The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-16
THE BRANDON MURDER.
Tho Testimony Of John Pendergrass-Th
Mystery Fully Explained.

On tuesday morning the inquest IN the
Brandon murder was continued at the Of
flee of j. Q. Hawkins, esq, before Justice
p. P. Gibbs. No further facts were ascer-
tanned than published in the full acco 1te
given in The GLOBE Of Monday and Tucs-
day mornings. The body of the murderer
was buried on Tuesday This ends one OF
the most tragic events in the history of
Vermont, and perhaps in aug New England
state. The mystery that ensLrouded the
murder at first has been Ia a measure dis.
| PEELED, but still partial cloud hangs over
the case-especially the history of Will
liams. The motive for killing young Bras
sor is still matter of doubt-that it was
sudden impulse, here is little question.
Since the testimony of Mr.. G. NJ. Winslow
it is possible that the faithful boy carried
out Mr.. Winslow's Instructions to let no
one take, fire or handle the gun, and per-
haps Williams asked him for that privilege
and refusing him, turned to go away, when
the fatal shots were fred, hitting him in
the back. 1t does not seem probable after
the testimony of Mr.. Eugene G. Williams
that the murderer lay in ambush, as was at
first the theory. The youth of the muir
derer, his conversation at Mr.. Williams
and his appearance along the road indicated
that he was discouraged and that some
heavy sorrow rested in his heart, which
measurably made him reckless. He must
have become aware that he was pursued,
and probably took the section man Fender
grass as one of his pursuers, which may in
part account for his strange actions when
he met him, and hoped by making away
with him to burst away one link of evil
dence against him. But Pendergrass over
powering him, the loss of the rifle showed
to him that he must eventually be over
taken and suffer the penalty of murder, and
in an act of desperation he ended the sad
TRACE dy by taking his own life.
1t is now evident that he was not as at
at first supposed, professional burglar,
and that the mask was constructed for the
present purpose of concealment or to pre-
vent recognition. The backing of the
face, however, has q mysterious air about
it. The public curiosity has been relieved
by the later developments of the terrible
burden OF apparent cloud which has rested
over the antecedents OF the murderer and
suicide.
The people OF Brandon, although at
times the excitement ran at q high pitch,
have acted with unusual candor in view of
the terrible tragedy that has been enacted
in their midst. Grand Juror ]. @. Haw-
kins, esq, and Deputy Sheriff A. w.
Goss have left no clue unexamined, nor al
lowed anything to pass by unnoticed that
would solve the mystery of the case which
had come into their hands as executors Of
the law of the state; unceaslng and sleep
less vigilance has marked their labors, and
at last success crowned their efforts which
must prove to the community, as to them,
qualification. We doubt not, record of
the inquest when filed in the office of the
county clerk, will prove to be among the
most thorough and perfect documents of
the kind found in the archives of any coun-
ty in the state.
The end of this case has now undoubted-
ly been reached with far more satisfaction
in its developments than any of the pre-
liminary circumstances led any one to sup
pose would be the case at the outset. The
readers of THE GLOBE have been kept in
formed of The details of this affair from
day to day 80 far as it was within our power
to lay before them, and it now only re-
mains to lay before them the closing testi-
mony of the inquest.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN PESDRRGRAss,
who, on being duly sworn, deposes and
says; live in Fittsiord, am % years OF
age, and section man l started from
HON at 7 p. n. Saturday to walk the sec.
tor; live next house to Judge Isaac
Wheaton left the house so early to remove
an apple tree generally leave home at
p. M, to walk the track. l dug the apple
tree and went north, over the track, meet
ing man between 20 OF 80 rods south OF
Holden's crossing.
| AhS hiNh colNt SOOO CNOnlub bOpos
replied 'good evening sir"
When he asked me il was good rifle.
man, replied was pretty good one
He asked what brought me out such
time of night.
replied was on my business.
He says, this isn't no hour of night fol
you to be out, taking rifle which he held
and pointing it at my face. seized the
rifle and knocked him down; struck him
, on the head with the fist of my right hand
my lantern which was not lit at the time
fell from my hand, rolled down the bank
over the fence into Mr.. Holden's lot.
, He got up from the ground and cliuched
3 me we had tussle and both rolled dowr
E to the fence at the tussle the rifle went
I out of his hands down through the fence
D into Holden's meadow; / choked him dowr
against the fence when he replied, let me
alone, l am no robber.
{ replied, don't care what you are, wher
1 let him up getting over the fence and
got the rifle and lantern. j walked out tc
him and said 81 will shoot you If you
. give me any of your talk held the rifle in
> my hands l getting back over the fence
!. and walking back onto the track, he walk
d ing up onto the track after me and walked
along south saying nothing, stood still
/ about a minute then come north he 60