Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-19

Upon Friday Of next week, between the hours
OF one and three o'clock P. NJ, Asa Magoon,
formerly Of Orange, will be hung within the
walls OF the state prison at Windsor, for the
murder Of Rufus Streeter, at Barre. October 10th,
1876. The particulars Of this crime are familiar
with the readers OF the WArcHMAN. Streeter
and Magoon had been to Montpelier, where they
had freely INDUCED in liquor, starting for home
late in team together. They called at the house
OF Mrs. Hannah Perrin in Barre, with whom both
parties had been on familiar terms Here a row
occurred between the parties, and streeter and
Magoon both left and the former body, terribly
| mutiated, was found the next morning In a field
about mile and half from the village OF Barre.
It appears that the old man had first been beaten
and stunned by blows in the road that his body
had been drawn across the way into gully and
his face there beaten on fiat stone to horrible
mass, and that afterward the body was dragged
into a field and left. His clothing was completely
cut asunder about his waist, long cash extended
from side to SIDE as II made by butcher knife,
| and the intestines protruded in q shocking man.
| ner. From the testimony Of Mrs. Perrin upon
the stand II appears that while at her house
| Magoon had threatened TO kill Streeter; and that
when they left there was a deep feeling OF enmity
existing between them. They quarreled before
leaving and were heard quarreling as they trav-
eled along. After the murder Magoon
driving alone. and in answer TO question he said
Streeter had got out to walk home. Magoon was
arrested the same day, and neither he nor the
family asked why he was arrested. When shown
Streeter's lifeless body he showed no particular
emotion, only saying 1t was a wicked thing. Blood
was found on his buffalo robe, rens, steps Of the
wagon and his boot heel Mr.. Merrill Y. W.
Wilder Of Orange passed Streeter and Magoon
standing opposite Mrs PERKINS, house, about half
past six o'clock, Thursday night he heard an
alteration and asked, whats the matter ?"
Magoon replied, "That - old - has stolen
gallon OF alcohol from me and will clean out the
| house but will have it," Magoon also said, 81
had just as lief take your life as not" and made
| other threats. Mr.. Wilder afterwards saw Magoon
| riding alone about a mile further on near Barre
Springs, and asked for Streeter and was told that
he got out Of the wagon some six hundred feet
beyond the scene of the butchery Tracks of a
gig were found going into field towards Stevens
branch and back, and 1t is supposed the gig was
used by Magoon's son, Asa. Magoon's little boy
says his father got home at seven o'clock, and
Asa half an hour after Magoon has seven chill
dren. Streeter and his wife separated few years
| since, and he lived with Magoon, calling one OF
his daughters his wife, although streeter was
seventy and Magoon is sixty-two years old. Mrs.
Perrin sustained bad reputation. Magoons
character previous to his arrest for the murder
had been somewhat notorious. For several years
he had spent his earnings for strong drink, and
not only neglected to care for his family but
would abuse them when in a state Of intoxication
Magoon was tried at the October term OF the
Washington county court, 1876, the trial lasting
seven days, and the jury, after being out three
hours, brought in verdict Of murder in the first
degree. Exceptions taken to the ruling of
the court, by his counsel, which were heard be-
fore the general term in this village, November
18th, 1871 but the exceptions were not sustained |
and he sentenced by Judge Barrett as follows:
To the questions reserved this court have given
the best consideration which they have been able,
and the result has Just been announced by Judge |
Ross, that the exceptions are not maintainable
under the law. 1t therefore only remains that the
sentence Of the law shall be pronounced as mat
ter OF course. In the OF a person of the age
Of this respondent, one who has passed his life in
such community as he has, there is little oc-
casion to commend him for the residue Of time
that remains TO him to consideration of his con-
dtion not only for the present, but with reference
to what awaits him in the future and all that is
proper all that certainly 1t is needfu now to say,
Is to impress upon him realization of his con- |
dtion, both present and prospective, and that he
turn his attention with heartiness and with SINGER
ity of purpose 10 securing for himself that grace
and pardon and forgiveness which may result in |
his salvation, notwithstanding the great crime OF
which he has been convicted. The sentence Of |
the court is, that you, Asa Magoon, be hanged by |
the neck till dead that this sentence be carried |
into execution on the fourth Friday in November |
in the year OF our Lord 1879, between the hours |
Of one and three in the afternoon, pursuant to a
warrant hereafter to be issued according to tn |
statute in such case provided; that In the mean
time you be confined at hard labor In the state |
prison at Windsor, county of Windsor for the |
period of twenty months from this date, and in |
until such punishment OF death be inflicted. The
prisoner will be remanded" He was taken to
Windsor the next day, and has been kept at labor
until four months ago when he was put into his
cell in order to give him time for preparation to
meet his doom. At the last session of the legis-
lature strenuous efforts were made by his counsel
to get his sentence committed to life imprison-
ment majority report in favor of commuta-
ton was made by the judiciary committee, but
the adverse minority report was after full discus
sion, adopted by the legislature by a large ma
jority. The Windsor Journal says that since his
incarceration, Magoon has apparently profted
very little by his long confinement, and will
probably die as he has lived.