davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader., 1877-11-17

some distance south of Elba, Ala, near the
Florida line, is mound of peculiar cOnstruc
iion that attracts the attention ftravelerS. Ii
i the vault of Mr. Harrison, an eccentric char
acter. who owned large herds of cattle near the
Florida line While living, he protested
against intement. and gave directions as to
the disposition of his body after death, 80 that
a feather bed should he laid on the ground at
thi, spot. and after being dressed with care
and taste. his body should I've placed upon il
and a vault ofbrick built around and over him
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

time. His brother then said to him,
.HThere comes the officer" He replied
that they never would take him alive,
and went out of the back door and shot
himself through the heart. dying almost
instantly.
The murderer, Arbuckle, was about
% years old and single, is well known
in this section, and, except as being
known to have violent temper and of
rather a Ievengeful nature, was con
sidered otherwise as an industrious and
intelligent fellow.
His victim, Bancroft, was good me-
chanic, and with the exception OF being
rather violent in connection with his
family affairs. was good citizen. He
was about 40 years of age and has been
married to his present wife about tive
years.
Arbuckle's motive for shooting Short
is said to be on account of Short being
engaged to young lady that Arbuckle
formerly kept company with, and on
account of collision of teams, and the
breaking of wagons, etc. 1t is not
definitely known what the real cause
was for shooting Bancroft, his brother
in-law, unless it be- that he was not
kind to his wife as he ought to be, and
a natural inclination Oh the part of Ar
buckle to be a little quarrelsOme. 1t is
said that Arbuckle was insane.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Two Kinds of Policemen.

New York has some representative
policemen. A week or two ago, officer
Cleary was passing along the street,
and when against the shop of one Bat
ty, he struck the latter's dog with his
club, and when Batty demonstrated
with him, the valiant officer of the law
knocked him down with his club, and
dragged him bleeding and wounded to
the station house. At the examination,
the witnesses of this brutal assault tes-
tilted that it was wholly unprovoked
and unwarranted. 1t is thought that
Batty will die of his injuries. The
policeman was promptly dismissed
from the service, and he is now in Jail
awaiting the result of Batty's injuries.
Now let us turn to a brighter picture
A week or more ago, the police COM
missioners presented officer Bleil, with
an engrossed testimonial in honor of
his saving mans lite from drowning
at the imminent risk of his own life.
AT the time of the presentation, Gen.
Smith said that this same officer had
previously saved the lives of twelve
persons, and further recognition would
be made of his bravery. Within week
from that time, policeman Bleil rescued
another man from a watery grave,
having plunged in and drawn from the
river man who had fallen overheard
from steamer, and being unable to
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
ST. cyuhnsburg Qalrdunian.
The Case of Phair.

We give up this week good deal OF
space to the strange case of John p.
Phair, convicted of the murder of Mrs.
FTieZe, and sentenced to be executed
last week OH Friday. We say strange
case, because it is strange, whether
Phair is innocent or guilty. IfinnOcent,
it will be the most remarkable case on
record while it is hard to reconcile
much of his conduct with that of a
guilty man.
A pretty full history of the affair is
given elsewhere, and we shall here only
allude to some special points. There
were strong efforts made to have the
Governor reprieve Phair, as there al
ways are in the case of every criminal
who has friends. These efforts began
several weeks ago, and were kept up
with persistency until the day set for
his execution. Only the day before
Phair was to be hung, a gentleman
bearing a petition numerOusly signed,
from Vergennes,-where Phair formerly
lived-labOred with the Governor long
and earnestly but as nothing new was
urged, he received the same reply as
the others, the substance of which is
contained in the Governors admirable
letter to Phair, which is printed else
where.
On Friday forenoon, however, the
dispatches from Downing and Taylor,
which we also give,-were received,
and they were of such character that
the Governor felt that the execution
should be stayed until the matter could
be investigated and if there was any
new evidence in Phair's favor, he GER
tainly should have all the benefit to be
derived from it. No one wants an in
nocent man punished, and the post
pOnement of the execution for four
weeks, gives Phair's friends time to sft
this Downing matter, and all other
things which have appeared in Phair's
favor, so that no injustice shall be done
an innocent man. If Phair is guilty,
he can as well be hung in May as
April.
Phair's friends are now moving earn
estly in his behalf. He lacks neither
friends nor money now and the best
legal and detective talent will be at
work for him from this time until
May 4.
There are various opinions about the
value of this Downing evidence. Some
think it will prove Providential es-
cape for an innocent man from an igno-
minious death, while Others take no
stock i'll it, and believe it to be a put
up job. We give pretty full history
of the case, and the victim, elsewhere,
and our readers can take their choice.
We shall wait little longer and see
what develOpes.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

quests were also refused. My counsel,
Messrs. DuntOn & Veazey, who were
assigned me by the State las l had no
money to procure either counsel or
witnesses), were driven with business,
and had not time properly to prepare
my case, but they did the best they
could. The jury, however, brought in
a verdict of murder in the first degree.
| was surprised at this verdict, that an
innocent man had been found guilty of
murder. 1t was all a mystery to me
how men could come into court and
identify me as having transacted bust
ness with them-men whom | had
never seen before-but time will prove
the falsity of their statements. l am
confident that the guilty one will some
time be led to confess it.
Exceptions were allowed, and l was
taken back to jail, place where the
light of day never enters, there to suf-
fer confinement which | hope no 9TH
er man will ever be called upon to en-
dure. The Supreme Court convened in
February following, and refused to
grant me a new trial. | was then SEN
fenced by Judge Pierpont (the same
judge who nine years before had sen
fenced me for six years) to be executed
on the first Friday in April, 1877. That
time is now near at hand, and here and
now, before Almighty God, in whom l
trust for salvation, and with eternity in
view, do l most solemnly protest my
innocence of the murder of Mrs. Anna
E. FrieZe, and if, when | am upon the
gallows, pardon should be offered me
on condition that | would confess the
crime, | would not peIjure my soul to
save my life.
(Signed) JOHN p. PHAIR.
Thursday, April 5. 1877.
THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECU-
TION.
WINDSOR, VT, April 6. Preparations
for Phair's execution were completed
at l.3O p. NJ, according to programme.
The same gallOws was erected as was
used at the executions of Miller, Ward
and Welcome. The gallows was erect
ed in the part of the prison formerly
used as a chapel. A casket was placed
on the south side of the diamond. 1t
was very plain in structure. About rs
witnesses were admitted. 1t was well
known that strenuous efforts had been
made during the last few days to secure
a reprieve. Correspondence was open
ed between parties here and Gov. Fair
banks at A. M. to-day relative to Il
reprieve. This fact created some doubt
as to the fultillment of the execution
and much speculation ensued us to the
probable result of the correspondence.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

venture and escape by land and soo
thrilling and romantic as the wild.
fiction, with the additional charm,
being founded on fact, and reIotin,, vi
one of the most prominent cba,an9t,..'
now before the public. This is the , stoll
of Tweed himself from before his e.car'
in December, 1875, to the present rinl r'
made up from his private diary and III
personal narrative. The mvsteries ar
this flight and absence, which wer.
ninefold mine days wonder" at the finn,
OF their occurrence are now eyplainaI
for the first time. How the fugitive I,iJ
his plans, how he finally eluded his c.,,
tors, how and where he lay in conredI
ment, and all subsequent circumstan,o
are here given with graphic power, i,
view of the present renewed Interest
the hero of this story, and his old com
federates, its publication is creating ~,
unusual excitement.
1t is serious question whether H.,
majority of mankind would choose. ara,
if they had the option, to live ON lI Hi"
earth as long as Captain Frederic L,l,
bush, who died in this city on TucSdn,
last at the age of Ill years. Life mn.,
grow wearisome long before the close 81
such Il MOI tai existence. Still if i v.,,'
interesting to us of later growth :.
look upon such a link between the Yo,.'
as was this old gentleman, whose t7oa
and form were until quite lately NOT nm
familiar on our streets. Think of t,Il
ing with man who was born before ,n,.
own great-grand father; who learneJ
of the breaking out of the Americ,,
Revolution IT'S il piece of current new.
who was born at about the same ti,,,,
as the first Napoleon, watched his who'll
career, from ObscuIity to the hiyL..
power ever attained by man, and SLooL
hands with the mighty exile ut x
Helena who knew Butcher and tho
Duke of Wellington, and clustv old n,
johnson who saw his own children Jia
of old age, and then lived more tban
the average life of Il generation, Rut
this is what we have had frequent On.
portunity of doing.
The history of Lahrbush's early EG
is IL record of adventure in almost ever,
country of the globe but at the are of
81 he made up his mind that he had
sowed enough wild oats, and coming in
New York, determined to settle down
and grow up with the city," which he
has done for over thirty years. During
this time he has seen the little real 20
tate which he was able to purcb,,,.
double and quadruple in value. tin if
an income sufficient TO SIM
port him comfortably. He was a con.
tirmed opium eater and wine d1inker
for half century, and yet such wa, hi,
phenomenal vitality that he preserved
his powers and faculties to the end of
his life.
Wednesday, the fourth, witnessed the
debut of Miss Anna Dick
inson at the Eagle Theatre, where She
as Anne B0leyn in her own
drama, "a Grown of Thorns." Anna is
an undoubted success as lectureSS but
her acting has brought upon hera broad
side of criticism.
RAINY
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Look on these Two Pictures.

Here are two paragraphs which should
be read together without stopping to
take breath. The first is from The Utica
Observer: ''Hayes's fraudulent tide TO
the Presidency is insepaIably linked
with Packard's fraudulent title to the
Governorship. The same Returning
Board declared both falsehOods. The
same process which destroys one de
strOys the other. How is HAYES to re-
tain the lions share of the stolen goods
while Packard is deprived of his mod
crate allotment of the plumber? That
Is question which engages the atten-
ton and battles the skill of the Pre-
tender. Hence these delays and this
commission" The other is from The
Richmond Dispatch "Mr. Hayes's title
to the Presidency ought not to be com
pared to Packard's title to the Gov
ernorship of Louisiana. Mr.. Hayes
title was declared to be good by the
two houses of the Congress of the Unit
ed States, in joint convention assem-
bled. Those bodies being designated
by the Constitution as the ones having
the exclusive authority to decide the
question, it would seem that Mr. Hayes
title to the Presidency, however bad II
might have been the day after the No
vember election, or the day after tine
various electoral colleges met, is no"
us good as if he had been the choice ol
a majority. of the voters" There Is
evidently lull in the workings of the
Llberty-st. mill.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

with the Boston Glee Club, when a few
weeks ago they sang for him, and by
subsequent visits and courtesies gained
the prisoners favor. To him Phair en-
trusted his statement, with the under
standing that he should procure its pub
LEGATION without change in the slightest
particular. Carrigan took the paper to
the Associated Press agent at Boston,
and offered it to him for fabulous
price. His offer was declined; and he
finally sold the document to the Boston
Globe.
Phair is reported to be quite happy
over his reprieve, as he may well be,
and in this feeling he is joined by the
Derby Line wife-murderer, Hayden,
who was quite Frustrated by the pros
pect of the execution.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Yet Another Murder.

BY Telegraph Orer tile International Line.
A most brutal murder was committed
at Rockport, Cape Ann, yesterday. The
body of Charles H. Gilman of Lowell.
was found in the river near the Eastern
Il. X. station, still warm, but life eX-
tinct.
Williams, man who admitted going
out with him to get Il drink of water.
undoubtedly killed him. They were
engaged together selling sewing ma
chimes. Blood was found on Williams
clothes.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Another Vermont Tragedy.
and Suicide at East Montpelier

MONTPELIER, VI, April IO.-About
three O'Clock this afternoon, w. II. Ar
buckle, living at East Montpelier vii
lage, about six miles from Montpelier.
borrowed large navy revolver. of
number twenty calibre, and went to the
blacksmith shop of his brother-in-Iaw.
George Bancroft, and shot him three
times, the last shot, as he was running
across the road, passing through his
head and killing him Instantly. He
then went irto the grist mill, nearly
opposite the blacksmith shop, and twice
shot George Short, "a young man about
IL years of age, one shot passing through
an ann and the other through his lung.
He is now alive but is considered dan
gerously wounded. Arbuckle then went
to his house near by and informed his
mother and brother of what he had
done, and told them he had made a will
and intended to do the deed for some
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Moody---Cook.

The man who is attracting scarcely
less notice in New England than Mr.
Moody himself, is the Rev. JOSEPH
Cook, whose lectures at fremont Tenn
pie each Monday draw the best schOl-
ans, theologians and divines, from all
the city and suburbs. A private letter
from Il layman in Boston, speaks of this
man and his work so warmly and de-
scribes it so clearly, that we feel con-
strained to copy from it
| suppose you went to the Taberna-
Gle during your visit Mr.. Moody makes
the same impression here he has made
elsewhere, Notwithstanding the "pecul-
iaTities" of Boston, and the strong en-
trenchment of the Free ReligiOnists''
here. The lectures of Mr.. Cook are an
immense cooperating power. l believe
it is within the bounds of truth to say
that no such effective arguments on con-
troverted religious themes have ever
been delivered to mixed audiences in
modern times. The power of his logic
is tremendous. His illustrations are
pertinent, cOpious, and often full of
rich humOr. But his excellence seems
to me to be in the clearness of his def
nitions. His points, based on so clear
ly thought-out and worded definitions,
will almost argue themselves into ac-
ceptance. Then his impetuosity, fer
vor, and evident mastery of his sub
jects, and confidence in his own won
derful resources, combine to pack Ire
mont Temple to overlooking with the
most intellectual audiences, week after
week.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Minister Washburne rendered a Dec
Grafton of German Knighthood.

The German Government, through
the Ambassador of the North German
Confederation at Paris, has rendered to
Minister Washburne the decoration Of
one of the high orders of German
knlghthood, on account of his diStin-
guished services to the suffering Ger
mans i'll Paris pending the siege. Wash
burne has informed the German Minis
ter there that under the Constitution
of the United States he cannot accept
this decoration, but the Minister rp-
tains it for Washburne in the event
that the latter should retire from Office.
As private citizen he could accept it
without an act of Congress. This dee
Grafton is said to have cost S5O.OOO,
and to be composed of the most costly
diamonds and precious stones. This
information comes here in Il letter from
a gentleman attached to one of the Eu-
ropean Legations in Paris Washing
ton Dispatch.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Latest.

By Telegraph Orer the International Line
BY courtesy of Superintendent Har.
vey, we are in receipt of lengthy dis
patch this morning, from which we ex-
tract the following:
ST. LOUIS, Apr. I2.-List of guests
now known to be dead: Rev. A. r
Adams, Stockcross, England: Geo. F.
Sorksonley, Grand Sec'y Masonic Fra
ternity; Kate r. Riley, Kate DooIan
and Mary Moran servants; Henry Hazen
of auditors dept of the Mo. Pacific r.
r., Mrs. w. S. Stewart, Andrew Isman.
Chas. Leenan and Sidmore HAYDEN.
VIM. Felix, minister, said to be member
English House Commons, who was mar
ried in this city few months ago and
was residing at the hotel with his wife.
because separated from her, and under
the impression that she WAS killed, he
became intensely excited and evidently
lost his mental balance. About six
O'Clock this morning lie went to the room
of friend and shot himself
The fire department is still throwing
water Oh the ruins, and as soon as they
are cool enough, search for the bodies will
begin. Those most familiar with the
circumstances of the fire, believe that
few of the bodies will be found. There
were but 80 female servants in the hotel.
instead of 200 us previously reported,
only one of whom is known to be miss
ing. p. S. ShacklefOrd of New York
has both legs broken, H. F. or H. NJ.
Clark, railway conductor, together with
his wife and child, are among the killed.
Milton Noble the actor, and Miss frankie
actress, were saved but the
latter is thought to be fatally injured.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

THE GREAT MATCH, AND OTHER
MATCHEs.-No Name Series. (Roberts
Brothers, BostOn.) This, the fifth of
the series, is quite unlike the preceding
volumes. Although threads of love-
making wind their way through the
tale, it is not love story. Baseball is
the hero, and the rival clubs of Mill
town and Dornfeld claim the anxious
interest of the reader. AS the first two
games are described in the first chapter,
and the third is deferred till the last,
there is abundance of other matter for
those who can never see any fun in
base ball. Whether our readers will
be charmed or disappointed in this sto-
ry, is not for us to decide. Messrs.
Howard & Rowell have the book for
sale
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

THE CASE IN A NUTSHELL Al
Dany. Journal says of the disposition
made of the South Carolina case:
There was really no other alternative
The majority i'll South Carolina was
with Chamberlain; but the will, the
Intelligence, the property and the force
were with Hampton. The people paid
taxes to the latter and withheld them
from the former. The one had the alb
stract right and the other had the nc
tual strength. Chamberlain could not
be sustained except 10y the Federal
bayonet, and while he was bound to
stand with his friends and very naturally
and properly made the strongest argu-
ment for bis case, we have no doubt
that his own judgment approves the
action of the President
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

swim, was rapidly drowning. New
York is proud of her policeman who
has saved fourteen lives at the risk of
his own, and she may we'll be.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

A NEW JUDGE.-HOn. Walter C.. Dun
ton, of Rutland, has been appointed. b,
Governor Fairbanks, ii judge of the >u-
preme court, to fill the vacancy CAUSED
ny the resignation of Hon. Hoyl H..
Wheeler. This appointment of Judge
Dunton will be hailed with general sal
isfactloh by the bar and the people. lie
Is lawyer of experience and learning
who has taken high rank i'll his PROBES
sion.-RutLand Globe.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

RUTLAND, VT, April 6.-The inteIli-
gence of the respite of John Phair was
received here about 2 P. NJ, causing
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13

A Protest from the Scene of the Muir
der.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-13
Our New York Letter.

OLD PROB. ON HIS HIND LEGS-SUPER-
ABUNDANCE OF WEATHER IN MANHAT-
TAN-CONDITION OF HER HIGHWAYS
"A NOVEL REMEDY-THE IMMORTAL
RING-MORE "TRUE INWARDNESS"-A
GENUINE CENTENARIAN-OLD THAN
DREN'S Observation-Disclosures OPERA
DEBUT OF ANNA DICKINSON-TELE-
PHONE CONCERTS.