlutc woman.
She advanced a step, and observed that
the mans head, arms and body were
through the small window at the end.
as though in the act of wiggling himself
through the opening. In the mans right
hand was 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 instant
on the shelf. and advanced towards the
rufiian. He was struggling to withdraw
himself from the window. His hands
were on the sill and his head somewhat
raised, leaving his throat somewhat eX-
posed.
Being unable to work himself out of
the aperture, he raised the pistol as
though to hurl it at Mrs. Mowbray. The
old lady made one step for
ward. and dashed the keen blade across
the mans throat. laying it open from
ear to ear. She then closed the
closet door, blew ont the lamp. and TAX
ing up her candle returned to theparlOr.
first having satisfied herself that not a
drop of blood had stained her dress or
hands.
Half an hour after midnight her chill
drcn returned home. They found their
mother seated by the fire. serenely read
ing the Bible. Theygreeted her affec-
and prepared to retire for the
night Mrs Mowbray said Boys. re
main behind little. / wish to speak
TO You. You. my daughter can re-
ire"
When she was alone with her child
lren, she said, with dignity and calm
ness my children, I have killed "A
nan You viii find his body fast in
he small window Of the closet Ofmy bed
'OOm. ."
Her sons stared at her i'm amazement.
They at first imagined that she must be
under some mental disorder:
)ut when she related to them plainly
md nationally. and fl her own straight
forward, terse fashion the story as Just
old. they saw that she was telling them
/ simple fact.
$50, she said, ''and make what ar
you please. / will wait
lere, and you can tell me what course it /
5 best to pursue in this matter"
The sons took the light and went to
heir mothers room. They opened the
lOOr, and their sure enough was the
)ody Of a man hanging half through the
window The floor was a pool of blood. /
With difficulty the eldest son got near
'uOuEn " JllC BDAN NlllIoIt SIT IlI'lIiS H. 3
o the gore, to raise the head, which was I
lropping on the chest. He grasped the (
lair, and lifted the head so that the !
light might fall upon his face. As he /
lid so, a cry Of horror escaped from /
ILL.,"
= :'Great God, it is our brother
teorge :"
''What do you say ?" ask Mrs. Now |
,ray, in a voice horribly calm. from the |
doorway, whittier she had followed un- I
perceived. George. . what do you /
mean p
The oldest son dropped the head to /
prevent, if possible, his mother recog- !
liqing it, and all of them endeavOred to |
xplain their exclamation and get their |
mother away from the spot. 1t was in
ain.
''Boys," she said. in her old well /
,nown tone of authority, ''stand aside (
nd let me see the face Of the murderer ] /
AVE slain"
With that she put her sons aside as
hOugh they had been mere lads, and /
walked through the slippery gore that
ay upon the floor up to the body. She T.
ook the candle from the unresisting 4
rasp of her first-born, and with a hand 4
hat tremblcd not, lifted the head of the 4
cad man so that the light shonc full /
pon it. She gazed at it steadily for
alf minute, then she said, gently low
ring it until it rested upon the breast
gain ''It's my boy George"
Mrs. Mowbray was the only one in
hat household who remained calm and F.
The family were in the /
widest state of sorrow. The three 1
rothers with difficulty extricated the
'ody from the window. The authorities ]
we're notified, and everything was kept (
S quiet as possible. The inquest was
uly held. Mrs Mowbray was fully 4
and the body was tenderly /
prepared for the burial. The real story /
vas known to few outside the family /
nd authorities 1t was believed by /
hem that George, instead of going to /
)evonshire, had remained lurking in the
and had planned the rob
ery, and if need be the murder Of his /
mother. He knew she had large sum
f money and valuable jewelry in her /
oouo Tho old p11rsa who had hold i