Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-07-30

Ternts--S2.OO year, always In advance.
Murderous Gossip.
Ii was about year ago that the horrible
murder of Miss Marietta Ball took place, a
mile or two out of St. Adams village. The
murderer had a day or two in which TO
make his escape, or cover his tracks, before
the discovery of the crime. The clues, or
what seemed likely to We such, which
presented themselves, were either unskifully
followed or led to nothing. The thing began
to be accepted as a standing mystery.
Suddenly it began to be whispered about
that circumstances had been brought to light,
throwing strong suspicion on George GREGG
~ Smith, eldest son of ex-Gov. John GREGG
nv Smith, young lawyer of ST. Adams. Of
course this rumor did not need to pass
through many hands before becoming q
story that the murderer of Miss Ball had
been discovered in the person of the son of
Gov. Smith. Ia this shape the story came
to Burlington one day, by train, passed |
from one to another throughout several car
loads o. horror-stricken passengers, each one
of whom confidently expected to see in the
papers, next morning, the announcement of
the arrest and examination Of the murderer
Bat no allusion to the matter appeared in
print, beyond a blind intmation (which may
or may not have referred to that in one Of
the 3 Alhal- papers, to the effect that the
ofiecT- had struck new clue to the murder
er 81 Miss Ball. The rumor died away for the
tim beng but not long after was revived in
somewhat modified form. Now it was said,
thar there had been most suspicious circum-
Stance connecting George Gregory Smith
with the crime; bat that the powerful H.
AI'nce Of the Smiths" had been exerted to
~m.ther Investigation in that direction, till
al connected with the investigation had
ben bought. frightened or influenced to
look ia any quarter but that for the uiur
dsitr. This ab,minable piece OF lying gossip,
c.v,r,d Vermont 1t came to Us in Letters
i.olH remote corners Of the State. St. Al
bans Eropie, moi Of the Smith fiction did not
al"alS deny it, constables az d sheriff, elee-
where, whose services had not been sought
IN the official search for tb murderer, looAef.
VIE, when appealed to, and left on their IN
quifer9 the impression that there was but :,
10" much reason to believe the yarn. The
story was in effect charge not only thar the ),
young man nsnied was a murderer, but that
the selee;Den Of s.. Adams, who are men Of ,
high character, tie officers Of Justice in that
county, and a V de circle Of men in responsi-
De stations, were banded to protect him from
arrest, and were thus making themselves ",
aecesSories after the fact to the most horri-
Die crime uf our day in this State; and it
WIS circulated I'LL it found thousands of :
believers in orr State. The matter finally
reached stage which made advisable the ;,
formal Investigation, to the reports Of which -,
we tlve given extended space in our
Columns.
The investigation has shown absolutely no
foundation for the rumor. Nothing az q,
peared connecting Mr.. Smith with the !
murder, more nearly than the fact that he o..
was in the habit of driving a pretty good u
turnout, and that a servant girl met some -,
one driving pretty good horse, going out Of is
St. Adams on the day Of the murder Mr.. eli
smith showed where be was and what about -.
when the murder was committed, as he had on,
before done to the authorities and officers. no
The rnmor exploded The folly and
wrong OF circulating such slanderous gossip. ii,
n matters Of such grave concern. i, now Ia.
leaTiy apparent. 1t has not mi, given al
ain ana annoyance T., many excellent peo- Of
Ne ; hal has doubtless helped to conceal the IL.
he true criminal, by misdirecting attention. n,
Inc an1 money, which might have contrib -
tel t, his discovery.
Nenotlce statements that there is no reason
D consider tbs SANDER a 1e,ul; Of the rail
pad war Tint Is not altogether 50 clear.
We are indeed far from believing thar any the
esponsihle man connected wi,l the railroad thi
uarrd and litigation, originated a false ac- y
lsation Of murder, to be used As weapon g.
the fight Bat We have No doubt that :.
lie condition Of the community in ST. 49,
lbans' divided as it is into Jealous and ho,-
lie factions state of things which is in
art cause and in greater part a result of MN,
lie railroad fght-has had much to do with
e origin and growth of this piece of muir ~
rous gossip. In a community of reason aou
'ly sensible people, less agitated by person or.
quarrels and private and public dissen- a.
ms a charge 50 groundless could hardly
We reached such dimensions. This inyesti-
ton even, while it has ended this par- Il
nlar rumor 50 far as the State at large is HE
neerned, in St. Adams has only given rise GEM
fresh batch Of ordinations and recrim- -Ai0'
atoms. Ii is pity that the effort so ex- ''l'
need could not be made available for the 0Aii'
rposes Of justice. There would be more ci'oi
Pc then, of the discovery of the murderer 'ne
Miss Ball the {
able