Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-09-11
FIRES ALONG THE LINE.
An insane boy sets five barns
and a dwelling on fire.
ALL BURN TO THE GROUND.
Edward, son of Eihu Shaw of North
Bridgewater, the actor.

DrldSeWater, the actor.
This community was considerabl,,
excited last Saturday morning by tn,
news that Edward Shaw, an insane
person, had set fire to the buildings Of
Mr.. Charles Montague of Nortl
Bridgewater, and that they wer,
''burnt" to the ground with contents
Also, that Daniel Markham and Lyman
Cobb had their barns destroyed by
the same individual.
The boy, Shaw, has shown signs O
insanity for some time Gnsanity is
hereditary on the maternal side,) ant
st became 50 apparent few days be
fore this sad calamity, that he wa,
confined to a room and watched, and
was to be taken to Brattleboro Satur-
day. Friday night he learned of this
by hearing his mother, who is some
what "out," talk about it, and jumped
from the window and escaped. He
went directly to Mr.. Montague's, halt
mile distant, and set the fire he
then proceeded to the Isaiah Markham
place, and set a barn on fire, and it
was consumed with contents then
the cold Harry" led him across lots
to the premises of Mr.. Lyman Cobb,
one mile north Of English's Mills,
and set two of his barns on fire, and
then went up the ladder on to the hay
loft with the intention Of burning him
self up, and while there drew his knife
twice from the back of his neck near
ly to his windpipe, making an ugly
wound, after which he cut the arteries
of both his wrists in a shocking man
ner. He perspired too freely on the
hay loft, so he got out in some way,
but how he got out does not appear
very clear to him. On Saturday after
noon he was found on Mr.. Samuel
Gilbert's premises, a short distance
from Mr.. Cobb's, whittier he had
crawed after the cutting 1t must be
that he tainted or he would have bled
to death. He was brought to this
village and placed in a room in the
Jail, and DR.. Hazen Was called and
dressed his wounds. We saw him
Sunday morning in company with the
doctor. The doctor asked him some
questions in regard to his movements
which he answered, and some ques-
tons he would not answer. The loss
of blood relieved his brain somewhat,
but it was evident that his head was
badly mixed up even then, and it is
the opinion Of the doctor that he never
will be sane again. Mr.. Thomas
Perry takes care of him. He will be
removed to Brattleboro as soon as
his wounds are healed.
The boy has worked for all three
of the sufferers and never had any
trouble with them, and as they live
some four miles apart, it is mystery
why he should select them. The
parties were insured for a small per
cent. in the Windsor County Mutual.
Several pigs, chickens and calves
were burned up. Mr. Cobb lost so
tons of hay, moving machine, and
other farming tools, but succeeded,
at the risk of his life, in saving
valuable colt, and some other things.
Mr.. Cobb's loss is quite heavy. The
boy says he is glad he did not burn
MIR. Cobb's house, which stood few
rods from the barns. 1t is a sad
case all round.
Austin E. Simmons will speak at
Baxter's Hall, Elm street on Sunday
next Sept. 18th, at the usual time of
service.