Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-10-08
TIE wILLIsTcN MURDER.
TIE Story Of q Tragedy Reto!d.

THE GENIE OF WHICH JOSEPH II. WOODS AND
ALMA l.. SMITH ARE ACCUSED.
In the town of Williston, on the road lead
ing from Essex Junction TO the village,
lived, last year, Luman a. Smith and his
family, consisting of his wife. Alma X.
Smith, four -year-old daughter, Helen, an
infant son, and Mrs. Smiths father, Joseph
T. Woods, aged some 20 years. Smith was
about 10 years Of age and his wife Was ten
or fifteen years younger. The family was
far from being happy one. Smith and his
wife had numerous family quarrels, which
the wife claims frequently resulted in Smith
beating her, and Mrs Smith had separated
from her husband on four different occasions,
and sought life Of shame, while the old
man Wood has been imprisoned for liquor
selling in violation of the law. Of the three,
however, Smith bore the best character, be
ing considered an honest and peaccabc citi
zen. of Il low order Of intelligence and rather
feeble inhaled.
THE PRISONERS STORY.
On the morning of October 23i, 1879,
Woods asked Smith for the horse and wagon
that was kept on the farm TO take Mrs. Smith
to Williston village, which request Smith re-
fused, and soon after left the premises him.
self on foot, locking the stable door, how
ever, before his departure. In the afternoon
Smith returned, and the old gentleman says
that he again made n request for the team,
whcrcnpon his son knocked him down, and
jumping upon him, pounded him severely.
Woods, fearing his life would be taken, drew
Il revolver and shot ut Smith. missing him,
however; but the noise alarmed Mrs. smith,
who came upon the scene with n scven-shoot-
cr but before she could get in a shot she
claims Smith knocked her down and pro
cecded to strange both of the PROSTATE par
ties. Smith then relaxed his efforts, which
no sooner done than Mrs. Smith discharged
her revolver at her husband, the ball penc-
tratinr his abdomen. This was followed up
by the old man shooting Smith in the head,
Mt which iuncture the wounded man gave up
the fight. saving, Il am dead man :" The
victim. MORALLY wounded, bleeding, dying,
walked to a ncighbor's house, tracking his
way with blood There he told the follow
ing story;
rrcEY OF THE VICTIM.
In the morning, said Smith, ! walked to
Essex Junction, and returning IN the alter
noon. | went to the barn Ia hitch up the
horse. when my father-in-law rushed into
the barn and said should not take the team,
and drawing n revolver levelled it at my
head then sprang for Woods and brought
him down, when my wife came rushing
from the house and threatened 10 shoot me II
did not release my hold On her father.
made IA .rrab for her revolver, while with my
other hand attempted 10 seize the old
mans pistol. but before could do So both
! wcapons were discharged, ami the balls
thrrcfrom entered my body. Mrs Smith
then cried, Give il to him, father, ana
both shot nsan. continuing until four or five
rounds had been fired | think my wife hit
me twice, said Smith didn't do anything
To them except to try and get their revolrcrs
away. The only witness present was my
little girl Helen, who was crying bitterly.
Shortly after the shooting Deputy Sheriff
T.. u. Baker Of Essex was summoned, who
arrested Woods and Mrs Smith and convey
ed the To them county Jail in this city, where
they have since been inoarccrnted. i'hysl-
clans we're nj once sent to attend the wound
ed man, but no relief could he given the SUI
fcrcr, who. after lingering in pain for IS
was found that three pistol bills hail penc-
tratcd Smiths body, one each i'll his hcn'i,
! lungs and abdomen.
PRELIMINARY ENAMiSATioN.
The father and daughter were given pre-
Elimination ON the 10Th of November follow
ing before Judge IIasclton, in the City Court,
States Attorney II. 5. Peck and NJ. A. Bling
ham appearing for the prosecution, and Il.
! II. Start and w II. Hare for the respond
cnts. The hearing was long and exhaus-
tive and nj the conclusion Of the arguments
judge IIasclton held Woods and Mrs Smith
ON the charge of murder in the first degree +;
and the Grand Jury ut their recent session
found "A true Indictment on several counts
against the parties in question, both jointly
and scverdily. "
TIE Boston HfdH prints inIec-column
cspose of one Dr. Harry c. Sticliney y,
Stowe, WHO procured of the New Hampshire
Legislature in 1873 charter for bogus
| medical cnllr,rc and has since been stiiins