Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-25

For the vERuoNr FARMER.
Letter from New York.

l SEQ by the Vermont papers and also
others, that in the account of the Wilder
murder, at East Lyndon, the blame seems to
be thrown n good deal upon the mother.
She is called a "peevish faut.fnding old
lady" and also that "she caused her sons mar
ried life to be an unhappy one" To strau-
gers and people unacquainted with the fam
lily history this all might seem to be true
She may and doubtless did, at times, find
fault, and not altogether without reason
either. As the reporters went to the sons
wife for particulars, she of course, if so dis.
posed, could tell plausible story aud throw
the blame where she liked. Though the &C.
count is mainly true, in justice to the MUIR
dered mother, and in justice to the remain
ing children who are made to suffer such an
dtiiictlcn, it is due the public that one or two
statements be corrected, or some other facts
made known. | do not intend to mako any
accusations against the wife, or harrow up
and expose any family secrets further than
is absolutely necessary to remove the odium
SO unjustly heaped upon the old Mrs Wilder
| am informed there are facts connected with
this sad tragedy that the wife refuses to re-
veal, and the whole truth probably never
will be known. Could it be known We are
confident the name Of the poor old mother
would not bear all the blame, aud she would
he looked upon 10 far less unfavorable
light than the one in which she is now made
10 appear. In refusing to sign the deed
mentioned, the mother probably feared she
sight be deprived of rights and necessary
comforts which belonged to her, as she and
Ter husband had labored for years to obtain
this home. 1t seems her fears we're correct
Tor since the marriage of her son she has
'een obliged to suffer good deal of abuse
Once she was obliged to seek shelter with
ier youngest daughter, because she was de.
nied the peace aud comfort at her old home
10 which she was entitled, aud it seems that
pefore the murder she was living at one of
the neighbors and was afraid to 60 home.
1t seems little hard for sons, in return
Tor care and anxiety bestowed upon them
when young and helpless, that they should
urn their poor old fathers and mothers on,
# doors or send them to the poor house, bu
it is sometimes done. 1t is well known thai
this son possessed an unpleasant disposition
aud one which would lead many people t.
tvoi rather than court his society.
One time while the sister Of this Slas was
on visit to this house the mother gave her
two or three vegetables, enough for once
cooking, an act which is customary among
friends and acquaintance in the country.
| The money value would not exceed as many
cents. The sou on learning the fact came
in and heaped upon his mother and sstel
a storm of abuse and profanity. Such wal
the rod of tyranny held over his parents and
sisters, and because his mother dared to pro
test against and object to such cruel treat
ment she Is called "peevish and fault-iind
ing old lady," and accused OF making tn,
married life Of this amiaJle son and his wifi,
an unhappy one. Having lived near ant
been acquainted with the family and some
thing of its history for many years speaI
from something Of knowledge of the trutl
and not guess work. / briefly mention thes
facts to defend the parents, particularly the
mother, from what appears in the pubIica
tons to be unjust accusations, and cave tn
public to draw their own conclusions.
JUsTGcE.
Ncto York, February 10, 1875.