News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-07-30
Concerning John Cheney.


MeSSrS. Editors:
lt sometimes occurs that In articles
sent you for publication the facts are so
mlsrepresented that it seems but justice
TO all concerned that a true statement of
iacts De given, and we feel like exclaim-
ing Audt dtter0m parton. Though de-
layed for some time, it has been for
the purpose of gaining facts from dis
lance. from people having full knOwl-
edge of them. We refer to the article
speaking of Mr.. John Cheney. The
writer correctly states that he was once
man of property and Influence, holding
many important positions in town affairs
and enjoying the esteem of the commu-
nifty In which he lived; but by an uneX-
pected turn in affairs through the unjust
dealings of others he lost his property.
Later on, in company with a son, he
moved on to large farm in Westfield.
The purchase was made when real estate
was at its highest, but prosperity attend
ed them for while, and $4,000 was paid
toward the place. The value of real es-
tate greatly decreased, prices for produce
were correspondingly low, other causes
came up, together with the death of the
sons wife, and they decided to give up
the farm. There was no cOmpulslon and
no foreclosure. The article speaks of
domestic infelicity as the cause of sepa-
ration, which is absolutely false. as no
unkind feeling ever existed, and no word
of dissension ever occurred between the
families. A few months from this time
the death of their only daughter, living
in Montpelier, occurred, and the son-in-
law and son felt that no one could do as
we'll for the children as the grandmother,
and she was asked to remain for a while,
which she did. with the full consent of
Mr.. Cheney, who was working in shop
at North Troy. During therime she was
| living there Mr.. Cheney purchased the
place at Cady's Falls. When negotiating
| for it he expressed fears that he might
not be able to obtain work as mechanic,
but the gentleman of whomhe purchased
replied, "There will be no difficulty,
there is plenty of work. ! will give you
$50 worth of work 1.briyethe spring.
opens" But when thrive ss,ecian he dec
3ided not to have itSHoIfe. Disappointed
in that direction and being stranger to
the place, he sought employment where
he was well known, where he always
| found plenty of work. This explains,
somewhat the reasons for his being
.wanderer," as the writer is pleased to
term him. He never seemed oOntented
| in his new home, and in conversation
with DIR. Woodward few weeks since
remarked that it was the greatest mistake
of his life in purchasing that place, as he
had never been able to get but little work
near home. For nearly a year it has been
apparent to his friends that he was losing
his reason, and during the winter and
spring his insanity gained upon him un-
til he became desperate and unmanage-
able, and neighbors, friends and physi-
clans regarded him as an unsafe person
TO have his liberty. AS there was no one
at his home able to have charge of him,
annlication was made to the town au-
thority, expecting he would be sent to
the insane asylum. The idea of sending
him to the poor house never entered the
minds of the friends, nor any such idea
expressed to the Selectmen or Overseer,
but they took him there, thinking to as
certain more fully his condition before
sending him away. He had been there
but a few days, when, in his rawlings at
night, he escaped from the chamber Win
dow and fell from the roof OF the veran-
da, receiving injuries which will doubt
less prove fatal. He is now at his home,
very feeble, delirious and raving, and in
all his wanderings his wish Is TO gel pacK
to Westfield. Though in a paragraph
like this we cannot go into detail to ex-
plain to the public fully all the circum-
stances, we have endeavored to correct
some impressions which would be likely
to arise. While we admit that the writer
of that article has peculiar faculty for
portraying In such pathetic manner the
case of that family, we think he should
keep in mind the wish to correctly repre-
sent facts, for
fIIqth crushed to earth win rise again;
| the eternal years of God are hers,
| But error wounded writhes with pain,
And dies among her worshipers."
| CHARITY.