Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-19
The Hayden Murder Trial.

The trial Of Edwin c. Hayden at Irasburgh last
week, for the murder of his wife, created great
excitement in that section of the state, and at
tracted large crowd Of spectators; and as Hay
den's parents were both natives of this county,
and he for many years resident here the inter
est manifested in his case in this vicinity was
very considerable
Hayden was born In Cincinnati, where his father
was in business, thirty years ago. His fathers
health having failed, he retired from business
while the son was quite young. Subsequently
| the father became insane, and was removed to
| the insane asylum, where he afterward died
| Young Hayden was boy Of remarkably pre-
possessing appearance bright, active, and gener-
Gus to fault. He early exhibited symptoms OF
a want Of balance, however, which visibly in
creased as he yielded to temptation and entered
upon life Of dissipation On the 9th of Deem
ber 1871, he was married (sen-clandestinely) in
Boston, to Miss Gertrude Spaulding, daughter OF
the late Hon Levi Spaulding, of Derby Line. By
this marriage Hayden secured the control of her
property-about fifty thousand dollars. For some
time affairs went on prosperously, but soon her
money was lost in his business ventures and
Hayden became addicted to bad company and in
temperate habits He so neglected and abused
/
misery she was compelled to leave him and re-
turn to her own family After she left him Hay
den drfted aimessly about, but generally was
badly given to dissipation. During the summer
of 1876 he was employed as a clerk at the St Leon
Hotel, in Canada. He frequently spoke of his
wife, and while under the influence of liquor
made repeated threats that unless she came and
| lived with him he would shoot her. On the 31st
of August, while intoxicated he went to the hotel
where his wife was stopping with her sister, Mrs
| e. o. Brigham, of Boston. He called upon them,
Mr.. Brigham urged him to go away until he was
sober, but he declined and tried to persuade his
wife to see him alone in another room. She de-
clined, and after some parley, Hayden shot Brig
ham, wounding him severely, but not fatally
He then shot his wife, who survived her wounds
| but five or six days Hayden was arrested, and
sent for safe keeping to Windsor, where he has
remained since Daring his stay there he has be-
haved we'll but has sometimes acted peculiarly.
The evidence for the prosecution was to the eff
feet that Hayden committed the crime while
under the influence of liquor, which he had taken
with the avowed purpose of working himself up
to do the fatal deed, and that he had publicly de-
clared that If he did it he could get clear upon the
ground Of insanity
The defense was very ably conducted, the plea
of insanity being strongly urged, and ~ large
number of witnesses brought forward to testify to
the insanity of Haydens father and grandfather.
! Among these were j. b and j. L. Scove and
Bradford Syv, of Derlin, and Charles 4. Hayden,
brother of the accused, of this place The evil
dence of DR.. Draper, Superintendent of the Insane
Asylum at Bratteboro, was to the effect that
Hayden was not insane, and was responsible for
his actions at the time he committed the deed.
Other expert evidence of similar character was
introduced which effectuay nulifed the theory
of the defence, and the jury brought in a verdict
of guilty of murder in the first degree.
Upon the rendering of this verdict, the court
asked Hayden what he had to say Hayden arose
and said; I" have several requests to make your
honor. The first is that be allowed, in company
with proper officers, to visit the grave of my wife
The second that my sentence be given me at
once, and that the execution take place at once
that it be as public as possible, that the enemies
who have driven me to this death may have the
satisfaction which they ask for, and which be
lieve, in their own judgment, they feel they are
justified in having" Upon Hayden's conclusion
he sat down, seemingly laboring under a terrible
mental agony.
Under our statute, Hayden will have to remain
in state prison year before his execution
Strong efforts, we learn, are being made to Sc
cure him new trial The verdict we regard a,
fully justified. We can see no extenuating cir
cumsttnces in his case, and we certainly trust
that no mistaken clemency will be allowed to in
terfere with the course Of justice.