The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-02-11
FRiGHTFUL TRAGEDY.


A vermonter Butchers his Wife. Father
and Mother, and Hangs Himself
A deed of blood, with scarcely par
allel i'm our criminal annals, was enacted
last week in the town of Lyndon, Yer
mont.
Silas Wilder, q well-to do farmer, re-
siding at East Lyndon with his father
and mother, and known as "a man OF very
impetuous temperament, seriously if not
fatally stabbed his wife, killed his father
and mother. and hanged himself. 1t
seems that he asked his wife to shorten
a pair of his overalls. She did so, but
by some means made them too short.
This enraged him, and he commenced
abusing her. His mother interfered with
some remarks, which still further exas-
perated him. Uttering a profane threat,
he started for the woodshed. His wife,
fearing he meant mischief, followed
him. Upon reaching the woodshed
Wilder caught up an axe ana started TO
return. His wife caught at the axe to
prevent him entering the house with it.
Meanwhile, his aged father, hearing the
noise, went into the woodshed to see
what it was about. just as he got there
the son saiL
eff 1 can't put stop to this with an
axe can with my knife"
He then drew large dirk-knife and
struck his wife terrible blow across the
breast, and afterward across the lett
eye, knocking her senseless.
He then rushed upon his father, fell
ing him TO the ground with fearful
blow upon the head.
His mother, thinking to stop the al
fray, blew the dinner-horn. The son
rushed at her, and, striking her three or
four blows with the axe, nearly severed
her head from tho body.
Leaving her lying in her blood he re-
turned to his father and wife. The old
man had crawled back into the kitchen,
and was lying helpless on the floor. The
son raised his AK and sent it crashing
through his fathers head with such force
that he was unable to move il.
His wife, who had somewhat recov-
cred, managed to escape to the nearest
house. The monster, finding that she
had escaped him, sought his own de-
struction. He first cut his own throat.
Finding that it did not instantly kill him,
he took q rope, climbed upon beam,
fastened the rope about his neck and the
beam, and then jumped off. His neck
was broken by the fall, and death doubt
less ensued Immediately.
The murderer was aged 33, and his
wife about %, while his father and moth
er were 70 and 20 respectively.
The old man, Levi II. Wilder, was in
comfortable circumstances, owning a
farm and stock worth S., 900, and having
81, 500 or $1,000 at interest. A few
years ago he decided his farm to his
youngest son, and took mortgage of
81, 900 to secure the support of himself
and wife. The neighbors, with one ac-
cord, pronounce him to be quiet, peace
able man with no bad habits, and good
neighbor.
According to the wife's testimony, the
young man has been uniformly kind to
her, and had much affection for her.
He probably did not intend to kill her
when he struck her with his knife. He
has recently given indications that he
was becoming morbid in mind, and has
been regretful and gloomy. They were
intending to put up new house next
summer, and were preparing the lumber
this winter. He remarked to his wife,
few days ago, that he did not take much
interest in the house, as he should not
live to OCCUPY it.