The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-16
ALLEGED INFANTICIDE IN WESTON
No Inquest on the victini--.Ehc
Murderer at LarEe---Criminnl
Negligence of the Au-
thOrities.

Weston, q small hamlet situated on the
Green Mountains in the southwest corner
of Windsor county, and Boosting Of a
hardy, industrious and law abiding popua-
ton of some over nine hundred souls, is in
a terrible ferment of excitement over an
alleged case of infanticlde. The facts, as
they come to us, are as follows In the
small village, of the same name as the
town, resides one Clifford Hessliton aud
his wife, who are "respectably connected
but the husband is said to be known as a
shiftless, improvident character, although,
as far as known, no criminal act has here
tofore been alleged against him. During
the night of February 2sth, child, their
sixth, was born to them No medical or
other assistance was present or summoned,
although, as we have stated, they resided
in the village in close proximity to neigh
bors and acquaintance, and relatives, if
not friends. At the time of the birth,
Hessliton alone was present to aid his
wife, but after daylight of March list, a
physician was summoned, and kind neigh
bors, also, called in. The child was then
living, but blood was flowing from wound
in the soft part of the head, the wound
being apparently made by some sharp in
strument. The child was past all human
aid, but fingered along until the evening of
that day, when it died. That the childs
death was the result of criminal violence,
inflicted by some one, is not doubted by
many, if any, of the citizens of Weston,
and is, as we are informed, believed and
averred by the physician who was called to
examine and attend it.
Who is the guilty party is, of course, un-
known, but suspicion is SAID to point all in
one direction. We have said that Hessl-
ton was already the father of five children,
and it is alleged that lie has been known
to say, within the past six months and du-
ring the pregnancy of his wife, that he
would "kill the next child born to them,"
and it is said that he has, heretofore, i'll
treated his wife while in similar condi-
ton. This alleged threat and the il-treat-
ment of his wife, taken in connection with
the refusal, or neglect, to call in medical
or other aid, and the wound in the head,
has been enough to convince the good peo-
pie of Weston at whose door the crime lays
if, indeed, there has been crime
committed On the other hand, the alleged
guilty father processes TO be anxious to
have the matter investigated. When, how
ever, it is said that this anxiety for an in
vestigaton is not consistent with guilt, it
is replied why, if he is innocent did his
father call on the town grand juror, as it
is alleged he did, and request that officer
'not to stir in the matter as it would make
his son great deal of trouble ~
So stands the case, to-day, and such are
the facts, or alleged facts, so far as we
have been able to ascertain them. Weston
is naturally terribly excited, and the citi-
zens are anxious to know why the matter
is not investigated. 1t seems to be CON
coded that the infant met its death by vio-
lence at the hands of some one. If it is a
clear case of homicide, as seems more than
probable, why was no inquest held The
child evidently died from violence, either
the result of accident Or design, and in
such cases the law imposes the duty on the
selectmen of the town of having coron-
er's inquest. Why have they not acted !
1t is believed, in Weston at least that
foul murder has been committed. Why
does not the town grand juror fearlessly do
his duty and commence prosecution Is
it true, as alleged, that the father of the
alleged guilty man requested him "n0t to
stir in the natter Is it true that that
officer does not stir "because it will make"
Clifford Hessliton "a great deal of
trouble Z" Where is the states attorney Of
Windsor county? Is it not part of his
duty to institute proceedings in the case OF
suspected crime But the selectmen, the
grand juror and the states attorney are as
silent as the dead child Is it to end thus ?
Well may the good citizens of Weston say,
"If an innocent babe may be murdered in
cold blood, and no action taken, why may
not an adult person be put to death in the
same cruel manner 2"