St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-01-04
A NEWPORT LETTER.

the Lake Town and its Vicinity.
Correspondents of the CALEDoMAx.l
SHOCKING FRATRICIDE NEAR DERBY
CENTER.
Rum has scored another victory,
this time in the quiet town of Derby.
Last Sunday evening John Davis,
Young man about %, shot and killed
his brother-in-law, Chas. HENDERSON.
George Davis and wife. parents OF
John and Mrs. HENDERSON, have lived
quietly, about mile east of Derby
Center, for several years. Some years
ago the daughter, their only child,
about thirteen years old married Ken
nerson and they have..since lived with
her parents. HENDERSON has led rath-
er d bad life, inclined to drink and
quarrelsome when under the inhu-
ence of liquor. Sunday evening he
returned from Derby Line intoxicat-
ed, and soon began to abuse the
women, till Mrs. Davis called to her
son John in another room to help
her. When John appeared HENDERSON
had in hand a double barrel shot gun
eavily loaded, and threatened to kill
John. He and his mother, however,
succeeded in securing the gun and
John ran with it out of doors. Ken
nerson continued to ill-treat Mrs.
Davis and was in the act of choking
her, when Davis fired through the
window, both barrels at the same
time. Their contents lodged in Ken
nerson's breast and side, causing
death in a few minutes. Tie towna u-
thOrities were summoned and Davis
surrendered himself. On Monday a
brief hearing was held before Justice
!. y. Silver. Davis was bound up in
$1,000 for appearance at February
term of court, and at once procured
bail. Though a sad ending of life,
no one censures young Davis, as there
is no question that he acted in de-
fence of his mother Not he, but the
rumseller should be tried for murder
and suffer the penalty.
POLITICALLY SHAKEN UP.
The political changes in the customs
service here will soon be completed.
The remaining republicans, D. NJ.
Camp and Kendrick Richmond, have,
by request, resigned the first to take
effect Feb. 1, the other March 1
Lyman H. Hunt of Newport has re-
ceived an appointment, assuming his
duties December 1. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Clark, a lawyer from
Felchvil1e, will also have place here
Feb. 1. 1t was thought by some,
from the known devotion to civil
service reform exhibited by the dem
Ocratic party, and the fact that two
democrats held through Mr.. Bene-
diets term at this port, that two re-
publicans would be retained. But
doubtful things are mighty or
sartin, and SO all the rascals are
moved out.
CONCERNING BUSINESS - HELP FOR
THE NEEDY ONES.
Business feels the general pressure.
The Christmas trade was fairly
good, but not up to usual limits.
The lumber mills and granite works
have shut down in part. Frost's We
neer mill is running nearly full force
but on reduced time. They have a
good amount of orders in advance. |
A significant fact is this: that nearly
all these orders are for shipment to
foreign ports.
We have, of course, some unem-
ployed in our midst and some who
need help to keep the wolf from the
door" An organization has been
formed for the help of the needy poor
and committees chosen to solicit aid
and distribute the same. There
have been found about a dozen fami-
lies comprising from sixty to seventy
persons needing assistance. There
has been generous response on the
part of our citizens by way of cloth
ing, bedding, etc, while a charity
promenade concert held a few even
lngs since added about $1,000 to the
funds. This will insure comfortable
support of all the actual needy ones
till spring OPP, MS.
EFT CETERA.
The sale of pews in the Congrega-
tional church took place Jan. 2.
There was something more than the
former demand and the premiums
will exceed previous years.
The new year opens with winter
wea ther and fine sleighing.
Newport, Jan. 8, 1894.