Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-01-20

SUDDEN DEATH CAUSED NJ FRIGHT-oREAr
EXCITEMENT OVER TIE SAD EVENT.

SUDDEN DEATH CAUSED NJ FRIGHr-GREAT
EXCITEMENT OVER THE SAD EVENT.
Last Saturday night Fred Streeter went
home to his father-in-law's house, Mr.. Sam
ue Cobb's, where his wife and daughter
were staying. About two o'clock Sunday
morning he got up very thirsty, and finding
the cellar door locked, took an ak and broke
it open so that he could get drink Of cider
which was stored there, said to belong to Mr..
A. Harrington, of which he drank freely.
Early in the morning person called at the
house for a morning dram, when Streeter de-
manded the privilege Of drinking with him,
but was denied, which enraged him exceed
ingly, and then the family trouble began in
earnest. Loud talk and threats of personal
injury were made between Streeter and
Cobb and finally Cobb and wife were driven
from the house by the enraged Streeter
while Streeters wife locked herself in an up
per room. Cobb was very much excited,
and in order TO get away from Streeter ran
from the house through the barn, jumping
out of the back door, and ran across the lot
down the old Sessions hill to the residence Of
Mr.. Henry Page and begged of Mr.. Page for
Gods sake to go at once to his house and
protect his family, as he believed Streeter
would kill them all Mr.. Page noticed that
Cobb looked bad and told him he thought
he needed help first; but Cobb entreated SO
earnestly that Page went to Cobb's house and
found Streeter drunk, with horse whip in
his hand. Immediately after Page left his
own house Mr. Cobb sank back in his chair
gasping for breath, apparently dying. A
messenger was sent at once for Mr.. Page to
return with all possible haste. He did so and
found Mr.. Cobb dead These are some of
the particulars as gathered from the many
conflicting statements. The affair created
| a 4 al - axafNatnanN in, ka and
the stores of the village we're crowded on
Monday evening with people discussing the
situation. 1t was strongly urged that the
| town authorities should take action for the
| arrest of Streeter and some very strong Ian
guage was used in regard to the proper dis
| position of Streeter, but as yet no action
| either by the authorities OF citizens has been
taken. By the request of the selectmen and
consent of Mrs. Cobb post mortem exami-
nation was made Tuesday evening by Drs.
| Daniel Campbell and son, who found that
| Cobb's death resulted from heart disease,
| there being an almost complete Justification
of one side and that the terrible fright and
| excitement was the immediate cause Of death.
From the Boston Journal.l
Excitement is high in Westminster over
the sudden death of Samuel Cobb, aged ca,
an old resident of the town, and highly es-
teemed, on Sunday last at about 10 A. NJ.
Cobb's soD-in.law, Fred Streeter, about 30, a
dissolute, incorporate man for the past few
years, has often come home intoxicated,
threatening and using violence. A short time
ago papers were issued for his arrest fol-
threatening violence but the family begged
| him off. Last week Streetur had been al
work at some distance from Cobb's, and re-
turned early Sunday morning drunk, broke
into Cobb's cellar with an axe, getting some
hard cider owned by a neighbor, that was
stored there. He became crazy from its ef
feet, routed out the household, drove them al
out of doors, and kept most of them out till
about ten o'clock. Cobb then ran to Henry
Pages for help, and when he reached there
sank into a chair, dying almost Immediately
probably from heart disease caused by the
fright. People going to Cobb's found Street
er lying on the sitting room floor, dead drunk
with a horsewhip clasped in his hand, anC
his wife up stairs locked in a room and terri
bly, frightened. The Indignation of the citi
zens is great, and legal proceedings are ex
pected, yet Streeter cannot probably be helC
on more serious charge than drunkenness
and disturbing the peace.