Year: 1868

OF old Farmer Griswold and wife OF Williston. Wheh
er or not the young wife cherished affection for her
parents at the time Of marriage 1t is difficult to de-
termine. II she did her association with her new
partner in life caused her to very soon lose all pa
rental respect will be readily seen in the events
which followed. The mother MRS. Griswold) was
worth about $4,000 in her own name, and when
it was known that she had In her will
bequeathed it all to her daughter her son-in-law,
Potter as the story goes, active and energetic
in conceiving how he could get early possession Of
/ the property. Inasmuch as the will provided that
the property was not to be transferred until the
decease Of Mrs. Grswod the fastening OF that event
was the great object Of his ambition. 1t was shown
In the evidence on the trial that the services Of this
John Ward, alias Jerome Ieyjgne one Of that numer
Gus class Of roughs who for hundred or two OF dol
lars would undertake to furnish the decapated head
Of any man within twenty-four hours, secured.
The following facts were developed in the case:-
Potter came back to Vermont, and was followed in
borhood OF Wiston, and proceeded together to the
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. Grswold. Ward made
a careful inspection OF the premises, and then went
to WinOOsk, few miles distant, and stopped at
hotel over night, 1t having been agreed upon that
the murder OF the old woman should take place
order to have the coast clear and establish his own
innocence Of active participation In the crime,
Potter in company with his wife and old MI. Grs,
Canada to spend the day and night with some ac-
quaintances, leaving only old Mrs. Griswold and q
boy about ten years old at home. This
Ward Ward = performed his terrible part of the
the oase early TO in the and his
first act was to knock the old woman senseess.
Then he seized the boy, and after tying him hand
and foot locked him in one OF the chambers. Turn
ing his attention again to Mrs. Grswold he gave her
one or two more blows upon the head, and then
with some sharp instrument very skilfully lanced





blood had flown. He then dragged the inanimate


barn n and very n eo
Having thus carried out the terrible part assigned
him he went back to his hotel In Winooski and spent
the night, and on Monday morning lefc for New
York. There was OF course the widest excitement
when the murder was discovered, and there were
hundreds OF opinions as to who was the perpetra0r
The absence OF Potter In company with his wife and
Mr.. Griswold seemed to divert all suspicion from
movements Of the stranger at the hotel IN WinoosK
to indicate that he had any knowledge OF the tragedy
In fact, his going and coming on the night OF the
murder quiet that his absence was not known.


But murder will out" After an absence OF month
or SO in New York, during which time the officers
en- @ ae es
boldened return to Vermont to receive the amount
which Potter had promised him. Unfortunately for
the assassin express messenger one OF the YER
mont railroads, who saw him on his way to New
York after the murder, saw him on his return
seemed to indicate to his mind that he
was the murderer, but why. he thought





0fficer Flanagan. Of Burlington, who followed the
suspected party only few days until he had found
himself on the right track and In possession Of evil
length secured his conviction. When taken into
custody he was armed with all sorts OF dan
gerous weapons, and 1t Is the general belief that
he was contemplating the murder Of old GrswOld In
order that Potter might secure the rest OF the pro-
perty.


Potter was tried for the murder at the same time
Ward, but In his case the jury returned verdict
OF not guilty He is great bullying sort of fellow,
fhA farrnr nf Fol nfrfn Rv thn afrtn Jaofh
OF his mother-inaw he has since come into the
possession OF her property In accordance with the
terms OF the WILL lnasmuch as Potter cannot again
be tried for murder IL is In contemplation TO pro-
ceed against him an accessory to the crime before
the fact and he win probably be arrested on that


John Ward, alias Levigne who has just expiated
his part Of the crime on the gallows, was a pecu.
larly reckless criminal. He was one OF that sort
OF fellows who, as he once expressed himself, was
not afraid of God, man or the devil, and the very
above all others who would be likely to pick the
aisoDi hs neck. lie was only twenty-seven years
Of ags, and his natural talents, as well as
have made him useful and honorable
member Of society il they had been applied in the
and general build, with dark hair and eyes and
light fine skin, and withal fine looking fellow,
Prison here about fourteen months, and during the
whole time had enjoyed the best OF health. He had
ever been reticent on all matters concerning the
knew. nothing OF It until after 1t hap
pened. lie has been adverse to seeing
any visitors, and the officers of the prison
have been very careful that he should not or his
duct during his Incarceration there Is little TO be
gathered from those In charge Of the prison. Ine a,
very cautious about answering any questions con-
corning his prison life With considerable effort,
gated, but dodge oil direct questions. The reason OF
TINS probably Is that previous 70 his s,reo ex;
plan for the escape Of the prisoner and
but for the treachery Of OF the other prisoners
whom he trusted with letter he would probably
see friends, he was also opposed to receiving letters
from them, and fortnight ago, when ne was vas
handed the offcia announcement fixing the
day Of his execution, he stubbornly refused used
to read 1t, believing 1t to be 2 Iemer irom
some acquaintance. When convncea sad ~ Iv ~ over
carefully, merely remarking that II was al rignt ne
supposed, and he should Idle game.n In converse
his relatives he said that he had brotner In New
York city and sister In Watertown, N. T., but that
From the moment Of the announcement that day
had been appointed for his execution guard OF ten


men watched him day and night pu. , ne Was very % u
else, and almost up to the ias. seemed 70 pe
wholly Indifferent as to his fate He seemed
declaring in careless. rowdy, sort Of
a way that It "was all up with him now." He never
manifested any friendship for any one and for those
who were instrumental in bringing him to justice he
cherished the most bitter enmity. lie frequently
declared TO the officer who arrested MN taa ,,e ne
that he "mlght as well die for an Old sheep az q
amb.n He also declared frequently during the last
few days that he never expected to be hanged and
that he would have been out OF the way long ago
his friends in New York had come To the rescue as
they should.


IFS friends, however could not prove Of any ser.
vice In the hour OF his greatest need Law Justice
and a guarantee for the protection Of humanity re.
qulrod that John ward should be put to death, ana
In obedience to these demands he was execu,eu;; exea;
Yesterday afternoon the clinkng OF the carpenters
hammers, in erecting the scanold from when ne
was TO take one step eternity sounded his dea.
knel through the dirty corridors OF the prison. ana
for the FIRST time he seemed restless, sad and meu
tatiye.


THE LAST NIGHT.