The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-31

as be expressed it, felt bound to tell bis
story like an honest man, and SO he told
il.
Putting these things together, it soon
grew to be the current opinion upon the
lake, that Captain John had murdered
his cousin William. The dwellers upon
the Wilderness road also came by slow
degrees, aud unwill.ngly, to the same con.
clusiop. 1t was felt and said that John
ought to be arrested.
Accordingly, on dreary day in Nov
ember, two officers from the country town
twenty miles away down the lake shore,
came and climbed che steep road to the
lonely log.house, and arrested John. 1t
was undoubtedly dreadful blow to those
two lonely people living isolated in the
wilderness Perhaps there ought to have
been some crying and scene, but there
Was no such thing. The officers testified
that neither John nor his mother made
any fuss about it. There was slight
twitchiug Of the strong muscles Of her
face, as sne talked with the officer, but no
other outward sign.
John gave more evidence of the wound
be felt. He was white and quivering,
yet he silently. and without objection.
made ready to 20 with the officers. He
was soon prepared, and they started A.
be vert out OF the door, he turned aud
said. 'Good.by; it will be made right.
mother She simply answered. Yes,
good.by know it, my SON.
The trio went on foot down the road to
the next house where The officers had eiI
their team. Jupiter, stsrdng up with
bis fore paw W Oh the top Of the fence,
gazed wistfuly aites them. When they
passed around the bend OF the road ou'
OF sight. Jupiter went into the house.
The strong woman was there about her
work. as usual tut the heavy tears
Sould now aud tn IL fall upon the hare
piue floor. She knew IN At her own bo,
~ould -pend the coming night in the coun
~ jail.
At twelve o'clock Of that chill Novem.
Der uignt, the woman aud the dog wen'
out Of the house she fastened the door.
aud then they went together down the
dark mountain road, while the sutuuu
winds swept dismally through the great
wilderness, aud the midnight voice OF the
pines mourned the dying year. The next
day at noon, very weary woman on foot
with small bundle and large dog,p
up at the little village hotel hard Oy the
county Jail.
Another day passed and then the pre-
liminasy examination came on before II
justice, to determine whether there war
sufficient evidence to hold John 10 custod y
until grand jury OF the county should
be assent bled tor the next court of Oyer
and Terminer.
Three days were spent 10 this examn.
alton before the justice the captain Of
the sloop who had overheard the quarrel
10 the night told his story and the boat
men who f'nnd the body told theirs
Two men who had been in the crew oi
Johns little vessel were also called. But
they could tell little more than that they
were absent on shore upon the 4th Of j uly
aud when they returned to the vesse
William had gone, they knew not where
nor why.
The evidence against John seemed to
the magistrate clear and conclusive. Blu,
the counsel for the accused employed By
Johns mother) took the ground that a:
the offence was committed in Canada, q
justice in the United States had no juris
diction in the matter.
This view prevailed. and after five
days the accused was set at liberty But
the voice Of the people, which the ancien,
proverb says is like the voice of God, had
decided that John was guilty. L
Was under this crushing condemnation
that John and his mother left the country
town on cold December day, turning
their steps homeward and at evening
they climbed the ACTIVITY so familiar t,
them, aud reached the lonely g.hou>,
upon the mountain. Their neighbour
we're glad to see them back again. bu
we're plain to say that 1T appeared like a
il John was guilty. These dwellers il
the solitudes we're accustomed 10 speaI
truly what they thought. John aud hi
mother too spoke openly Of this matter
1t WAS only OF showing affection and low
that these people were ashamed aud shy
They both admitted to their neighbor
that the evid.uce was very stroug, hu
john added quietly that be was not guilt,
Ms If that settled the whole mstter.
But the voice Of the people aud a sens
Of justice would not let this crime rest
IL came to be very GENERALLY known tina
nl.n guilty OF murder WAS LIKING nea
the shore Of Lake Champlsin uu,nolc,icd
Arrangements we're effected by which i
came to pass that the Canudian suthori
ties made formal application to tn
United States for the delivery of on
John Wilson, believed to be guilty Of tn
murder of bis cousin William Wilson.
And so again two officers, this tim
United States officials, climbed up to th
little Lighthouse upon the edge of the erea
valley. Through drifting. blndin
storm Of snow they were poitted by
nsighbor to the lonely house. They mad
known their errand aud in the course {
half an hour the officers and their prison
er were out iu the storm en- route for th
distant city Of Montreal.
1t WAS many days before the mothe
saw her son again. Fo7 four month
John was imprisoned, awaiting his trii
before the Canadian courts Double.
those four months seemed long to the 80
itary woman. She had not much oppol
tuuity to indulge in melancholy fancies
she spent much OF her time in pulliu
brush and wood out of the snow an
breaking it up with an axe 80 as to adaI
} it to the size Of her stove.
The neighbors tried to be kind, and o
ten took commissions from her to Il
r store and grist-mill in the valley. 'B'
, after ALL said Pete Sesrls, one Of John
. friends. in speaking of the matter atte
t ward, what could neighbors amount
! when the nearest Of them lived a mi