Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-06
Attempted Murder at Derby Line.

Edwin C. Hayden, lately Of Boston, and for
merly Of Montpelier, in which latter place he was
well known, shot his wife and his brother-in-aw,
Charles o. Brigham, on Thursday morning last.
Ills wife was the youngest daughter Of the late
Levi spadng, Of Derby Line Mr. Spaldng died
a few years since leaving large property to be
divided among his two sons and five daughters
One OF the daughters married Charles o. Brig
ham, son Of Rev Elijah Brigham, Of Newton
vile, Mass, and he with his wife, were boarding
at the hotel Hayden has led the life Of profit
gate, and had squanderod nearly all of his hand
some estate lie had also treated his wife with
such neglect and cruelty providing no means Of
sustenancs, that Mrs Hayden, some months
since, thought it her duty 10 decline 70 live longer
with him. This was last fall, and Mrs. Hayden
went to Boston and pa sed the winter with her
sister, Mrs Bixby, aud Hayden went to st Leon
Springs, F. @, where he has been assisting Captain
J. X. Gilman in his hotel Mrs. Hayden re-
turned TO Derby Line few weeks since, and was
spending few days with her sister, Mrs. Brigham.
Wednesday afternoon Hayden made his appear
ance in the village, sought an interview with his
wife, and it now appears that he told her she must
prepare to die, for he would kill her II she did net
live with him. It also appears, from his own
statement, that he left St Leon Springs with the
intention OF killing her, unless she complied with
his wishes
About ten O'Clock Thursday morning, Hayden
called at store on Rock island avenue, and
asked to borrow q revolver, for the purpose as he
stated, Of shooting bulldog in the neghbor-
hood lie pulled up his pants, and pretended to
show them tine mark Of a bite on his leg. lie
then went to the hotel was dunned by a neghbor
for small bill aud Immediately passed up stairs,
and upon Mr. Brigham declining, in n mild way,
to let him go in and see Mrs Hayden, immedi-
atey and without any further alteration, shot
Mr. Brigham in the right side, the ball striking a
rib and passing into his lungs, where it yet re-
mains Mr. Brigham lies in a very critical condi-
ton, with hardly an even chance OF recovery.
Mrs Brigham and Mrs Hayden were IN an adj
joining room, and upon hearing the report Of the
pistol, opened the door Hayden walked in and
shot his wife aiming the pistol at her head. She
exclaimed, ooh, Edwin :" and turned little.
lie then Immediately shot her in the back, cross
ways lie attempted to fire again, but the pistol
hung fire Al this moment Mr.. Brigham, though
wounded, stated engaged with him, and
others rushed in and interposcd. Two men held
him upon the floor and were trying to take the
pistol from him third party came into the
room, when he said he would surrender the pis-
tol, which he did lie then surrendered himself
to an officer, and has been held in twenty thou
sand dollar bonds and sent to Jail at lrasburg.
The tragedy is appalling, from is atrocity and
the premeditaton Of the assassin, who deliber-
ately left his occupation and travelled two hun
bred or more miles to murder young and beau
tiful wife, who left home and friends only three
years since to marry this villain, against the best
| Judgment Of all her friends It now appears that
| for two years he has treated her with great cru
city, which increased,in severity as her property
diminished She was exceedingly amiable and
lovely, and never had an enemy Had her Titi-
cal situation been known before Hayden was
committed, the neghbors would undoubtedly have
/ lynched him on the spot MIR Brigham has been
/ pursuing the study of the law in Derby Line and
was Intending 20 offer himself for admission to
the Bar at the coming September term. He is a
/ pleasant, gentlemauy man, and Is appreciated as
a gentleman Of high standing and promise-a man
| who never quarreled The murderer expresses
no remorse at shooting his wife. lie says De
hopes she will die, and regrets that his shot.
We're not Immediately fatal lie says he did moi
| intend to XIII Brigham unless 1t became necessary
and says itbecame necessary so to do, but that be
| is sorry for it,
! There is bare possibility that Mrs. Iiayder
may recover. She is conscious and able to tab
a little Her story is that Hayden had been very
cruel to her, and has knocked her down. lie ex
tortcd sixteen thousand dolarsin bonds from her
by threats of shooting her, and soon squandere,
.l... 81
long puzzled her friends, caused by hitinl
him into bed, when drunk but she had kept 81
lence, because she had married against the wishe
Of her relatives Hayden is still defiant, and say
that he had poison ready to kin himself with, bu
had not the courage 70 swallow it, or even enougl
10 shoot himself