Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-03

the most sad and unaccountable tragedies
tnas has startled our community for many
years. Mr.. A. N Daniels, formerly of st.
Johnsbury, shot and seriously if not fatally
wounded Miss Carrie Demmon, formerly of
Waterbury, and then, turning the pistols
mouth, shot himself through the heart, ex-
pring almost instantly. Both individuals
were employees OF the company, and were
perhaps the last persons the Superintendent
or those having oversight in the establish
ment would have suspected of any likelihood
OF becoming participants in such an affair.
Mr. Daniels, who was twenty-eight years of
age, had worked for the company year and
a half, faithfully performing his duties in the
paint room of the establishment, and con-
Quoting himself, SO far as bis shop duties
were concerned, to the acceptance of his en-
ployers. Miss Demmon is an intelligent,
sprightly and estimable young lady of twen-
ty-two years. She had been for three years
an employee of the Colby Manufacturing
Company, when that company was doing
business at Waterbury. She came to Mont
pelier, when the business of the establish
ment was purchased and removed to this
place by the present owners, and has con-
tInued IN their service until the day she was
shot down without warning and without
cause The Superintendent speaks in the
highest terms of Miss Demmon, as an indus.
trlous aud competent employee, and of the
propriety aud purity of her walk and CONVEX
saton SO far as they came under his notice
and supervision; and her shop mates and &C
quaintances all bear the same cheerful testi-
mony in her favor.
The circumstances attending and preceding
this unfortunate affair we have cleaned from
mass of somewhat conflicting reports and
summarize them as accurately as possible be-
low. MIR. Daniels and Miss Demmon were be-
trothed, their marriage being set to take place
next month. The intimacy and companion
ship into which they were thrown in their
work alter Daniels came into the shop had
ripened into this relation without the knowl-
edge or thought of the Superintendent, but
was known or suspected by few acquant-
|
quick, sensitive temperament, almost border
ing on the irritable and jealous cast, and
faint of insanity is hereditary in the family.
AS it ever is and always will be, notwith-
standing the abundance of pretty and lovable
girls all about US, there were those who en-
wed Daniels this sole enjoyment of Miss
DemmOn' s smiles land they sought, unwilling
ly and unthinkingly let US hope, to " make
trouble between them," as Daniels himself
remarked to friend but day or two before
his tragic death. With his excitable temper
ament their badgering had its unforeseen Ell
feet. lie was worked up at times to frenzied
excitement at other seasons he was moody
: and respondent. And all this time MISS
Demmon little knew or suspected what was
transporting, OF that SO soon she was to pass
through the terrible ordeal she suffered that
fatal Friday.
Thursday Daniels purchased vial of laud-
anum and dirk knife, but made no showing
of them. Friday morning he went to work
as usual Soon afterward one of his room
mates remarking to him of the beauty of the
morning, received no response, and on re-
peating the remark WAS greeted with this
strange rejoinder from Daniels, g suppose
all the boys are laughing about me; but
there is another 81 to this story, tell you ;
On being asked for an explanation of bis
meaning he said again, 81 tell you you will
see another side to this thing before night. y
A moment after be obtained permission to &c
to the post ofhce-but went instead to Skin
ner's, whore he purchased six-shootcr.
, Returning to the shop he went into the
trimming room, where Miss Demmon was
: working at her bench, returned her morning
/ salutation rather moodIly, seated himself
= facing her and then drawing the pistol from
her, and to her ejaculation of 'Oh, Albert
what are you doing?" replied 81 will kill
l you, shall shoot you" At the same time
e be snapped another cap, but it did not ex-
d plode. One or two girls In the room now
&. ran for the wash room and thence made into
the basement where they were followed
hastily by Miss Demmon, who was trying
to escape the shots of the Infatuated man
. | Daniels fired a second shot at Miss Demmon
as she turned to fee, and third one just as
she was passing into the wash-room. He
then turned and saying, " Now, I'll shoot
. myself placed the pistols mouth to his
heart, pulled the trigger, sank to the or
and with few faint gasf S instantly expired
The lifeless remains were at once taken t.
his boarding place at the American House.
Young Daniels friends were telegraphed,
- and Friday evening the body was taken &c
Lyndonvlle for interment.
Miss Demmon at first supposed herself on
ly wounded through the thumbs by the SECOND
shot, and thought herself able to ascend tn,
basement stairway alone. Her companion
10 noticing her extreme paleness assisted her
Il and on reaching the trimming room it wa
found that the bullet from the first fire hat
II entered just above the left breast, and sh
u complained of sharp pain under the op
Vi posite shoulder blade. She was carried t.
j. her boarding place, in very low and weal
'0 state, but entirely conscious, and has con
~ tinued in about the same condition to thl
time. She would converse freely of the afai
If but for the interdict of her physician, who de
# sires to secure her from any undue excite
le ment or effort. The ball was found to hav
be lodged at the lower point of the left shoulde
is blade. Although not yet wholly out of dan
tb ge-, strong hopes are entertained of tn
ne ultimate recovery of Miss Demmon, and he
10 family and friends have the cordial sympath
re Of the community, while the wishes of all fo