The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-04
A WESTMINSTER TERROR.
TIE sroRY OF a CONVICT VINO DIED
IN SING SING PRISON.


The Discovery Of n Bank Book showing De-
postss In shsky and Now Broken sa Wings
Bapk-The Lot Of One had Mans Wife.
Henry s. VAIL n convict in Sing Sing
prison. was stricken with paralysis a few days
ago, and after a suspension Of his faculties for
twenty eight hours he died. On his head have
been heaped the curses Of the farmers OF the
central part Of Westchester county. They feared
that he might wreak his vengeance upon them
after tho expiration Of his term. For the most
OF his life q curtain Of mystery has hung around
his actions Hts desperate adventures and reck-
lessness Of life while fleeing from the wrath Of
farmers whom he had robbed wcre never under
stood by the villagers. He was born Of respect
able parents In the town of somers City three
years ago. From early boyhood he had mania
for petty thIeving. The loss Of harness and
farming utensils by the farmers was charged to
him, and crime Of every degree was associated
with his name through bis entire life. While
living in Somers he suspected Of being the
murderer OF his brother.
One morning In winter vaifs brother went out
of the house and trudged through the snow to
the barn. Several sides OF beef were hung to
beams, and he began to finish the sailing Of
them. while he was thus engaged the report
Of pistol cracked In the crisp air, bullet
passed through the open doorway, penetrated
his body, and embedded itself In the side OF
beef. He dropped dead. The next day the
Deishbors searched for the murderer. Tracks
| in the snow around the barn were found, and a
| pair of unmatched boots worn by Vail ntte
| them. Nothing was done about the murder,
and Il is stili mystery; About nineteen years
! ago he moved his household to a farm near Gro
| ton Lake. He built a small house and titled the
soil OF sixteen acres Of land for living. Ho
farmers. II be loss OF COW or OF an OK chain
Was the signal Tor search through and around
and he was credited with selling more dressed
poultry to the storekeeDers OF Sing Slug than
any other person for miles around,
| Two instances are relsted OF vars pluck and
| GOODNESS when caught In the act OF stealing.
Across the lake from his home was farm,
owned by falmer whose especial pride was a
Cue coop OF chickens. Vail started for IT, farm
one night In the fall. aud as darkness set In he
tised roost robbcr he " abbed a pair Of chickens.
| Their nuttering and cluckfng aroused the
farmer, and As he opened toe door the dark
| form OF man leaped the fence rails and ran
down tue NIL. The enroged farmer ran to the
stable, Jumped on horse with neither Birdie
nor saddle. and started Ia pursuit After clear
ing the fence the farmer soon decreased he
distance between himself and the Fugitive. The
mounted farmer turned a bend In the road. He
| tied the chicsens to bis waist and plsnged into
the icy water, and under the cover OF darkness
| he escaped. He was an adept at dressing poul-
him.
| At another time an Irishman had suspicious
| flock u ducks, and one day he watched the
| pond In when they were kept. He saw Vail
! climb a fence and 20 To the edge VI the pond
| When the ducks came near bin he struck at
them with a pole. What In hell are you killing
NV ducks forr" shouted the lrlshman. With
cool impuasnce Vail reIorted, =. Have Iou seen
anything OF an OK chain hereaboutsF aud he
continued TO dig csrelessiy In the mud, as though
! looking for the chain.
four years ago Vain was a p rty in the trial
for the iheit oil lot OF ehisnens' ne sw9te
anu smother witness. and he was sfterward con-
| yictsd Of terJury ana sentenced ON the 10Th OF
! December, ls'2, oy County Judge CLIFFORD To- ten
ye rs IN State prison. Walls wife had not lived
with him for several years. OH account " bis
evil ways. and she mad become Impoverished.
Vail . noted for hrs penuIiousDess, and II
was supposed that 50 newhere on his farm he
had several Thousand dollars hurled. His brother
visited MIN in the ~ isOn and was told where. In
! a stack Of hay he might ind a ackase u, bonds.
A search was made, but nothing was found.
request Of Wallis wife, and lower down In the
baystack was found hole, from around
ahous sS' hay aa hss bssn ,assn
! out. No money found. Mrs. Vail
petiiioned the court for relief. and by lts order
| the farm wa, placed In the hands Of trustees, To
be sold for the benefit OF Mrs. ill and her chill
dren. The personal effects and forming utensils
were advertised TO bs sold at auction out ON
the day OF the sale tue farmers from near and
afar looked over the effects, and one selected
FROM tn > heap an OF chain, another a bit Of mar
ness, another crowDar, and there was Little
! left to sell after they had claimed what they
srstse s r.ptsd the farm O for pas,Sraae. and
with the small Income II produced, and by
working as tailoress In Mount kisco, Mrs. Vail
managed 70 support herself and children.
When Vail died his wife went To pris-
| on to get his body. Mr.. Vail and
Mr.. Richard X. Fish were appointed ad
ministrators OF the estate, anu iour days
after the death " Vail a relative OF his heard q
rumor that ons Henry }. GRIMM had bank book
belonging TO Vail. lie caiieu OIL him, and q fhI
| gave II up. IL WIS uepOsitOr's book OF tns
third Avenue savings iank OF New York, and
called for over Ss.+UO In tn name Of Henry Sea.
| man, the first anu middle nainos of Vail.
Farmer Grimm accounts for his having the
| bank book thus:
- WIS hired to haul a stack of hay from o1
Walls place n month after 10 WAS sent up. Mbeu
| we got near the bottom, found piece OFFS owe
| pipe hammered fiat. lnsde found tho hank
book. took II nome, ana IN few days went
| and saw Naii. He said, You keep II until
come out. Nd "a give 70 SlUO.' 50 tnats tho rea
| son never SAID anything about T.. Vail Was
tough man, and didn't care much aoout peo
| pies talking about mo aud nim.