The New York herald., 1877-10-26
THE VERGENNES MURDER.

A BAPTIST DEACON CHARGED WITH MURDER
HIS MISTRESS THE DEAD wIFEs NURSE
DAMAGING TESTIMONY.
About the middle Of last August the wife OF Deacon
Ezra p Smith, Of the city OF Vergennes, W., died
after illness OF eight days During her sickness
the had treated the for cholera morbus
but mmodiately after her death suspected that she
had been poisoned Before any legal stops had bcon
taken to Investigate the matter discovered THAI
Mrs. Mary Champlin, q neighbor, who had been the
nurse OF Mrs Smith, and the Deacon had LETT town.
Soon number OF circumstances came to light which
satisfied the public that for the six months previous
the death OF hrs wife the Deacon had been
improperly intimate with the woman Champlin. This
fact together with report that Smith had drawn from
the firm Of which he Q member large sums OF
money and his flight Induced the authorities to take
action In the meantime Smith suddenly returned.
The body was exhumed and a detective employed by
the State 10 work up the case. At midnight Mons
day OF last week Smith and Mrs. Champn, who had
been traced house in Burlington, were arrested.
On account OF the high social position OF Smith and
the wealth Of himself and connections tho bids
fair 10 be one the most important criminal trials
ever held in Vermont.
FALSE sTATEMRNrS
Alter the return Of smith he stated that no had been
to visit some relations In Canton, N Y. and had not
i've discovered, by means OF intercepted letters
that this was shat smith had left In company
with Mrs Champlin been with her most OF the time,
and had only LETT her on the morning his
Vorgennes. Moreover, from these letters, extracts
from which arc given below, and from other sources
he discovered the criminal relations exsng between
acknowledged tho intimacy to the detective out de-
MED having anything to do with the poisoning The
detective secured number OF valuable presents givcn
10 Mrs Champlin by Deacon Smith, and the parties
acknowledged to have entered into an engagement
nj enn aetin nh nj
freedom.
SmIthais man about fortyhve years OF age and hts
unimpeachablo character previous 10 this secms 10
make many Of the residents OF Vergennes think that
he cannot be guilty. He has TWO children, one boy,
lately married, about twenty, and u daughter some
lew years older. No differences between himself and
existed, and tor all that Is known, with the
exception THIS lapse, he has always been dutt
ful and afecIionate husband
Mrs Cnamplin IS not slrikinsly pretty. although
perhaps her ladylike ways might make many forget
the deects in her personal appearance When talking,
her TO convey as much u not more than her
language. She Is tall, thrty-one years OF age, and
rather sim She leaves iour interesting children, the
Oldest thirteen, boy, aud The youngest, three
sin against her husband, no says II she is
not guilty OF murder and be thinks that
this crime must be laid alono at Smiths door-he
would gladly take her back "Hor love ior hcr chll-
dren," says Mr. Champltn, 'csn never bc entirely
eradicated. Some time the motheriy instinct Will
sert itself" THIS not her first scandal affair. Six
years ago prominent lawyer OF North Adams, lass,
was discovered Uy the husband been inti-
result oundo OF letters told the oft repeated tale
aud collision was tho result between tho seducer and
the husband OF the seduced. Blood was not shed
owing the cooness and presence OF mind OF the Bip
tst minister OF that place, who compelled the husband
TO put up his drawn revolver
CHEMICAL EXAMINATION.
The remains Of Mrs. Smith were sent 70 Professor
Peter Collier, Of Burlington. The chemical anayss
will not be completed Tor weeks, but the pro.
lessor reports that ne Is satisfied from the partial ex.
animation already made "that the stomach OF the
woman was subject TO tho action Of an irritans
poison"
The following letters attempting 10 induce Professor
Coilicr to suppress The examination, have been Sc.
cured by the authorities:-
Dr. KIpDrn-H you can effect stay Or in other words
ngton can have s2S and more that not sa,is-
Dr. Kidder was one of the consulting physicians
called Ia to examine the woman the day before sue
died. Ho satisfied she was poisoned, and used his
influence in having the remains cxhumed. he was
delegated to take the remains to Professor Collier,
and is supposed TO have had influence wita him.
BID FOR sassss,x. s,assSs Oct. u 1871
wife for analysis am informed that portion Of has
viii % to % ps ns
OF $50 II that not satisfactory whatsoever you and Nj:
viii ssas By ysss
The following two letters were secured by Chief OF
Police Drew, OF Burlington, Smith having written
BURLINGTON. VT, Oct. 49, 1877.
vii Day you $3.50 40 We sslssd'-7oar''ra'S. SMITH
aSs % courage can by "a IN
The follow ing letters wore found on the persons OF
the prisoners:-
MARY, MY DEAR-Tnings awful here. 1t was
ported mat had gone 70 Cansaa They are 70 take up
ind they viii condemn You had not better write
.s s..ssS $ a: s the :. pd s
sn to so.S ySa b. as nsss wS # ny ss
strong euoush 20 express ths. ate y things For
sake .sa s %s: .s q
ana the and nd, n.y sS %fss
Ia that light How 20 20 the buryins ground.
e arys sa'n aay the s'd
they will you aud me. Look ont EZRA.
MRS cmAnPLIS DEACON SMITH
~ y. eyer sr 10 s qsss.
dear. II ! shall have to 20 away have no money to 60
away "''' .ronr JACKSON, Sept. "a. 1877
a s sis housh
to %y as sSa Sss .sa sa o. ss
an = much long & BE- ya 'ys rosS s s sn9 then
as
so oaol, but WA iry and be Just a. patient as can
send m West II he able get divorce. Havo
T1s and s. ss %
eS ana sa i% s3 ssa a ss
y s aa go x 10 hes, sTosy
Yours in love, MARY.
A sPicED RELIGION.
NKRGkNSKs, sept. 81. 1877.
MY DEAR MARY 1T seems though 1 could main.
tain myself Dont forget that friend aud
wish that could say husband. thoughts be-
long TO the mture Remembc. that .he will leave
iorsake those who their trust In him." have aith
Read Ruth hrst capto sixteenth and verse
SO don't, dear despair have friends here such
Strong errick Sterns Others If they should
ind anything where could they place Ill 1t would
hard matter must stop aud prepare tor church. te-
member thins cannot live In vergennes Adion.
there other places between this the Atlantic.
| After Church-Few persons were present. I would not
have cared ~ could have Of number;
| two-yJn and me. l looking the train and
waved my handkerchieft to you felt awful whom left
you behind cannot live without seeing you dream Of
night Kiss the back OF your lott hand tor
have read yours of 2in than twenty four times
Sunday evenng-How lonely / ieei thinking OF The
sabbath evening you spcn here think Of the ride We
4 had and oil the 1 wish could
miles Dogs have stopped barxing now. but
| " the news from Burlington Is bad eS-
/ pect the dogs will awful. DR.. ktddey
says. Keep sd upper lp" II he had upper chsmDer
he would let you have IT, lie sympathxe With US. "
he knew We were guilty, he, would ever be
tue wiser fot II be In Burlinrton shall see