The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-29

TIE FATHER or SEVEN CHILDREN
MURDERs ms OWN F1THER.
rr.sedy In the Land OF steady Habits-Train-
Ing - Iriwh-Tcmpe-cd thiid According to
the Precep,s OF soiomon-Fan Disputes
Ended-Awaiting the Dread Hereafter.

Conn, on SUNDAY afternoon. Inc muTucr WINS
done in n farm house In the northern angle OF
Fairfield county. but n few miles from the New
York State line. Edwin il 80 years old; his
father was 49, Both were born In Fairfield
county.
George Hoyt tho father. had been an indus
trious farmer. and owned n snug little farm
valued Mt from $4,000 to $1,000. Nearly forty
flyc years ago he married widow. and reared
three boys and two girls. The father was
harsh and passionate though well meaning man.
who read his Bible occasionally but did not
Join any church. He quoted and believed in
Soomon's maxim that " he who spareth the rod
hpoileth the child" and he was not sparing OF
the rod. Edwin was the second son. He in
herited his fathers disposition. Honest and
industrious. he had high temper. and 1t was
not improved by his fathers unmcrcful
nogging. He was frequently whipped for
tr0ing mlsdemeanors and innocent de-
linqucnccs. until he hated tho sight
OF his father. His mother. conscientious
Methodist shielded and sympathlzed with tho
boy to n certain extent but stood in awe OF her
husband. and tho badly -tempcred lad had
hard time of it. He grew up soured and cmbit-
tered. aud became tyrannical and overbearing
toward others. His playmates were afraid OF
him; for he ruled them through fear. a.
his father had ruled him. He never forgot
wrongs. but nursed his grudges. and added TO
them at odd times until they were famed into
n blaze OF uncomfortable wrath. With nge the
fathers temper was softencd and the boys
hardened. Edwin ran away from home. and
clerked It in New Haven. The district school
had given him fair education. City life, how
ever. did not agree with him. and he returned
10 the farm.
FAMILY TROUBLES.
All the boys appear to have had more or less
trouble with the father. He gave them their
time when they were fifteen. and they spread
out to work on neighborng farms. Two OF
them saved money and prospered Edwin had
always fancied that his father favored the other
children to his exclusion. and this feeling was
increased when the father seized portion OF
his wages and refused to return II. The boy
did not forget nor forgive i. He was reaching
maturity and his disposit ion fed upon itself
until II verged upon ferocity. II was not i'm.
proved by three years IN tho army He served
On returning he married the daughter OF Ly-
man Cole a former iIis marriage was an un;
have lacked tact She II said 10 be patient.
forgivine woman. but not thrifty nor SAYING
are living. Edwin worked faithfully. and fed
and clothed the little family with much DIM
Guilty
Flashes OF anger terrified his wife and chill
dren. He saw his brothers and sisters prosper:
Ing and himself toillng for bread. Morosc and
sullen. he occasionally drank 10 excess There
were no rum shops within miles. and his favor
he could get the money. His father and mother
With w GnI proSSsed to 'q bay
the farm and give them mortgage. promising
to pay the interest regularly. Through the in
hands. He worked hard. but sickness In his
family and other msfortunes interviewed. and
planned. and after much trouble got him to deed
back the farm. lie did SO with the understand-
terest.
A TERRIBLE DISPOSITION.
The fgilure to hold the farm eXasperatcd the
brothers and sisters leagued against him.
and melted his father to the course taken. He
the community. II ofrndcd he threatened
death. H.. tried 70 Xii his younger brother.
and assaulted u neghbor. Nanderbergh Joyce.
his hrothcr-n- law advanced $50 t. get him out
Of the scrape. Joyce says that his brothers and
sisters felt for him. and were willing to do any
thing in reason 10 help him; but. blinded ny
envy aud jealousy. he d.camed against them,
appeared in sherman nourishing knife and
pistol. and asserted that he was there for the
purpose Of shooting some one. II was th9usht
he was looking i9r his older brother. Aver;
ward while under the influence 81 hard
cider, he stood on a M aud amused
in a field below nm. But this was not all. In
spasmodc fits Of anger he beat his wife I'm;
the next house. H. followed with shot gun,
and rlddled her arm and back with shot, ~
and no one volunteered official Information.
The country is thlnly settled, and qll were
barns and house. might be- hurncd or thcm.
Selves murdered in retaliation. In n second
ho ast7 for '7 snftv W.h haShet he iri@d 10
force an entrance. but was brought to reason
and paclhed by his nrother-in law. VINO hap
pencd that way Not long aiterward he struck
his wife with hudgeon. She had u narrow
escape from death.
MOTHERS DEATH.
perfect tiger when Infatuated. he had long
q lnmDT ~HN
Joyce, " he was rs good rs could be- lou never
sawam man that yoi, would ike better" Within
the past two years he drank but little. but his
anger ilnmed w AT times as Nengciul rs ever,
and the neighbors iear.d him. Last year JOYCE
rented him his lower farm. Edwin worked IL
industriously but failed to pay the rent, and
was, opsttd. Over two weeks ago his mother
Ms he was very poor Joyce went 10 Danbury and
bought him suit Of clothes and pair Of boots
dotage, and unable TO attend 10 business On
the deate and burial Of his wife he went to
and daughters came together and looked
o oyG taS ola iadys pGncrs ,b I9e hrr
distributed among their children. They had
given each daughter $500 as wedding pr s.
emit This was charged TO them in the old lady s
books. and was TO b. deducted from their share
OF the property. The boys were not given a
had done well by them in allowing them their
time when they Were fifteen. There was much
Ting the estate. A further examination Of the
books showed that Edwins share OF tho prop
erty was charged with the interest due on the
mortgage Of the farm, He became wild with
passion. and asserted that this was done In d-
rect violation OF the agreement between him
md his father when he decided back the firm.
He left his brothers breathing vengeance. His
feeling seems 10 have increased on hearing
that his father was 10 live with his brOtner-i in
law. The old man was So childish that an uppl-
cation for a cOnserNatOr " guardian was made.
Probably Edwin was not consulted II So the
failure added fuel 10 his anger.
LAST TALK WITH FATHER.
Tho old lady, had boon in her grave only a
week when Edwin came 10 Joyce's house 1t
was Sunday morning The white-harcd
father sat upon the stoop chewing tobacco and
listening TO tho music Of the birds. A hive Of
bees had swarmed. aud joyce and his son were
IN tho lot trying TO hive, them Edwin turned
IN and helped them. He showed no feeling
% Vas nothing wrong, After the bees were
hlVsd Edwin asked him TO take the boat
and go W. The creek fishing, but joyce pleaded
fatigue. Edwin then went into the house and
talked with his sister about his mother
funeral. Honext came out on tho stoop, and
asked ms iatheE L he could go up, on the old
place to live, Yes, said the Di1 ppntlpn1un