Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-01-07
EXECUTION OF BELL
THE FAIRFAX WlFE-MURDERER PAYS
THE PENALTY OF HIS CRIME.
Diet Death Firmly and with the Deoisra-
tion that he was au Innocent Mamie
fniks over 80 hinutes-story of the
Shooting.

Huruer oA MS WIG, IN tne town OF falrlaN,
December 26. 1889, At 1:15 quite large
gathering OF curiosity seekers had assembled
in the neighborhood OF the State Prison,
and the number increased rapidly for half
an hour. Sheriff Lowell and Superintend-
ent Cakes had matters so arranged that no
confusion occurred The witnesses entitled
by law, with officials, including Sheriff
Nye Of Worcester, Mass, United States
Marshal Rollin Amsden of Windsor, Dep
uty Marshal Stearns of Rutland, Sheriff
Howard Clark of Lincoln, Deputies Smith
OF Vergennes, Ladd Of St Adams. Mid
dlebrooks of Nergennes, Sheriff Hall of
Fairfax, and Drs. A. N. Logan of Wood
stock, Hoffman and Daley of White River
junction, Brewster of Windsor. and few
others, were present to witness the exc
Cuton
At 40 the door of the west wing Of the
prison was closed and at l IA the prisoner
was taken from his cell where he was hold
ing an earnest conversation with Chaplain.
Wassell The death march was the follow
ing order; Sheriff Lowell and Wassall,
Deputies Jones and Howe supporting Bell
and Deputies Randall and Spofford.
Everything in the large corridor was
quiet as death and the prisoner was some
what paie, but doubtless from long confne-
ment He bodily assembled the steps and al
though assisted he appeared to be nerved up
for the occasion. He wore dark REFER
coat, black tie and white shirt. He had
black chin whjskeIs about three inches long
slightly tinged with gray. and was seated
in a chair in the middle of the scaffold.
ChepIs Wassal offered fervent prayer,
during which Bell bowed and covered his
face with his hands. Sheriff Lowell, as soon
the chaplain had finished, stepped forward
and said: Sylvester IL. Bell, have you any
thing to say why the penalty Of the law
should not be executed on you ~
Bell, rather pale and tremulous, stood
erect and after addressing the sheriff and
officers in charge asking for all the time he
wanted i'll which to speak, began a long
talk which lasted "a minutes The subtance
of what he said was as follows: 81 have
few more words to say; it may not take
two or three words. | hope | may have time
to tell the truth. Gentlemen If | should
live till the 10th of next March l should be
80 years old | came from Canada when
81 and was born of three races-Irish,
Scotch and French. A Frenchman should
not be a bad man and nobody should be
bad man. 1 have five children aud was
raised in Canada. Ny second wife was
Yankee but she was not contented SO | sold
out and went back. l came back
to Fairfax about three-fourths OF
mile from the street. One of
my sons did lots of business and
handled a good deal of money. | was way
laid, beaten and nearly killed, got pounded
and my head smashed all to pieces My
farm went for little or nothing. Have not
tasted of liquor for nineteen years. l am
christian. Would you think would do
crime like that? have prayed and spoken
in meeting in the States good many years
" q rn1 1
faithful to the end. Lord let they servant
depart In peace. In the sight OF God aud
you, gentlemen, | am an innocent man"
hen this TRADE finished Bell stepped
back to his chair, Sheriff Lowell took him
by the arm, and the condemned man stood
up bravey. When Deputies Howe and
Randall had pinioned his wrists arms and
legs, Bell stepped back on the drop ami said:
'Gentlemen, am dying a man: good
bye" Instantly the sheriff touched the
spring and the drop fell. In ii Minutes he
was pronounced dead by Drs. A. n. Logan
OF Woolstock and j. d. brewster of Wind
sor. The body was buried in Windsor Gem
stery.
Bells Crime.
The crime for which Bell suffered the
death penalty was a dastardly one, no less
than that OF shooting his wife while stand
ing behind her.
The parties had their home ia Fairfax
but Mrs Bell had separated from her hus-
band because OF his crueity. Securing the
services of Constable Hall, Mrs Bell and
the constable proceeded to her former home
for the purpose OF taking away some cloth
ing and other articles OF personal ownership.
No objection was offered apparently 10y the
husband, and Mrs. Bell had nearly succeed
ed III packing what effects she desired to
remove. Thinking, PROBABLY, of some other
artce, she started upstairs, Leaving the con-
stable on the first floor. Bell followed his
wife to the room overhead 4
W lille she was kneeling over a trunk
with Der back toward the door, Bell, with
out word OK warning or alteration, shot
her with large revolver, the ball enter
ing the head back of the ear. She lived
about 30 minutes When The officer rushed
upstairs Bell met him with the smoking re
voiYer still IN his hand, and handed him the
weapon, saying, 81 have done it, He
submitted to arrest without resistance, or
shdeaVoring to escape He was placed
under a strong guard to prevent lynchng
by the inlurated neghbors.
HIS preliminary hearing occurred Decem-
Der p, 1889, and was held to await the
action Of the grand jury of Franklin coun-
ty. he was tried at the September term of
court, following. and Judge Ross pro
nounced the sentence, that he be executed
the first Friday of January 1892. lie was
committed to prison September !, 1890.
few months since, Bell, through coun-
sci, endeavored to break the enacting clause
OF tue sentence because Of Il technical error
requiring him 10 bo placed in solitary con-
hnement during the last six months, instead
OF the last three months oil his Incarceration
He was taken to Montpelier by Superinten
dent Cakes, and Judge Taft promptly de-
cided that such technicality did not rem
der the sentence imperative The murder
er's last faint hope was thus blasted.
The murdered woman was of comely an
pearanco and was by nature kind anu quiet.
Her maiden name was Emma Locke and she
married Bell in 1886. Al the time of her
death she was 30 years old. Bell was SO.
She was his second wise, the first having Sc
cured divorce after being shot and serious
" wounded iii quarrel with her husband.
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