Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-09
Horrible Murder and Suicide.


Horrible Murder and Suicide.
At about 1 o'clock Sunday, the citi-
zens of Moravia village, seventeen miles
south of this city, were startled by the
intelligence that VIM. J. N. Sheppard,
farmer, residing about mile and half
northeast of MOravia, and a Mrs. Sophia
NJ. Hilisman, had been murdered by John
Hillsman, the husband of Mrs. Hillsman,
at the residence of Mr.. Sheppard. A
large number of citizens from the vii
lage Immediately went I, the place, and
upon their arrival ascertained that the
report was but too true, and also that the
perpetrator of the foul crime had termi-
mated his own existence by committing
suicide, and at that time lay weltering
in his own blood, shed by his already
douhly guilty hands, which within the
space of an hour had sent, without warn
ing or time for preparation, to their final
reckoning his own spirit and those of his
unsuspacting, unprepared and unarmcd
victims. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs.
Hillsman were lying in the north room
up stairs, Of the residence Of Mr.. Shep-
pard. where they had fallen, both lyir
with their heads to the cast and upon
their backs, and large pools of blood
about the head of each the head of Hills
man lying near the feet Of his murdered
wife, the right hand of the murdered
woman grasping cloth wet with water
and blood. Appearances would indicate
that at the time she was killed she was
engaged in making or arranging her tot
let, and was standing in front of a mir
rOr under which stood q washstand with
a towel, in which a small quantity Of
water remained. That no warning was
giyen the unfortunate woman. or that
she entertained any suspicious of her
husbands intentions, is evident from all
the surrounding circumstances. Not a
sound had been heard by the other per
sons in the house, no article of furniture
in the room had been displaced or dis
turbed, but all was quiet and in order
denoting harmony and friendliness. The
dead body of Sheppard lay in the sitting
room below upon a lounge, where it had
been placed upon moving it from near
the foot of the stairs where it fell on the
instant that the fatal shot was fired at
him. To all appearance neither
one Of them never struggled, breathed
or moved after the fatal shots were fired.
Large numbers of persons came to the
house from all directions for miles
around as the sad intelligence spread,
and before nightfall hundreds had gath
cred to view the remains and render what
assistance lay in their power. Mr.. Shep-
pard was farmer of about fifty years
Of age, and had resided for many years
in M0'avia and the town of Niles adjoin-
ing Had always taken an active inter
est in the agricultural interests of the
county, and was an energetic supporter
of advanced ideas in agriculture and
improvements in implements relating to
husbandry. He was well and favorably
known throughout the country and es-
teemed by all. He leaves a widow aud
three daughters to especially mourn his
loss and regret the sorrowful termination
Of his life, so suddenly cut off in the
prime of his manhood besides a large
concourse of friends and acquaintance,
who had known his worth as a friend
and neighbour and who will add their
tears to those of the bercaved family.
Hillsman, the murderer, was of South
ern birth and education, was naturally
of a jealous and suspccting nature, was
irritable and imperious, 'and inherited
and nourished the idea that the only
honorable remedy for a fancied injury
was the life of the supposed offender
He was dentist by occupation and
resident of Madison, Ga, where his re-
lations reside. His age was about 40
years He arrived in Moravia on Fri
day last, and has been an inmate Of Mr.
Sheppards house since that time. Mrs.
Hillsman was woman of prepossessing
appearance, a native of this county, and
about thirty years of age. Married at an
early age she was possessed of a consid-
cradle property, which her husband
spent in high living and extravaganza.
Endeavoring to dissuade him from his
former course and settle down to the re-
alities of life, only resulted in an es-
arrangement and engendered feelings in
him, the sequel Of which was the TRACE
dy of Sunday.