Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-11
Murder In Windsor.

On Nednosday last brutal murder was dis
covered at Windsor, which created more excite
ment than il otherwise would from the fact
that its pcrpetrator was a man who had hereto
ioro sustained an excellent reputation, and was
esteemed as a kind-hearte and good citizen
We are indebted to an extra Of the Vermont
Journal, and the Rutland Hcraid, for the fact.
given below
The murdered man was William A. O'DOn-
oghuc, a resident Of Windsor. His litolcss
body was found On a hill near the village, be.
tween five and six O'Clock in the evening, on
Wednesday. The discovery was made by son
Of Mr.. O'D0noghuc, who saw his fathers cat
tie without their driver, and asked a neigbbor,
Mr. James u. VIM, who was near, where be
was. On reply that he was back on the side Of
the road, he asked what the matter was, to
which Mr. VIM said, " the same as usual, -"
meaning, as it was understood that he was in
toxcated The young man drove the oxen back f,
and found his father lying by the roadside, with
his hat partly covering his face On raising the
hat, he discovered that his head and face were
'i''Fgs i'N AiANNA AIN ANh1 ~ Aut ai'hf hhh
supported it as well as he could till he reached
home, not dreaming Of his death, His wound
in connection With his appearance startled the
family, and DR.. Stevens, Of Brownsville, was
called, who pronounced him dead.
The singularity Of the circumstanccsin which
the remains were found aud OF the nature Of
his wound, in connection with certain other
circumstances, combined to awaken suspicious
Of foul play in such degree that it was thought
best for the town authorities to take the matter
in band. Accordingly, on Thursday morning,
Hon. Hiram Harlow, chairman Of the Board
Of Solectmen, Grand Juror I. b. VIM, and
one or two other men visited the locality Of the
scene aud the remains Of the unfortunate man
at his late home. The result Of their examin-
alton was that a legal investigation was re-
solved upon, aud on Friday morning an autopsy
was taken of the body in the presence Of
Grand Juror VIM and others, by DR. + r.
Phelps, Of Windsor, Professor Of Dartmouth
College Medical School.
The Coroner's inquest was held before T b..
VIM on Friday, and the first witness exam
ined was Mr. James B. VIM. to whom susp-
cion was directed as to his being the murderer
His testimony was to the effect that he had
seen O'Donoghue, but had no quarrel nor even
intercourse with him about the time Of the
murder.
Dr. Phelps, who had examined the body,
thought that death had ensued from quick
blow with something heavy, such as q sled
stake, for instance.
Cyrus Wheeler testified that he had heard
VIM and O'Donoghue quarrelng near the
place where the body was found They had
never been friends
Mrs Lydia Wheeler swore that she had
heard the parties in loud talk and disputing
about a sum Of money. The quarrel grew
louder and at last she heard VIM say to the
deceased, i've taken enough of your sass,
and " damn you, lay there awhile"
Several other witnesses were examined, but
no other evidence Of Importance was educcd.
The son Of the murdered man gave n very
minute account Of his finding the body.
The result Of the inquest was a verdict that
deceased came to his death from a blow re-
coiyed at James WINS hands The latter
was at once arrested and committed to Jail on
charge of murder in the FIRST degree. lie
waived an examination.
The Journal says Of the murder. :" The
feeling in Windsor concerning this distressing
affair is profound. Mr.. 0'Donoghue leaves a
wife and nine children. Mr.. VIM is an in.
dustrious, kind-hearted farmer, whose rela
ton to this affair, as appears in evidence, ex
cites the most painful sensations. lie sin the
hand of the law, and justice will be done"
KlLLED.-A Frcnchman by the name of Geo
Rama while on "a cod in cbonninp a wood- ROAD