Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-09-24
The End Of a Rutland Murderer.

HENRY DAMON-HIs CRIME AND HIS DEATH.
Henry Damon, of Rutland, life convict
in the Vermont State prison, at Windsor,
died in thas institution. Friday, Aug. -.
1875, aged sixty-nipe years.
Tnirty-seven years ago, In a small house
the building is now standing and used as
a barn by Moses Hayward-sltuated IN the
part OF Rutland then known as "Hayti,
/ about two miles east of the village, was
committed one of the most brutal and re-
voting murders that ever disgraced the
criminal annals of Vermont. The house
was occupied by Henry Damon. a young
man thirty-t*o years of age. and his wife,
whose maiden name was Sophia LOunsber-
ry Both Damon and his wife were low,
miserable creatures, most generally under
! the influence of drink, and their house a
resort OF the low and vile. a very den of in
| fanny and vice.
On the night OF October 4. 1888, two
| stage drivers visited the house carrying with
them bottle of rum, and the party ln-
| dulged freely therein. Mrs. Damon's Ia
yors were freely bestowed, and the visit
! netted her the sum of a dollar and bali.
! After the drivers had left a quarrel ensued
between Damon and his wife for the pos
session of the dollar and half paid by the
drivers, and she refusing to pay it over. he,
inturated 10y rum, cut her throat with a
razor, from ear TO ear, and then with the
same Instrument endeaTored to take his
own life in the same way.
Alarmed by the noise of the struggle. u
near neighbor sought assistance, and going
to the house the woman was found dead.
while Damon was on the floor Supplied
with rum and the loss of blood. The wO
man was suffered to remain IN the same
situation for hours, and he. toe, remain
ed uncared for, until his Estupor was
slept off. and then, as his life. too, was
de>paired of, some days elapsed before he
was arrested and committed To jail.
At the September term, 1889 Of the Rut
land County Court, be was indicted by the
grand Jury, and was Immediately placed on
| trial. Charles B Williams, chief Justice of
of the Supreme Court, presiding, with
ZImri Howe and \. 1. Sprague as assistant
Judges. The prosecution was conducted
BY solomon Foot, States Attorney, and L.
n Briggs, OF Brandon, and the defense by
Andrew Tracy, OF Woodstock. and Edward
f. Hodges, OF Rutland The defense en-
deavored to show that Damon was subject
10 fits OF temporary insanity and that 1t was
inherent in the family bat of no avail.
Tne trial, which lasted d day and half.
resulted in verdict Of guilty, and he was
sen enced to be hanged. FRIDAY. February
81. 1910; but the Legislature, at the session
10 1899, commuted the sentence TO life
Imprisonment IN the State prison.
lie was removed to the State prison,
that TALL. and remained there until his
death-a period of nearly SO years, thus
passing mure than hall his DAYS within the
walls OF prison. lie. too. died violent
death. On account OF his age aud infrmi-
ties. he had been allowed for years more Ur
les of privileges. and it is said Sas permit
ed to 20 where he pleased. For some time
prior to his death. he had been in OF
connected with the hospital, and ON the day
of his death was going down the stairs
thereirom. when he fell. and probably met
an instant death. a. ne Was lifeless before
assistance reached him His confinement
antedated that Of all others BY l6 years, and
ther5 was bur one older person in the pri
son. while the next Oldest in the order OF
confinement entered the prison "a years
after Damon. He survived all the members
of the court and the counsel connected with
his trial. save two-N. I. Sprsgue, Of
Brandon, and Edward F. Hodges, now OF
Boston. and outlived almost the memory
OF his crime. His death serves to recall his
story, and now both will again be consign-
ed to ob!iyion-perhaps forever Rutland
Gis5e