Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-09-19
Nv ELOQUENT TB.EPBR.s.vCB
LECTURE.
THE SAD CAREER OF A FORMER INN KEEP
Err OF FAIRFIELD.

Err OF FAIRFIED.
The Chicago Tribune gives the following
sketch of the life of man who, the st. AL
bans Messenger is informed, formerly kept
a small inn in the south part of Fairfield
village in Franklin county. 1t is truly "an
eloquent temperance Lecturer
Some sixty years ago there was born, in
one of the midland counties of England
one William Hops, who, when about
twenty years of age, came TO this country
and settled in Vermont. He possessed a
powerful frame and an indomitable will,
and amassed considerable sum of money,
while cultivating small farm in COM
paratvely sterile country. Hints were
sometimes thrown out that he obtained his
money not so much from agriculture as
from smuggling goods over the border
from Canada. After time he concluded
to come West, and bought a farm near
Wheeling, in Cook county, where he set
tied with his wife and family more than
thirty years ago. Everything he touched
seemed to prosper; his farm of three hun
dred acres was one of the best in Cook
county; he built upon it a splendid man
sion, entirely of pressed brick, and for
years everything was lovely. With the in
crease of his wealth his family also increas-
ed, until in 1868, he had thirteen children,
all living. Hops, had, however, become
| an inveterate topper, and in consequence,
family troubles soon arose. In the month
of June of that year, the whole commune
ty was startled with the news that William
Hops had murdered his wife. The news
| proved true. While under the influence of
liquor, he disemboweled her. An inquest
was held, and he was found guilty and
com mitted 10 take his trial. He had no
sooner been safely lodged in the Jail Of Cook
county than he inquired for the lawyers
who had defended Jumpertz, and soon af-
ter Col. John Van Arman and Mr.. E. w.
McComas became his counsel. By the
time the trial was reached, Col. Van Ar
man had left with his regiment for the seat
of war, and his place was filed by Mr..
Writ Dexter, who put in plea of emotion
al insanity. The case was tried before the
Hon. George Manierre, then Circuit Judge,
and the prosecution was conducted by the
Hon. Joseph Knox, States Attorney, as
sisted by the Hon. w. X. MacAllister. At
ter twelve days trial, the jury, on the
31st of December, 1868, brought in ver-
dict of guilty, and William Hops was sem
fenced to death.
On application of his attorneys, a super
sedas was obtained from the Supreme
Court, and, on appeal, that Court reversed
and remanded the case, and ordered new
trial. 1t was not until 1866, however, that
the new trial took place, his counsel evil
IDENTIFY considering that the fact of his hav
ing been long time in Jail would have
good effect with a jury. At last the trial
came of, and he was acquitted, and again
walked the earth free man. He went
back 10 his old neighborhood and COM
menced work but no one would have any
thing to do with him-even his own chill
dren refused to see him, and he felt that he
was truly and utterly alone in the world.
His farm had been mortgagod TO pay the
expenses of his defence, and was sold at
length for $4,000. OF this sum, S10,500
went 10 his counsel for their own and court
fees, and 81, 500 was left to him. This squick-
ly disappeared in the maelstrom of whis-
key and then, as if good fortune and kind
Providence were always helping him with
golden opportunities TO do well, legacy Of
81 800 came to him from England. AT last
this all disappeared, and William Hops,
upon whom bright hopes had so often
dawned-William Hops the whiskey
, drinker and wife murderer-had not place
to lay his head; not a friend in all the
world; not child who did not revolt from
contact or conversation with him. Alone,
and an outcast, his misery and desttution
at last caused him to ask for admittance in
to the Cook county poor-house, at Jeffer-
son, and few days ago he became an in-
mate in what will probably be his last
home on earth, and when he dies instead
of leaving magnificent inheritance to his
children, and having a splendid monu-
ment erected to his memory, he will de-
I scend TO the grave unhonored, il not un.
sung.