davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
THE VERMONT NEWS.
A Disgrace to Humanity.

Horrible Condition in the Franklin
County Poor House, Oh Inmates Hud-
died Together In Filthy Quarters and
Supported on a Per Capita Expense of
IL Cents Day.
The st Adams Messenger says the Franklin
county poor house at Sheldon is a disgrace to the
humanity Of the eight towns that maintain it
Berkshire, Enosburg, Fairfield Franklin, Highgate,
sheldon. St Adams and SWanton. The group Of
miserable little structures composing the insttu-
ton were erected over 30 yet rs ago. Take this
for the starting point add to It the rack and
ruin aud de ay Of half century with no i'm.
provemeuts, and then throw in G3 paupers to
balance and allow them to exist. not live in a
place that has been befouled for five decades by
hundreds and hundreds of filthy people, and YOU
have the situation at the Sheldon poor house to-
day.
The buildings were erected at a time when
sanitation was an unknown quantity, the man
agsr a farmer with no special training or quail
fcation for the management OF such an iustitu-
ton, the 63 inmates are huddled togeth her in quar-
tiers not big enough for one half their number
and they are naturally people not over sensible
Of the need Of cleanliness, many Of them diseased
and dying, most of them in various stages of
idocy.
The cause Of this horrible condition comes
largely from a mistaken idea of economy, and
the responsibility rests on the eight towns which
the institution last year was S2llS Think Of J3
paupers. a farm OF 325 acres a manager matron
two daughters. two hired girls and hired man
supported on S!llS year In the expense &C.
count are items Of Sl9I for the directors Of the
institution and S57 for the manager or, 10 other
words, Sl4O6, or 81 Us per capita, was all that
was expended for the inmates. II Is estimated
that the farm furnishes half the support of the
poor house, which would make the total expense
So 80 a year per pauper, this sum covering food
clothing medical attendance, etc. Rev. Mr.
Watts is paid S3j year for preaching once in
two weeks at the poor house, and holding fun.
eral services, The dead are buried in cheap box
IS without headstoues or markers. Five persons
died during the past year, and the total expense
for collins was Sl414
There is now old woman at the poor house
who is bed ridden with rheumatism and perfectly
helpless, She groans and means her life away
IN "A miserable howell on "A filthy bed and her only
solaCe and, most Of the time her only company,
is a quartet Of feeble old women who smoke and
Groom idotically away around "A box stove in
adjoining room Medical attendance for one
year SIZE! And in that tine five deaths and
several cases Of sickness, beside this poor old
fortunate who is helpless over ~ chi dren are
growing up IN this miserable place exposed to
the awful Influences Of the misery and degrade.
tion about them. seeing nothing. day after day,
but feeble old IDIOTS, and want and suffering and
the characteristics Of vice
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
An Australian Murderer who RivaIed
II. II. Holmes.

Frank Butler, the Australian murderer, was ar
rested at San Francisco Tuesday upon the arr.
val of a ship from Australia. He was known by
several names, and is said to have possessed the
cunning Of Deeming and the facility of execu-
tinn of II. H. Holmes. He selected for his vic
TINS men who had come among the Australian
colonists in search Of gold He would lure these
M II into the mountains. and there kill them.
The victim would be buried, and the murderer
would return to civilization to repeat the process
The authorities say he has killed more than II
men. He finally selected for his victim a man
who had many friends The was missed
and a search revealed the crime. The murderer,
unconscious Of the fact that his crime had been
detected, adopted the name Of his last victim,
who had been sailor, and shipped as able sea
man upon sailing ship bound for san Francisco.
Two drtectives Immediately took passage upon a
steamer for British Columbia in order to reach
san Francisco ahead Of the murderer. At the
same time another detective set out for London
to obtain eNtradition papers. Upon obtaining
these documents he crossed the ocean. He will
take Butler direct to Australia, thereby com
plotting the circuit Of the earth in his chase after
this one man.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
DAVID j. BAILEY.
Railroads.
BOSTON 8 MAINE RAILROAD.

ON and after Oct. 5, 1895, trains on this road
N)will leave Bratteboro for all points north al
1lO6 A. NJ. 2:C6, $40 and 1906 p. N.
The 1906 A. N. train is mail train for Montpelier,
St, Adams, Rutland, Burlington, Montreal and
the Passumpsic road.
The 900 p. ~ train is the Montreal day eX.
press.
The $40 p. NJ train is mail train for White River
Junction and Rutland
The 1906 p. NJ train is express for Montreal,
Sherbrook and Quebec, with sleeping cars at.
tached, THIS train runs daily Sundays TO Mon.
treal only.
Going south trains arrive in Brattleboro from
Bellows Falls and points north at 5:2S A. might
expressL 9l0 A NJ. (malll, 2l3 P NJ. (maiD, 4:35
p. VI. Montreal and New York day express.
All trains make close connections with Boston
& Albany road both east and west of Spri ngheld.
D. j. FLANDERS, Gen'l TicketAg't.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
The Murder OF the Metks Family TO he
Avenged.

George Taylor. the Missouri murderer, was
rested Friday night on a ranch near Hanford,
Cal. Taylor and his brother William were promi.
nent citizens at Browning, Mo, several years ago,
and in 1894 their arrest for stealing cattle caused
great surprise. George Meeks, who was Il witness
against the Taylors, started out for a drive with
his wife and three children. The next morning
Nellie Taylor, aged q, aroused a farmer near
Browning and told HIM her father, mother. sister
and brother had beer killed and their bodies
were in a straw stack In the field. The girl was
badly " uuuded in the head She said the Tay-
lors murdered the family, tut that she escaped.
The two lay lorS lied from the state on learning
that the bodies had been found. They were ar
rested in Arkansas and brought back To Missouri
tried and sentenced 10 be- hanged. They escaped
from jail but William was rtcapturrd and exc
cuted. George Tay Tor is now closely guarded,
and will be taken back to Missouri TO pay the
death PENALTY.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
THE VERMONT PHOENIX, BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY, FEBRU
Life imprisonment.
Sentence Imposed in the Taunton "Hi-
cycle Murder Case"

Herbert A. Willis, who murdered Frederick N.
Strange in Taunton, Mass, in June last, was tax
en into court Monday, where 10y agreement Of
counsel aud the state, plea Of guilty Of murder
of the second degree was accepted, and a sen
tenCe of life imprisonment imposed. The murder
was that so widely known as the "bicN Gle murder ~
and Willis had the nerve to attend the funeral Of
his victim. who was a friend aud riding com
panion. Willis was also concerned in n number
of country store burgaries, bicycle thefts and
other laWlcss deeds, which Eliminated In his
Jump through window IN Providence, where he
was try ing to sell stolen wheel He fired sew
eral shots az his pursuers, KIN, cked q young man
of his wheel aud rode to Taunton, dodgi the
bullets OF the officers who sought to intercept
him. A cave in the woods, in the outskirts of
Taunton, filed with plunder, was discovered and
many mysterious fobhcries were thus cleared up.
The evidence which convicted him Of the muir.
der of Strange was indefinite, as the shooter was
masked, and II was fixed upon him mainly by his
own confession to the detectives. Stranges bi.
cycle was found In Bristol r. H. harbor. where
Willis threw 1t after the assassination, riding to
Bristol for that purpose. He is about 81 years
old and has made an attempt to break jail while
waiting trial
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
Improper Conduct Charged.
Information Filed Against EN-stnte's
Attorney Jones of Rutland.

BY direction Of Judge Rowell Of the supreme
court, an information has been fled against Jo-
seph G. Jones of Rutland ex-state's attorney for
Rutland county, alleging improper conduct rela.
tive to certain liquor prosecutions
The case is returnable before a special session
OF the full bench 81 the supreme court. to be held
at Montpelier Feb. 80 If proven, the charges
will result in the disbaTment of Mr. Jones' who is
prominent member of the Rutland county bar
An answer to the Information must be filed be-
fore Feb - Mr. Jones has retained joel G..
Baker as his counsel II IL vaguely limited that
other members Of the bar are also implicated
IL is alleged that Jones told Judge Rowell that
he had made certain disposition Of liquor cases
and bailed forfeitures, which subsequently proved
to be untrue.
Mr.. Jones was elected states attorney in 1892
for term Of two years and was reelected III
1894 His term Of Office expired Nov 80, 1896
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
One
Instance

Mrs. Anna c. Stowen of South Weymouth,
Mass, in acknowledging receipt of $4,000, for
value of policy on the life of her husband, re-
Gently deceased, writes State Agent James 7.
Phelps as follows: II wish to acknowledge the
prompt settlement of the insurance under my
husbands policy Al ,00l and also to take this op
portunity of expressing TO the company my sin
treated. That any of my friends may understand
why write in this way l will outline the con-
dltion of affairs. A premium was que on Mr..
Stowels policy April 80, 1895. This was not paid,
and since his death we find that the company
sent second notice on May 7. and third notice
stating that the insurance had lapsed, but would
be renstated if premium was paid and health
certificate given. Later still letter conveying
the same information was sent, all these papers
having been in MIR. Stowelis possession. In
pocket of an Office coat we found check made
by Mr.. Stowell for this premium and dated May
5. Mr.. Stowells accident occurred June 25. and
he died June %. By the terms of the policy
should have been entitled TO 5000, but am CRATE
full that the company, while recognizing that
there is no legal claim for more than this amount,
have still seen fit to pay the face of the policy,
$1,000" The generosity of the National Life in
paying the face-value of the policy under the
above circumstances, is but in keeping with its
general policy. Women should be sufficiently
alive TO their own interests to see that their hus-
bands pay the premiums their policies when
they fall due, companies are not obliged to pay
the face value of policies unless all arrears have
been paid Mrs Stowell's words of appreciation
are non too strong for the kind and generous
treatment accorded her by the National Life.
H. E. TAYLOR & SON, Gen. Agts
BrattlebOrO, Vt.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
The situation In Siam.

The situation has become critical in the matter
Of the assault upon MIR. krllett, the American
vice. ulgeneral, says a despatch from Siam.
Minister Barrett firmly requests that a mixed
commission be appointed to invest gate the facts
The Samese government refuses. holding that
the investigation should be made by a Sianes..
court. Foreigners are unanimous in support Of
the American minister. The outcome of the cas-.
depends on action from Washington The Ger
man minister also has been attacked IN the streets.
An American engineer named Bennett and an
English attache who went to his rescue, were
savaRely beaten by the police.
Minister Barrett has bee n instructed 10y Secre.
tary Oney to press for reference of the assault
on Vice Consul General kellett to mixed tribu.
nal and for a prom pit hearing. The gunboat
Machias was ordered TO Bangkok to support this
demand, and is now there. II necessary other
vessels Of the Aslatic fleet " III be despatched to
Siam.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
MASSACHUSETTS NOTES.
The Vermont Healer In a Runaway Ac-
cident.

There was a lively runaway accident in Colrain
Tuesday night which was not without singular
and amusing features. Bradley c. Newell, the
Vermont healer, was driving 10 Shelburne Falls
from his home in Nottingham. When near the
Willis place in Colrain In turning out 10 pass the
Corain stage his sleigh was tipped over and he
was dragged some distance by the reins. which
finally broke and the horse started down the
road toward Grlswoldville a short distance be-
how Lyonsville the runaway team overlook and
collided with that of Ross Scott The shock OF
the collision threw Mr. Scott out and at the same
time tore his 81 Ugh from his horse and landed il
bottom up on that Of MIR Newell's when Mr.
scott recovered from his sudden ejectment he
saw his horse down the road, but where his
sleigh had gone was a puzzle which was not
solved until he reached Griswoldville where the
horse OF Mr.. Newell, drawing both sleig hs, had
been stoned.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
An Old Settler.

When the rheumatism first preempts certain
tracts of your anatomy it may be ousted easily
but when 1t becomes an old settler it is pretty
hard TO bulge. Remember this when you first
experience the first twnges OF this obstinate and
agonzing disease and attack 1t with Hostetter's
Stomach Bitters 1t will then make tracks" and
possibly leave you unmolested and in peaceAble
possession OF your own comfort IN the fuJur e
Peril always attends rh' umatsm, If il become
chronic, n account Of list n, ency to attack the
heart. Usually il is complicated with kidney
trouble. Certain It is that the kidneys when
aroused by the Bltters will eliminate impurities
which give rise to rheumatism and dTopsy. In
inclemrnt or wet conditions Of the weather the
Bitters, taken in advance, Will often avert rheu.
matte trouble. Use this genial family medicine
patton.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
Knocked Down and Robbed.
East Clarendon Man Relieved of Several
Hundred Dollars.

Deacon John G. Spencer. postmaster Of East
Clarendon complained to Sheriff Peabody Of Rut-
land Wednesday that his son, A H. Spencer,
town treasurer and a representative in the legis-
lature, was knocked down and robbed Of several
hundred dollars Tuesday morning. Spencer, who
was a mail messenger, had returned from the
early mail train Tuesday and as he entered his
woodshed two masked men knocked him down,
buc. led strap about his neck, and cut open his
pockets About $3.50 were taken from one pocket
but $50 was untouched in another pocket The
sheriff complains that this case was not reported
for 30 hours He was un BILE to get any clue to
this mysterious affair Spencer was found by his
father toward morning. He was partially un-
conscious.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
THE NEWS IN BRIEF.
A Scandal in India.
Famine Fund Appropriated for Military
purpOsts.

The famine in India spreads in area and in
creases in intensity. The famine fund fails to
mount up so rapidly as to warrant the sanguine
estimate that total of lOOO, tO0wiil be reached.
Thoroughly Trustworthy advices say that relief
will be required for about 3 800 coo people before
the famine abates, the period Of relief extending
to September next
The urgent and prospective pressure of the
existence Of the famine insurance fund. initiated
by Lord Lytton, as Nceroy, after the famine Of
1871 The government of India then undertook
to set apart annually 81 500, coo as "A famine fund.
A scheme of special taxation Tor this fund was
adopted and carried out What has been done
with the FUNGI II has teen largely misappro-
priated for military pun poses and worse stll, it
has been drawn upon to give compensation to the
vast body of civ ilian and military officials in
India, whose fixed salaries have suffered 10y the
depreciation OF the rupee The dishonor attach
ing to this scandal will tarnish for all time the his
tory Of British rule in India.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
A Respondent Merchants Suicide.

c W. EDDY, -. amerchaut at Alburgh Springs
shot and killed himself Saturday evening lie
had been in Canada aud on his return late in the
afternoon arranged with his clerk 10 deliver
some goods There-was no one at the house ex
cept his wife and mother. Soon after discharg
ing his clerk he stepped into tn adjoining room
and shot himself in the forehead, dying in
stantly. IL il thought uanCial embarrassment
was the cause. EDDY was the son Of Jack Eddy,
"A well 10 do farmer on the west side OF Alburgh.
He had bten In business at the Springs ABOUT
three years Before that he was in business at
Alburgh Center and was burned out HIS wife
is a daughter Of SAKE Hillaker. once the proprie-
tor Of the Atlantic house at East Alburgh.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
CENTRAL VERMONT RAILROAD
New London Division.
Taking effect Dec. 6, 1896.
GOTNH SOIrTu


GOING SOUTH.
Trains leave Brattleboro as follows:
$50 !. NJ, for Springfield and New York.
$40 A. NJ, for Mlllers Falls Palmer and New Lon
don. Connecting at Millers Falls with r1Jcn
burg h. R.. at Palmer with Boston & Albany
r. R., at Willimantic with New England r. r.,
at New London with N. Y, N. II. & II. r. r,
$40 A. H., for Springfield and New York.
1890 A. NJ for Millers Falls and stations on Fitch.
burg X. R., Palmer and stations ON Boston &
Albany r. R., and for New London.
2:lS p. NJ, mail train for Springfield
425 P. NJ, for Millers Falls and stations Fitch
burg r. R., Palmer and New London and New
York via Norwich Line.
4:37 p. NJ, for Springfield and New York. daily
GOING NORTH.
Trains arrive at Brattleboro as follows:
1928 A. NJ, from New York via Norwich Line New
London. Palmer and Millers Falls.
ll:06 A. NJ, from Springfield.
1910 P, NJ, from New London, Palmer and Millers
Falls.
2;O6 from Springfield and New York.
$40 P. NJ, from New York and Springfield
9:40 p. NJ, from New London, connecting from
Palmer, Miller Falls and intermediate stations
1905 p NJ, from New York and Springfield.
eS-Subject 70 change without notice.
ID. MACKENZIE, Supt New London.
8. W. CUMMINGS, @. p. A., st. Adams.
]. A. SoUTHARD, D. p. A, New London.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05

John Hoar, 80, who died in Greenfield Satur-
day, was native Of Westminster, and came to
Greenfield about 1874. The day Of his death was
the S3d birthday of his wife. They had been
married for 50 ears and had lived in the same
house for over half century MIR. Hoar was
relative Of Senator George +, Hoar and of the
late Pres ident Garfield
Asa F. Richards 76, president Of the famous
Adonai Shumo Of Peter~ham, Mass. died
at Athol recently, He born IN Hardwick,
Mass, and was mason by trade. He went 10
Petersham about - years ago, and had been con-
nected 18th the Fuerites most of the time since.
The Adonai Shomo corporation has lately been
declared insoyent The society was founded in
1874, and now all the original members are dead
except Ester Fuller. The society owes only a
small amount and has hundreds of acres Of land
as assets
Frank LOOMS, whose home was in Williams
burg and who had been working for c. s Thayer
Of HCckanum on his farm, was found dead in the
snow at Mt Tom station Monday by his brother
Howard. BY his side was quart bottle that had
COZ tanned whlskey, and il is thought the liquor
was the indirect cause OF death. Frank LOOMS
was In Northampton saloon with r. oward and a
party of friends saturday night, and lett there TO
go home. Howard did not return until Sunday
morning, and was not alarmed at first at the dis.
appearance of his brother. 1t is thought that
Frank LOOMS did not start for home until Sun.
day night, as he was seen in Northampton sun
day with some coured men.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05

The Underwood betting factory, occupied by
the W lllam sumner Belt company, and four ad
joining tenement houses at Tolland, Conn were
burned Sunday night, causing 50 200 loss
The Genesee Wesleyan seminary at Lima. n
Y was burned early Monday morning. c. L.
Robbins of Penfed. one of the students, jumped
from window and was fatally injured Two
others were injured The loss viii reach $50, 900
United States Senator Squire, in the late Sena
torial contest in Washington, was victimized out
of about $500 and paid out election expenses ag
gregating about $4,000 He received seven votes
for reelection.
Barthol, new Race Of Goshen, Utah, on Friday
shot and killed his wife who was III in bed with
a new born babe. and then killed himself. Their
eight little children, who were locked in the
r ON, narrowly escaped being burned to DEATH
the powder having ignited the bed clothing.
Three Indians were frozen to death in their
tents at the Cheyenne agency near Deadwood
S. OAK, during the recent severe weather, and
several others will die from the effects of the ex-
posture. Thousands of head of of cattle persisted
in the storm; 300 were found dead in ona place
Nevada is now the pugilistc paradise, Gov
Sader having signed the bill legazing prize
fighting in that state. II is expected that the
championship match between Corbett and FilZ-
simmons will take place in Nevada March H. and
several of the larger towns are Offering bonuses
for the mill
Thomas Fl. Stout, formerly of New York, who
arrested in Cincinnati Friday upon a charge
of forgery. involving $4,000, has been positively
identified there. Stout for some years was the
confidential bookkeeper the Wall street firm of
Jones' Kenneth & Hopkins. He always con-
sidered steady man until his sudden disappear
ance in 1891.
Several gangs Of men were cutting timber on
VIM. Thomas's farm near jackson, Ohio, Satur-
day, and two sawyers, who had cut tree almost
in two were resting, when the tree fell suddenly
on the cabin and crushed II. Three men In the
cabin were killed outright and two others were
fatally injured
President G. b Roberts of the Pennsylvania
railroad company died at Philadelphia Saturday.
He was born in Bala, Pa, In 1888 He was edu-
It'd or ha polufaahniR fns ri "a
aud in 1852 he became assistant engineer OF the
Philadelphia & Erie railroad. Just eleven years
after he entered the service of the company he
was made fourth vice president, aud almost i'm
medately afterward second vice president.
When Colonel T. A Scott was made president in
1874, he selected MIR. Roberts for first vice presi-
dent Upon Colonel SCOTS death in May, 1880,
Mr., Roberts succeeded him In the presidency.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05
state Owes College Two Millions.

special committee of the legislature appoint
ed TO investigate the accounts between the ST. tie
and the university at Tuscaloosa reported that
the state had appropriated during the past half
century about 81 100000 Of the funds belonging
to the college and arising from the sale of lands
granted the institution by the general govern
ment. The committee recommends that the
Legislature declare this Indebtedness and require
the state to pay three per cent annual interest
on it. The state now pays the institution intere /
on only S3O0,0OO. There appears to be no oppo-
stion to the committees recommendation.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05

The Bolt Trust has collapsed and prices have
fallen 20 per cent. The market is still democrat
ized, and there are prospects Of still further de-
clines. The Bolt Trust included in its control the
manufacturers Of machine and carriage bolts and
nuts. and lag screws. 1t was formed shortly af
ter the nail trust and j. H. Parks Of Boston as
commissioner drew a subsidy Of five cents a
keg on the entire output OF the manufacturers as
long as prices were maintained. Though the
combination advanced prices 80 per cent, il did
not 20 TO the eXtorliunate lengths Of its sister
ganization, and for that reason has lived longer
The shovel trust, which was formed about the
time of the bolt agreement is still working salts
factorily.