Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-09-11

THE HUNTER TRAGEDY REVIEWED.
"A Springfield Republican reporter spent
the day Monday in investigating the Hunter
tragedy on the ground, but does not seom to
have got at any essential facts not already
published He recounis the circumstances
Of the unhappy life of the Hunters, his
drinking habits, and the shooting-the find
ing of Hunter on the floor, the seven-shooter
in the middle of the bed with one chamber
empty, and Mrs. Hunters pillow blackened
with powder-of Mrs. Hunters arrest exam
ination, and release on bail because OF her
approaching confinement He concludes that
the theory of accident is exploded and that it
was either a murder or a suicide. In sup
port OF the theory Of suicide is the evidence
that Hunter said the day before his death that
he wouldn't need a stove in his new tene-
ment, that he would draw no more water at
his we'll, and that he would never see his
children again who had been sent away.
1.-The case against the woman" this young
man concludes, "is much stronger, though
supported by merely oircumstaDtial evidence.
Three witnesses, including Mr.. and Mrs.
George A. Wright, testified that Mrs. Hun
ter threatened to kill her husband. Her own
story also contains curious statements She
bought the pistol in Keene, she says, for her
lO-years- old boy, paying 81 for il and spend
ing the rest of 50 on her trip at time when
Hunter was making application TO the town
for aid. She now makes the silly excuse that
abe had promised the boy one when he was
IA, and he leased 30 she bought it TO let him
take II when he could go out with older com
panions. She acknowledged TO Attorney
General Tapham that she had never fired 1t,
but that she put IL under her pillow because
she felt safer 3d. She says that entrance to
their bedroom could have been obtained
through the cellar door, which lacked fasten-
ing, and that she WAS afraid. The pillows
are q stumbling-block to almost every one.
| But Selectman Hooker q sound, shrewd Yam
kee farmer, and true son OF the Granite
| state, has theory which he worked out for
himself after much thought and pistol prac-
| tice on pillows On this basis he made the
complaint The blackened pillow was on
Mrs Hunters side OF the bed. The sheet
was unsmirched and the pillow unpierced.
| Mr.. Hooker says that he believes the woman
never went to sleep; that she took the re-
volver from her trunk in the corner, where
she acknowledges she kept II and walking
around TO the pillow shot Hunter where he
lay. He thinks she changed the pillows and
waited till midnight before giving the word
DIR. Dix, who attended tho man, says the re-
action of the pulse known TO follow in about
eight hours after the shock came at 3 A. NJ.
the next day. This would mako the shot
fred about Q p. H."
@. @. Holton is repairing his house on
Canal street.
The Canal company have the water shut
out OF the canal this week to make repairs.
Our schools all began this week except
the High school which began two weeks ago.
Walter Todd is putting a new glass front
| into the stores OF Worden Jones IL Co. and
M. V. Cotton which makes q decided i'm
proVement in the looks of the building.
IN. E. Pratt is delegate to the general as.
ISOLATION at Nashua next Tueseay, Wednes
day and Thursday. Rev. II. IL. Hamilton
will also attend the convention.
No frost in the village as yet. There
has been little in the plain district, and
some other cool places.
The grape crop is large but late and will
stand a chance of getting nipped by the frost.