Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-01-11
HUNG IN WINDSOR PRISON.

HUNG IN WINDSOR PRISON.
Stephen n. Bell, the wife murderer,
was executed at Windsor, Friday last.
After earnest prayer by Chaplain
Wassal, Bell made long speech occu-
plying 81 minutes, until unintelligible
to the witnesses present. The drop
fell at 2.25 without an accident.
At about o'clock Bell had an in
terview with his council, Felix w.
McGettrick of ST. Adams, who con-
firmed the announcement Of the
Chaplain that there was no hope for
reprieve for him. He seemed to ac-
cept the situation with cOmposure,
and talked with Mr.. McGettrick rela
tive to the crime and his approaching
execution. When asked il he cared
to send word to any OF his family or
friends, he replied that he did not.
He, however deposited with his coun-
sci written statement signed by him
and witnessed TO by one Of the death
watch, a copy of which is as follows:
E'My weapon( revolver) was III
cupboard upstairs. My wife went up
stairs; [ also went upstairs, I saw
her looking at some thing. She turn
ed around and looked at me, bent
down and laid down something. I
saw it was my revolver. [ went up
to her thinking to get possession Of
it. She Clapped her hands on it. In
pulling it away in the tussle for it, it
accidentally went off and took fatal
effect. This is & true statement. I
make it with the understanding that
I am to die to-day. [ die innocent Of
Intentionally taking the life Of my
wife. I think [ ought not to have
been convicted and that my sentence
ought to have been set aside. But I
am satisfied that my counsel, F. w.
McGettrick, did everything that could
have been done legally on his part in
my behalf"
The murder for which Bell was hung
was brutal and deliberate, the out
growth Of his ugly and revengeful
character. Bell locked his first wife
into room and then attempted to
kill her, and was only prevented by
tpe interference OF his son who broke
into the room and grappled with his
father, who was finally thrown VIC
lently upon the bed, causing the Stats
TO fall, and in this way he was doub
led up like ajack-knife and made help
less. The son always said, when re-
lating the story Of the dreadful strug
gle, that ''tho Lord helped him" at
the moment his father felI on the bed.
Bell was tried for murderoug attempt
but acquitted.
Ills wife died soon after and Bell
then married the woman for whose
murder his life has paid 5ho forfeit.
He was SO brutal in his treatment Of
her she finally left him and applied
for G divorce. When she went back
to gather up her things he pretended
TO greet her pleasantly, but followed
her up stairs and shot her in tllo head
as she was bending over a trunk.
Washington dispatches, & few days
since contained the account Of an in
5arview by q crank with Senator Nor
rin. It is related that the man told
ILr. Morrill, that he had been elected +.
senator from Vermont, and that Sen
ator Proctor has usurped taa place.
On being told that Gel, Proctor had
been appointed senator, the crank
then claimed 5Ir. MorriI's seat. st
transpires that the CRANK is one Sam /
Ames OF SALISBURY, vt. lie started
for Washington once before with /
81. SO IN his pocket, and walked the +
whole distance. When he returned |
he had some SO or 70 cents remaining. 3.
We are not informed as to his mission
at that time. When he left home re
Gently he had $50 in cash, ana il IS
presumed he walked to the capital as
before.