Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-23

EXECUTION OF ALLEN J. ADAMS, THE TRAM
MURDERER, AT NORTHAMPTON.

Allen j. Adams was hung last Friday at the North
amptOn Jail for the murder of Moses Dickinson OF
Amherst. The murder was committed Nov. %, 1873,
by Adams, who had come along tramp and had
been given work by Dickinson. The object Of the
murder was money, Adams securing small sum aud
making his way TO Tennessee He was arrested there
for forgery and confessed to the murder He was
tried and convicted at Northampton aud sentenced
be hung March II, but was respited account Of
wounds inflicted on himself with knife on March 9.
Dnring most of his confinement in the Jail Adams
kept up running hre OF the yilest imprecations.
The death warrant was read TO Adams in his cell by
sheriff Clark, aud the reading received by vol
ley Of oAths and request that the sheriff take auoth
er drink. After he had been placed on the drop aud
while prayer was being offered he interrupted IRE
quenty with the vest oaths, accusing the officers Of
being cutthroats and highway robbers aud with
ing his life away The audience was shocked al The
frghtfu Oaths that intersperscd Adams's tax until
the moose adjusted, aud no one ielt any sympa-
thy for him. The drop fell at 1887 the scliuld
working perfectly At So the heart had ceased to
beat and Adams was pronounced dead.
AN INTERESTING WILL CASE AT GREENFIELD
The contested viii case tried at Greenfield last
week, In which the jury brought in their verdict
breaking the Will Wednesday morning, was Of unu-
sual interest. Mrs. Clarissa ID. Henry Of Leyden.
an aunt of the late Chas N. Davenport Of Brattlc-
bOrO, who died recently at the age Of IS years left
a viii dated Aug Is, 1853, bequeathlug her eulire
estate TO the First Congregational church OF Green
field, Of which she became a member many years
ago, but had not attended in her later years. Her
husband died IN 1879 leaving all MS property 10
her, and the following year she made a will, by
which she gave the bulk OF her property TO favor
lite nephew who mad lived with herself and hus
band, they having no children Of their own. on
her sOth birthday her nephews made family par
ty for her and every succeeding year ala the same
thing until 1888. At the gathering held that year
Mrs. Henry missed tl75 In money which she Charg-
ed one of her nephews with having stOlcn and
said she would part company with her relatives
forever unless the money was restored. Very soon
after she made the will which was contested. Az
ter her death the lost money was found sewed up
In paper and secreted IN place In her house
which she had undoubtedly forgotten. The evil
dence clearly showed Mrs. Henry's insanity. She
had many decisions, chief among them the Idea
that her friends OF neighbOrs were trying to steal
her crops tools and other effects, and that she was
in other ways the victim OF their eyil designs She
said she had messages from her husband counsel
ing her about her affairs and she claimed 10 have
revelations direct from God. Dr. Draper Of Brat
tlebOro and DR.. Minis Of Northampton appeared as
insanity experts The counsel for the contestants
were John Aiken OF Greenfield and Martin A Eddy
of BrattebOrO for the defendants, Lamb OF Green
field and Field Of Shelburne Falls. The ease went
TO the jury Tuesday night after trial Of six days
and Wednesday morning they brought In u verdict
declaring the will null and v0id because OF the de-
vlsor's unsound mind. When the jury went out
they stood eight for breaking to four for sustain
| ing the Will. And 50 the church loses its $4,000.
THE HoLsTEN CATTLE SALE.
The Holsten cattle sale at Greenfield on wednes-
day aud Thursday of last week largely attended,
aud the prices satisfactory; 1913 animals
sold, and the amount realized was about $4,000. s.
L. Warner Son of Lanesyille, Ct sold IL cows at
erage of 1921 each. The highest price paid for a
single animal was $40 for COW from the HOughtOn
! farm at Putney; another COW from the same farm
sold for $500. Several calves by the perfection
mill cavalier Scott Of the same farm brought large
prices. H. G. Hibbard sold yearling bull to b. +. h
| f. II. Farmer of Rutland for S46O Tie prices ranged
from $40 $4GO for bulls and from $50 to $40 Tor
cows.
| A K Warner of Greenfield, one of the victims Of
the Bardwels Ferry disaster, died of his injuries al
Sbelburne Falls on Thursday evening of last week
| aud his funeral took place at Greenfield Sunday
His death has produced profound impression in the
! Greenfield community by whom he was held in high
| respect.
| Landlord Couillard Is still confined to his bed al
Charlemont from injuries received at the recent rail
road disaster Efforts are still being made TO get hin
pardoned that he will not have to serve the hal
| ance of his sentence in jail should he recover