The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-12
A BRUTE HUSBAND,
A Man Beats His Wife---An Attack Without
Provocation---Thi 0ffense.

| committed in Rutland was perpetrated
Sunday morning. William Rix, Scotch
man living in that part of the town known
as ''lhe swamp" beat his wife so severely
that her life was thought to be in danger
The facts are as follows:
About six o'clock on Sunday morning q
furious ring was heard at the Jail door.
Deputy Sheriff Millington dressed and
fastened to open it, when he found a
woman, breathess with excitement, who
said that man was
KILLING HIS WIFE
In the swamp. Millington found the mans
name and the location of the house, and
started for the scene. On his way he
stopped and aroused States Attorney
Martin G. Everts, who accompanied him.
They found the house, small shanty in
the swamp, or 'lsva beds, back from the
streets. On opening the door horrible
scene, one to arouse the righteous wrath of
any one calling himself man, met their
view. There lay the poor wife,
bihhDlNb AM hhLiLhSS,
on the floor, over her right eye CHASTITY
cut from which the blood was flowing, her
dress torn, disordered and blood bedraggled,
on her breast great bruises inflicted by
boot. The poor woman could not speak,
and could hardly move. Blood was
smeared all over the floor and on the base
boards, as if the monster had dragged his
victim around while beating her, and lying
near was a
WHITE BIRCH STICK
about two feet long, of triangular shape,
and covered with blood the wound in the
forehead was doubtless inflicted with this
stick.
But the white, upturned blood-stained
face of that poor, senseless woman, told
the story of brutality and suffering better
than pages of description, and we leave it
for the Imagination of our readers.
The shanty was small, containing but
two rooms, the kitchen IN which Mrs. Rix
lay, and in which were table, stove and
few chairs, and small bedroom adjoin-
ing.
Mr.. Everts and NIillington started at
once for assistance, the former notifying
J. NJ. Putnam, overseer of the poor, and
the latter arousing policeman N. S. Stearns
and Charles Ii. Matthews
TO SEARCH FOR THE HUSBAND,
who had fled. DR.. j. ID. Hanrahan was
Immediately summoned.
The officers scattered themselves over
the swamp and searched every possible
hiding place thoroughly, but found no clue
to the missing man. At last, about noon,
they came across two boys who were ber-
rying they said they had seen Rix gong
towards the new bridge, beyond the Cath
Ole church; that he had pack on his
back and said he was going to Canada.
The officers FASTENED to the village, pro-
cured two teams at Quin's livery stable and
started in pursuit. In the foremost team
were deputy sheriff Millington and Mr..
Matthews, and the other contained police
men Stears and Aubertin, who had also
been called to assist. Both teams.drove
through the new bridge and down to Rip
ley's marble mill at Center Rutland, when
Millington and Mathews crossed the creek
while Stearns and Aubertin kept on the
left bank for West Rutland.
When the first team reached Shedd's
store at Center Rutland, they turned to
the right on the road to Sutherland Falls
In moment they met some boys who, on
being questioned, said they had seen man
pass there with bundle, but little while
before. Proceeding few rods they es-
pied man lying under some willows on
the left hand side of the road, asleep, who
PROVED TO BE RIx.
and was arrested. He was perfectly sober,
showed no surprise at his arrest, offered
no resistance and made no explanation ex-
cept that his wife chad been jawing him
because hedldnt bring home more money"
Xix is worthless wretch who does odd
jobs around the village, while the town
have been compelled to help his family.
He has been arrested twice previously for
beating his wife, once last iall and once
about two months ago. The last time he
was not fined as he had no money to pay
and if he was in Jail the town must support
his family. He has also been in Jail once
for indecent conduct. He drinks occasion
ally, but it does not appear that he was
ever drunk when he has beaten his wife,
but has done it out of pure fiendishness.
He is man apparently about thirty, but
said to be thirty eight about five feet ten
inches high a rather small face, thin,
\ with prominent nose and cheek bones ; a
blue and rather pleasant eye, with brown
hair and chin beard of the same color. He
had on an old coat and pair of pants, dirty
and patched, flannel shirt, also not as
clean as it might have been, pair of
heavy, clay covered boots, and no vest.
At the Jail he appeared perfectly cool, and
said he had no explanation to give sit
was just little fracas.
Mrs. Rlx was reported last evening as
out of danger but in considerable pain.
Her story is that Xix came home about six
in the morning, broke in window, entered
the house through the aperture thus made,
and began abusing her. He had brought
home some crackers the night before. The
children had cried for food land the mother
having no other food, gave them these.
Xix looked for the crackers and, when they
were not to be found, accused his wife OF
eating them and began beating her She
says he pounded her with his fists about
the head till she was stunned She has nc
recollection of receiving the blow in her
forehead from the stick.
Mrs. Xix has family of three children
dependent almost entirely on her for SUP.