Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-21
A MORE FAMOUS CASE

| sion OF bis crime.
MORE FAMOUS CASE
was that which terminated in the hanging
| of wsrd-the last Vermont execution prior
to that Of Welcome. In Wiliston there
| lived, fourteen years ago. a family consist
ing of Mrs. Ephraim Griswold, 81 years old.
her husband, their adopted daughter and
heir, and the latter's husband, Charles H..
Potter, and a thirteen -year-old lad. On
Saturday, August eth, 1865. the entire
family except Mrs. Griswold and the lad
started for Canada. On Sunday night the
| bow was found fastened in his bedroom and
crying for help, and Mrs. Griswo!d's body
was discovered in calf-pen near the barn,
ner throat cut from eat to ear, her skull
crushed and with numerous cuts and bruises
On her person-everything evincing a des-
perate and horrible struggle. On Mon
day forenoon, before the news OF
the murder had reached here.
man whose name subsequently
proved to be John Ward, alias Jerome
Lsvigne. begged of express messenger
George W. Kelley a ride with him in his car
to New York. His clothes had tlood-stains
upon them and were much soiled, which be
accounted for by story of tavern
fight. Officer N B. Flanagan, who was
employed by the authorities Of Williston
to look up the case, followed Ward to
New York; accidentally met him on the
street there; followed him back to Vermont
and saw him on the cars at Charlotte. At
the old Rutland and Burlington depot
Ward got of the cars, rushed through the
crowd, and, just beyond the Central depot.
some moments later. made his appear ance
from behind lumber pile. and. such was
the sarcasm of destiny, leaped upon the
identical car platform upon which Officer
flanagan was standing. Arriving at
Winooski depot, Mr.. Flanagan suddenly
seized Ward by the collar, jumped of the
train with him and declared him arrested
for murder. Such are the harest outlines
OF most remarkable detective job. and one
which gave Mr.. Flanagan probably the
highest reputation in that line ever won by
Vermont officer.
Three days later Charles II. Potter was
also arrested and both were placed on
trial at the April term Of court, 1865.
States Attorney L B. Englesby and Hon.
E. K. Hard appeared for the prosecution
Hon. Daniel Roberts for Potter. and Hon.
Henry Ballard for Ward. Ward was found
guilty of murder in the first degree
and Potter was acquitted. Ii was
the prevailing belief that Potter hired
Ward to murder Mrs. Griswold, Mrs.
Potter being the heir at law Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Grswoid: but it was
never legally proved, and Ward,
who displayed tremendous nerve through
out, stood BY Potter to the last Potter
was subsequently convicted of having burg
lar tools in his possession, and was sent to
the States Prison for thirteen years, being,
however, psrdoned out two or three years
ago by Governor Fairbanks. lie at once
moved West and is now, it is said, q
farmer in Iowa.
Ward (who was only twenty-si1 years
old) was hanged at Windsor on Friday.
March ooh, 1868, and died almost without
a struggle. He made a pretended confess
sion, but the statements contained in it were
generally discredited; and there are many
things about the murder, the murderer and
Potter's connection with the case, which
will probably never be cleared up.
TEE LAST PUBLIC EXECUTION
IN Vermont was that of one Bates, on |
Bennington Hill. in 1896 or 1887 Bates
had quarrel with his family (who lived at
Salisbury on some matters of property.
and while his brothers wife was nursing
her babe. be shot her with rifle, through |
a window, ipHicting fatal wound. Bates
was defended by Hon. Daniel Roberts. Of
this city, and the late Hon. Harmon Can
field. OF Arlington-both then young law
yers and both being assigned by the court.
The hanging was witnessed by a vast mul-
urude. and was the last one in this State
under the old system.