The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-10
AN HISTORIC CRIME.
II fs Recalled by the Borden Butcheries
In Fall River.

PHENIx, Aug. S.-Among the oldest resi-
dents In this vicinity are those who tell
Of q murder, now historical by reason OF
its brutality, which was committed here
some seventy years ago. What has
brought IL upl afresh in the memory of
these old people is the murder of Mr.. aud
Mrs. Andrew j. Borden of Fail River.
Just over the hills. at the eastern side
of Phenix, stands farmhouse, which for
more than a century has been there and
which In called the Bennett place. The
present occupant is Miss Ruth Bennett.
who resides there the greater part Of the
time alone.
The house is picturesque by reason OF
its homely, dim-colored appearance il
stands under waving forests of trees,
which have protected the little dwelling
from the rude winters winds and the
blazing sun for three. quarters of cen
tury. Tiny windows reflect back the
light and the waving shadows; green
fields not too hardly worked for gain TO
destroy the beauty of a foreground stretch
in natural grading to the highway, and
those poems In color, the mossy stone
walls cross the velvety green expanse with
restful frequency,
Away back, some say seventy-five years
ago, some longer, there lived in this little
house a family OF four; Samuel BeLuett,
his wife, VIM. Bennett the son aud his
young wife. Upon the younger branch
Of the household rested the weight OF the
burden OF tilling the broad acres. for the
father, while not infirm from age, was In
feeble health. IL Is likely the little house
was then quite new aud prime In it's
freshness; Of course the two ta II fir trees
which now stand before the front do)r
were too little to cope with the boistrous
storms which tore through their
branches in winter, aud the
silvery green willows were not then lofty
enough TO bend so far in weeping lines as
they do to-day. Samuel Bennett was
deeply attached to his wife. Some old
people say the love was doubly strong be-
cause of his having found il true aud
steadfast while his was found tickle in
younger days. lie could not bear the
wife out OF his vision, and followed her
footsteps each hour about the tiny rooms
of the home. One night in spring, while
il was yet cold. the family members
lighted their candles, banked the embers
upon the hearth and retired early TO their
repose. The moon rose slowly, wheeling
into its azure field; it almost seemed as If
it would be more kindly did it send some
sound to answer back the listening still
ness. A cloud arose such as spring skies
keep In store; the moon glided benind il
and the little house lay in the darkening
shadow, which rested on it like pail
IL was when the fluffy hedglings in the
nest in the fir tree began Co breathe out
soft chirpings to the bird mother. that
awakened, and by the young daylight
saw man standing at his bedside, and
knew il to be his father.
In his hand he held an axe. from which
trickled drops OF blood. Get up Billy,
I've killed your mother" said Samuel
Bennett, in a calm aud disinterested voice.
There, in her bed, lay the faithful wife
and mother, dead, with her poor work
worn hands folded outside the clothes,
and with ner face quite calm and serious,
as had been its won't, although the back
of her head showed gaping wounds
enough TO have sent many others into
immortality. Crazy" his family
said, and crazy the law said, and
doubtless crazy was the verdict
of his Creator Insane asylumns
were in those days just wherever the
Samuel Bennett was IA his own house
that became his place OF incarceration.
With the heaviest chain primitive i'm
genuity could invent, he was fastened to
N rugged ring in the floor at the end Of
this cnaiD. lie could walk to the tiny
window and look upon. the fields, he
could clank his chain In repeated at
tempts To regain his freedom. All day
long his cry was. where's BillyY fol-
lowed by moaning cries, blood-curdling
TO hear. But Of his wife he never spoke,
perhaps never Thought Years passed,
aud he lived; the once happy home be-
came place To be dreaded by all.
Nervous women aud children VINO in
summer gat athered berries In the pastures
near the little house sometimes gazed up
TO the window To soc hellish face time
could not erase from their memory. At
last his soul left its imperfect housing,
and went TO God to be judged aud set
free.
May be IL is all a perversion of the
scenes but In no pine trees do the winds
moan 40 piteously even on sunny summer
days, and no dropping willows seem To
bend 50 dejcctediy as those at the Bennet
farm.