The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-07-12


died some five years ago and left his
wife legacy of six children and this
place, heavily mortgaged. In about
year, or more, the widow married
Luke Bradshaw, a gentleman of color
but bearing the reputation of being
worker and man who paid his bills.
For about three years or since this
marriage the family has apparently
lived together happily, Bradshaw
proving a good provider and is rapid
ly paying off the mortgage on the
farm.
Fourth of July morning Bradshaw
made five gallon keg of root beer,
using Williams Extract. At night
some of it was drawn and drank by
the whole family, including the head.
In short time, all big and little,
were sick and all but one, boy some
nine or ten years of age, vomited.
This boy, son of Mrs. Bradshaw,
was discovered in the night in an un-
conscious condition. DR.. Millington
was sent for and arrived there before
SIX in the morning but could do moth
ing, the boy dying before seven.
Suspicion of foul play was entertain
ed, at once, by some and in less than
day numerous stories were put in
circulation. Some of these were to
the effect that Bradshaw had made
one of the girls drink the beer, that he
had tried heretofore to chloroform
one of the boys and that the children
were afraid of him as death-in fact
he was great black Ogre.
In view of all the circumstances
and the feeling manifested the Win
hall authorities thought best to inves-
tigate, and Saturday afternoon an in
formal inquest was held in the east
room of the house there being pres
ent selectmen Kendall and johnson,
overseer Slade, doctors Millington
and Flandreau and the editor of the
SITTER. Bradshaw and his wife, and
four of the children and Wells Dick.
erson, a neighbor, were taken into
this room, one at time, and put
through a rigid examination by the
physicians and selectman Kendall as
to the procuring of the extract, the
making of the beer, the drinking it
the result and what was done for The
boy, also as to the general relations
of the family with the husband ant
stepfather. The testimony of all was
given willingly and intelligently
nothing had to be drawn out by eros:
examination, and in no case did one
conflict with the other. All agreed
as to how the beer was made and how
drawn and drank and testified tina
Bradshaw drank out of the same anC
in at least one instance drank wha
remained in the tumbler after one O
| the girls had taken swallow or two
Neither was there any discrepancy il
the testimony in regard to Bradshaw
treatment of the family. The wifi
lstated that he was kind to her ant
the children and willing and goot
provider. Each of the children said
unreservedly, that their own fathe
could not have been better to then
| than he had been. All the stories wer
completely exploded by the testimo
ny of the family. All grew out o
ignorance Or prejudice against tn
uulaIlO.
1t being quite evident that thi
beer was poisonous, from some cause
it was thought best BY the authoritie
to continue the Investigation SO ia
as to have an analysis made. Wit
this view the dead child's stomac
was removed by the physicians
Pending this the SITTER has no theo
ries to advance but will say that S
far no evidence has been adduce,
compromising Bradshaw, or indica
ting that he was guilty of any wilfu
wrong.
Say Tom, what's to be the name Q