The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-29
Asa Masoon Hanged for the Murder Of Rufus
Streeter in Vermont
DRAGGED TO THE SCAFFOLD.
A Statement of the Crime that Differs
from the Court Records.
A LEGAL TRAGEDY In WEST VIRGINIA.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
WINDSOR VT, Nov. %. 1879.
Another Vermont man has been launched into
eternity by order OF the Supreme Court for the
crime of murder, who has died solemnly protesting
his innocence. At twenty-four minutes past one
O'Clock Asa Magoon brought from his cell with
considerable difficulty and forced up the steps to the
scatfold The prison chaplain offered prayer and the
Sheriff read the warrant. The condemned man was
then asked il he had anything to say why the aeatn
sentence should not be executed upon MIN. He
answered "Yes" and made the following state
ment:-s'rm an innocent man. want to tell all
these folks how it went to Montpelier got
two gallons of ninety-ive per cent alcohol. On
going back stopped at Hannah Perine's, ut Barre,
with Streeter He had two drinks and SO did I. He
had one-haf of apple pie. Streeter had fight
with Hannah The spring before she had offered
81 900 to have him killed. She was mad with
Streeter he had put piece in the paper that
she sold liquor. She hit him with stick
upon the forehead and back of the head;
then she went into court and denied ever
having had trouble with him. I am going to ex-
plain to all the folks here. They went to my wagon
and got about pint of alcohol I haven't time to
tell the whole story You how much chance
poor Christian man has for his life. am an inno-
cent man. 1t amt right to kill How could I
three rods to kill and then come
back? DIR. Jackson testified that Streeter
had a bullet hole through his face. How
could I do that? l had pistol
carving knife to kill him with. 1t was grab
game. They wouldn't i've me chance for my life.
If had got my testimony before t he Legislature
should have been all right. You are going to hang
for nothing. and you will find it SO in less than
three years. Now, you should give me year to go
before the Legislature. Then if you hang me
won't find any fault. God in heaven knows never
hurt Streeter and had nothing to hurt him for
on good terms with him and had lent him money
that day. That's ALL
The doomed man then placed on the drop, his
hands and feet tied and the black cap drawn his
face The moose having been properly adjusted
Sheriff Stimson stepped forward and sad:-"Asa S.
Magoon, now pass upon you the full extent OF the
law. and may God have mercy upon your soul" At
the time. at just three minutes to three clock
the Sheriff stepped upon the spring and the drop
fell Magoon fell about seven feet breaking his
neck instantly. and died without a struggle. His
heart beat sixteen minutes He taken down
after hanging twenty-eight minutes and the body
was placed in black pine coffin and delivered to
DR.. Watson.
A DIFFERENT HISTORY OF THE CRIME
The crime Tor which MGgoon forfeited his life
committed near the little village OF Barre six miles
from Montpelier, VT, October IA, 1875. On the
morning following the mangled remains OF
Rufus streeter. man seventy years OF age. were
mile outside the village There evidences of q
struggle the road, ana it was soon discovered
that the old man was struck down and then dragged
along the road into the field, where he left
to die by his butcher. His face
when was covered with blood and tissue. 'I His
clothing had been cut, evidently with knife, and
further examination disclosed the fact that he had
been stabbed il the abdomen. Asa Magoon
rested short! AFTER he inquest on eviaencs which
had been elssliet- II vas shown that on Thursday
afternoon. ce;c5<r II. A2Sooa and Streeter. who
lived il the formers house, drove TO Montpelier
gether and before leaving they bought jug of aco
on their way home at the house of Mrs.
Hannah Perrin, in the village Of Barre. where
the jug either lost stolen. They drank liquor
several times and became slightly intoxicated. They
got into quarrel about the alcohol before leaving
and on driving out of the YARD high words were
heard. One witness testified that he passing by
Mrs. PERKINS, house at the time and inquired what
the trouble was. Magoon answered. THAT -
Streeter has stolen gallon of alcohol from and
going to get it," Streeter denied having stolen
it having any knowledge of its disposition what
telling Magoon to follow him and join in
> search for the missing jug. but the
his companion III menacing way said, with an
oath, "Old Streeter, IN take your life; I'd just
not afraid of him. and started along. closely fol-
lowed by Magoon. the latter swearing and calling
him to stop. About ten minutes after the departure
of the men for home parties riding along the road
heard noise like that produced by person split
ting board. and this was followed by heavy blows.
which sounded as If they were dealt on pumpkin.
Soon Magoon drove up in Streeter's wagon aud
talked with the parties who had heard the
strange noises if nothing unusual had
occurred In answer to all inquiry as to what be-
of his panion no said. "iie has got out to
walk home" When he was arrested on the 10 rcnoon
of the next day he asked no questions about the
cause, neither did his family. Blood was found on
his boots. buffalo robe wagon and reins. He admit
ted that he wore the boots on which blood was dis
covered the day before. lie was taken to the place
where the mangIed remains of his victim were laid
out. and he looked at them without the slightest
evidence of emotion, remarking carelessly that it
a wicked thing" He taken to Montpelier
Jail. and after preliminary examination fully
committed for trial the Washington Comfy Court,
to be held in October, 1876 year after the commits
sion of the deed lie did not so on the witness stand
himself. but offered the evidence of his two to
prove that he rubber boots and not the leather
ones on the day of the murder, and that the blood
found was that OF sheep he had killed short time
before; he also claimed that the murder COM
mitted by Hannah Perrin; that she had made nu-
merous threats against the murdered man. and at
one time had fight with him; also that she made
statements the morning after the murder that
contradictory to her testimony in court.
SENTENCED DEATH.
This was the only defence he made. The trial
lasted seven days, and the usual amount of expert
testimony as to the difference between the blood of
the human body and that of other animals was i'm
troduced. The jury were out three hours and re-
turned with verdict of guilty OF murder in tho
first degree. The went up TO the full bench at
the General Term in Montpelier, November 1877
anu the rulings oil the County Court were tanned
aud Magoon was sentenced by Judge Barrett to DO
hanged on Friday, November %, 1879, between the
hours of one and three o'clock p. NJ. Magoon lis
tened to the awful sentence with Indifference and
calmness. He asked the privilege of addressing
the Court, WHICH was granted, anu the condemned
wretch, stretching forth his hands in imitation of n
Christian minister. pronounced the following bene-
diction inlay the grace OF our Lord Jesus Christ
be- with you all. Amen" lie has been since confined
the State Prison ut Windsor and has been for the
past four months Gin solitary" An effort was made
to have the Legislature commute his sentence. on
the ground that tho murder was only drunken row
in which Sgeeter was IS much to blame as he, aud
that the principal witness Mrs. Perrin. woman
of very bad reputation. She has since the trial left
the country. Tho Legislature refused to interfere.
however. and the aged murderer left 10 his tate.
He little over sixtytwo years of ageat the tmo
of his death.
LABAN WALKERS FATE