The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-06-08
Sensation mt Eagle Bridge.

On Monday morning, Lafayette
Withcrcll, formerly resident of Rut-
land, at that time conductor OH the
Rutland and Washington railroad, now
n resident of Eagle Bridge, visited II
neighbor's farm for the purpose of pur-
chasing calf. The ncighbor demand
ed 81 ioi the animal, which Witherell
deemed exorbitant, and leaving the far
mer at the barn went to the house to
treat with the farmers wife. To her
he Represented that the farmer had
promised him the calf for "a so, for which
price she allowed him to take the an
imal. After concluding this bargain.
Witherell proceeded TO the village,
where he disposed of his purchase very
advantageously to himself, and with
the proceeds of the sale became intoxica-
ted. While in this condition he was
visited at his house by the neighbor
from whom the calf was purchased, who
upbraided him for the deception prac-
tised on his wife, and threatened arrest
for false pretenses. This aroused all
the latent fury which had been instilled
into him by the whisky, and Selling q
knife, Witherell endeavorcd to assault
the farmer; but owing to the intcrfer-
ence of Mrs. Withercll, he was proven
ted, and the neighbor retired.
Witherell still continued violent, how
ever, and after while his wife found II
necessary to call to her assistance r. Z.
Holton, and by their united effort they
succeeded in throwing Witherell OH q
bed and tying him with ropes. Soon
the drunken mans rawlings ceased, and
he begged piteously TO be released from
his uncomfortable position. His plead.
ings so touched the tender heart Of his
wife that she al last complied with his
request. No sooner was he unbound
however, than his subdued manner ell
tirely left him and he once more assum
ed threatening attitude. Selling O
large carving knife from the table he
made furious onslaught on the occu.
pants of the room, all of whom es-
capped unhurt except Mr.. IIolton, who
was obliged to undergo severe strug.
gle before he could make his way out
of the house. Thus Witherell was left
alone in his apartment, and fearing that
i'll his wild state he would do himself
an injury, Mrs. Witherell asked Henry
Eddie to enter the room, and, if posi-
Bile, secure her husband without harm
ing him.
TO this Mr.. Eddie consented. and al
once proceeded to execute his mission.
Mitherell anticipated the design OH his
liberty, and stationed himself behind
the door with the knife in his hand.
AS Eddie entered he sprang upon him
and before the poor victim could realize
his position, the steel had penetrated his
body three times. After accomplishing
his terrible work, Withercll drove
every one from the house. but allowed
them TO remove Eddie, and since then
has bid defiance to the authorities who
would arrest him. As he still retains
possession of the knife, no one will APP
proach him. Eddie, his victim. is ter
ribly Injured and will die.-[Globe.
The Herald of Thursday SAYS: That
''terrible affair." which occurred at
Eagle Bridge, n. Y, Monday morning,
proves to have been mere sensation.
In his drunken frenzy, Lafayette With
crell, who formerly lived here and was
a conductor on the Rutland and Wash
ington railroad. would probably have
liked to knife somebody, but the wounds
he inflicted on Henry Eddy, the "poor
victim were comparatively slight.
Witherell was confined to the house,
Yesterday, overcome by his spree, while
Eddy was about the streets.