Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-02-07

ALMOST TorAL DEPRAvIrY.-We print he
low the testimony Of the eldest daughter Of
Charles shaw, accused Of poisoning his
family, At Cambridge, v Y, and given a
the Coroner's inquest. 1t Is a remarkable
recital, showing to what frightful depths of
degradation and vice human nature can
descend
Fannie Shaw Alatti~ou swlrn.-Am a
daughter Of Charles Shaw, and wife of
Burton Mattison nave lived with my bus-
band since we were married have been
married two years have been at nv faith
er's house frequently: he has been at orr
house very often father and mother have
frequently quarreled have been present
when they had disputes on several oc-
ca>lons; mother did not ike his frequent
visits TO Mrs. Briggs; have heard father
otter mother a bill Of divorce. and heard
HIM try to get her consent TO divorce;
mother always said she would not give one.
and said she could force one from him if sbe
chose this was before the Briggs folks
moved away father said he would give her
the COW and 500 for bill mother said she
would not consent he said he would have
divorce or have her life ; she replied that
he could take her life before she would give
hum bill; she wanted to know why he de-
sired bill: he replied that he wanted
somebody he could live with She wanted IN
know if he could live with Mrs. Briggs. he
said that he loved Mrs Briggs. and would
yet live with her; this conversation took
place at fathers house nobody bur
myself and the children were present nv
husband may have been there heard sew
eral other conversations Of like import
hn va ri flf ba. l..
er's consent to Mrs. Briggs STAYING all
night in the house; mother was opposed to
her coming, because she said she was afraid
OF her life; father said, =" If Mrs Briggs
can't come to my house | will 60 to hers
mother said she would follow him father
said if she did she never would come out of
the house alive Mrs. Briggs on one occa-
sion asked mother to let her have the baby |
and Ida and Emma 30 bring up mother |
said she would bring up her own children
Mrs. Briggs said she would have them ali /
sooner or later: father told me the night |
Mr.. Archer brought him to the house that |
the Briggs folks had poisoned the family |
asked him if he was positive Of that he |
said he was; he told me one morning /
that Mrs. Briggs would be nv step- |
mother within six months; my mother |
and husband were present father .
said he would try to live with mother
no longer, and would take her life /
in preference; heard Mrs. Briggs tell
mother she had something with which 10
destroy bedbugs; do not know that Mrs
Briggs brought corrosive sublimate to the
house father had something that he called
sugar Of lead; it was white powder: when
saw it he hada table spoonful Of it never
saw the corrosive sublimate which Mr.
Briggs said she lad; never heard her saw
she had enough to kill regiment have
seen father strike mother struck her with
his fist once, and took her by the throat on
another occasion, and struck her on the eve
on another; have seen him draw a knife On
her; he drew the knife soon after the Bripge
folks moved into the toll gate house; il T5s
a large knife; he made an attempt 10 stab
mother, but caught his arm; he said he
would drive it into her heart; do not remem-
Der any other threats made by him. Told
Mrs. Briggs on one occasion that She
should not receive fathers visits when sbo
was alone; Mrs. Briggs said he should come
as often as she wanted him to come. and
that after while my mother would not he
around to make her mouth go; she told me
also that she would yet have father for good
have been to fathers house since Iibbie
died father told me that the family had
the cholera morbus; told him this was a