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Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
The Coleraine Murder
The Coleraine Murder - As briefly stated in our last issue, Daniel Dwight, supposed to be one of the murderers of Joseph R. Farnsworth, was arrested Sat. night at the door of his father’s house on Catamount Hill, Coleraine, where he had come 5 days after the murder. There were 6 men, under Deputy Sheriff John Gould, stationed around the house, and between 10 and 11 o’clock, they saw a man coming up the road, which proved to be young Dwight.
They allowed him to approach near the house, when a signal was given, and they stepped from their hiding places. Dwight ran around the house in the direction of the barn, but he was then surrounded and forced to surrender. When taken into the house before his father, he fainted.
Dwight was confined in the lock-up at Shelburne Falls, and on Mon., Trial Justice Brainard of Greenfield held a court at the office of H.M.Puffer, Esq., and had the young man brought before him. A large gathering of people were in attendance, and among them Dwight’s wife, father and mother.
He pleaded not guilty, and the magistrate, without having a hearing of evidence, arraigned him on the charge of murder and continued the case to Mon. the 17th. Officers Swan and Gould then brought the prisoner to Greenfield,where he is now confined in jail. Dwight appears quite calm and is not disposed to talk much about the affair. He accounts for his absence and his whereabouts during the 4 days as follows:
"I had some trouble with my wife on Tues. aft., which had ended by my saying I was going off, and her replying that she hoped I would, and what was more, that I would stay away. She then started to go to father’s house, which is only a short distance from mine, and I started for a pasture where some of father’s cattle were grazing.
On the way I met Herbert Davenport, and together we went to Farnsworth’s house, and afterward went down the lane to the road leading to Shelburne Falls. Herbert wanted a cane, so we stopped and cut one, I bending the tree over while he cut it; but he did not carry it long before he threw it away.
From there we went through the fields directly to my house, where I changed my clothes and gave a suit to Herbert, as his were all patched and dirty. We left home about 5 o’clock, and went down the mountain to Heath, and then through Hartwellville down to North Adams, getting there on Wed. aft.
We walked all Tues. night.Wed. night we slept on the hills near North Adams, and on Thurs. morning, after staying a while in North Adams, we walked to Pownal on the railroad track. At Pownal we got on board a train which was returning with the firemen from the muster at North Adams that day.
At Petersburg Junction Herbert got left with some Salem, N.Y. firemen, because the train started so quick, and I could not get off, it was going so fast. That night I stopped at Greenwich, N.Y. and registered my name in the hotel book in full - Daniel J. Dwight, Coleraine, Mass. I remained there that night, but had nothing to eat, as I only had money enough to pay for my lodging.
[For more information on this area, see the Internet Archive’s "Williamstown, the Berkshire Hills, and thereabout"]
The next day I walked to Troy. I did not remain there long because I was hungry and sick, and thought I would go right home and go to work for father, and let my wife do as she chose. Coming back I got a ride part of the way on a freight train, and got to N. Adams Sat. aft.,and walked to central shaft in the tunnel, and from there I rode to the east end on the workmen’s train and walked to Zoar, where they let me ride on a hand car to Charlemont. From there I rode with a Mr.Wells as far as his house, and then went across the fields home".
A portion of Dwight’s story has proved to be true. Bradley Davenport and Wesley Woodard, sent to Petersburg Junction, sent back that two men answering the description of Dwight and Davenport had been there. At Greenwich, N.Y., Dwight’s name was found registered in full, as he had said, and there is nothing to show that Davenport was with him at the time.
The Davenport boy arrested - Search was continued for Davenport and finally he was tracked to Williamstown, and Thurs. aft. was found there by a Mr. White. He made no efforts to escape, but on the other hand seemed glad to give himself up.
He was brought through the tunnel to Shelburne Falls Fri. morning, and Trial Justice Brainard of Greenfield held a preliminary trial, arraigned him for murder, and continued the trial until the 27th. The Davenport boy’s narrative is substantially the same as that given by Dwight, but he does not deny that they killed Farnsworth.
He says their only object was to obtain money, that he had no enmity or ill will towards the murdered man. He and Dwight had made up their minds to go West and hoped to get enough money from Farnsworth to pay their expenses, but he says they only got about $4.
There were 2 sticks cut, he says, a walnut and a maple. It was with the latter that Farnsworth was knocked down. He says that he did not do the striking, though he was there. After he was left at Petersburg Junction, he wandered from place to place, working for something to eat when he could get employment, and was endeavoring to get back home.
Davenport is not of ordinary intelligence. He was dull at school, and has since been lazy and shiftless. Want of mental responsibility will be entered as a plea in his behalf. His mother says that he has always been a "strange boy". She has another son and a daughter who are bright, active and industrious.
Davenport was brought to Greenfield and lodged in jail on Fri. by Deputy Sheriff Swan. Both boys, who are allowed to be together when not locked in their cells, do not appear to be cast down or afflicted much with remorse. They will be brought before the Grand Jury at the November Court and if bills are found against them the trial will be before a special session of the Supreme Court.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Greenfield - George Woodard, the boy brought before Judge Conant for stealing a gun and powder horn, was on Wed. turned over to Gordon M. Fisk, the agent of the Board of State Charities, who has placed him in the State Primary School at Monson.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
Great fire at South Deerfield
Great fire at South Deerfield - over $40,000 worth of property destroyed. One of the most destructive conflagrations that has ever visited Franklin County raged at South Deerfield Sat. night, sweeping out of existence the two village hotels, the finest private dwelling house in the place, a manufacturing establishment, a livery stable with several buildings, sheds and other property.
About 15 minutes before 12 o’clock, fire was discovered in the trimming room, in the second story of the ell part of John Ockington’s carriage shop, which was located on Depot Street, a little west of the Main street of the village. Before the alarm became general the flames with almost lightning rapidity spread to the main building, a large 2 story wooden structure, used for the various branches of the carriage business, and a repository for finished work.
Mr. Ockington’s books were rescued, and a portion of his stock, but a carryall, buggy, express wagon, sleigh, and a no. of carriages in different stages of construction, tools and lumber and stock of various kind were destroyed. ..The wind, which was blowing strongly from the north and north west, carried the flying cinders in the direction of Main Street.
Ten and a half ft. from the shop was the livery stable owned by W. Houston and occupied by Frank Warren. Hardly 15 minutes from the breaking out of the fire the stable had caught, and in a very short time was reduced to ashes...The next building reached by the devouring fire fiend was the Hayden Hotel, a large 2 story wooden building in the south west corner of Main Street and Depot Street, 75 ft. distant from the stable. It was owned by L. Hayden and occupied by his son Charles Hayden.
...Nearly all the furniture was removed from the building, but still considerable valuable property was destroyed. Miss Benn Hayden occupied a fancy goods store in the block, and her stock was nearly all saved.
100 ft. to the south on Main Street was Loren Hayden’s fine dwelling house, built but a short time ago, the most extensive residence in South Deerfield, and well furnished. Only a part of the furniture was saved, and the building and most of its contents were soon in ashes. In the rear, 27 ft. distance, was a large new barn which with its contents of hay and grain were destroyed....
While the conflagration was waging its war of destruction upon this corner of the street, another had broken out with equal fury on the opposite corner. The Bloody Brook House, belonging to C.P. Aldrich, was in a few moments a mass of flames. This long building, extending over 100 ft. on Main Street, with a new ell on Depot Street, its barns and numerous outbuildings melted before the flames like frost beneath the rays of the sun.
Efforts were made to clear out the contents but they were mostly unavailing, and the furniture, a piano, billiard table, provisions, bedding, etc. were lapped up by the greedy element. In the large grocery store of L.T. Harris, in the ell part of the building, but little was taken out. Scudder, a jeweler, saved most of his stock, but shot himself through the hand while handling one of his revolvers. J.T. Burnett occupied a room as a barber shop, but met no serious loss.
S.F. Fisher, who had a harness shop in the building, packed his goods and tools in trunks, and saved nearly all. P. Corkins, the shoemaker, another occupant, was alike fortunate. Several boarders in the hotel lost their clothing, but fortunately no one perished or was seriously injured.
Providentially there was a change in the wind, and the fire made no further progress in a northerly direction; though a horse belonging to Edward Jones of Greenfield, which is adjacent, was scorched and vigilant watching was required to prevent it from igniting. O.S. Arms’ house, on the east side of Main Street opposite Hayden’s, was several times on fire. All of the furniture was taken out, and by cutting through the roof and applying water as best they could when flames were discovered, he and his neighbors managed to save the building.
On the corner of Main Street opposite the Hayden hotel, is a large wooden building belonging to C.A. Pierce. This too was scorched. and the roof was frequently on fire, but it was saved without serious damage. Its occupants, M. Roch, druggist, Boyd & Houghton, dry goods, Mrs. B. Parsons Mansfield, milliner, O.S. Arms, post office and shoe store removed a portion or all of their goods, and had them more or less damaged. William B. Houston, who occupied a tenement on the 2nd floor, had his furniture taken out.
Deacon L.H. Fellow’s house, some 20 ft. from the post office, was also on fire and its contents taken out, but the fire was kept at bay by the use of small hand pumps, such as are used in gardens and in washing carriages. C. Mosher’s livery stable was saved in the same way. Numerous other houses and buildings were at different times on fire, but the assembled people were able to put them out.
South Deerfield is without a fire engine, reservoir, or any organized means for extinguishing fire. The people who assembled in obedience to the alarm could do little but assist in moving furniture and goods, and the fire in the destruction of the buildings mentioned had it all its own way. Within two hours from the breaking out of the flames in Ockington’s shop they had done their work, and nothing was left but tottering chimneys and smouldering embers.
About a quarter past 12 a dispatch was sent to Springfield for help and an hour or two after, two steamers and a hose cart arrived, making the run from Springfield in 40 minutes; but it was too late to be of service, and if the engines had come earlier there would have been little water that could have been made use of. The train soon returned.
The Deerfield Guards, under Captain B.F. Bridges, who had returned from msuter the afternoon previous, were early called to guard the property scattered about the streets. Some disturbance was created by boys who had confiscated liquors, but it was quelled without serious trouble. The fire was seen for miles, and burning brands were carried as far as Sunderland.
Mr. L. Hayden was so prostrated from the excitement incident to the fire that there were rumors yesterday that he was not likely to survive; but these rumors were probably exaggerated. John Ockington, one of the principle sufferers, is away at the seaside.
[Article goes on to discuss policies and amount of insurance, but this is all nicely listed in the NYTimes article].
Though there is some doubt about the origin of the fire, the prevailing belief is inclined to incendiarism. There had been no fire about the carriage shop after 3 o’clock the previous afternoon. The place in the building where it broke out was quite a distance from the forging shop. The calamity is a serious blow to the community.
[See the article "Losses by fire" in the Sept. 6, 1875 issue of the New York Times Online Archive].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
Leyden
Leyden - Some foolish boys have been doing mischief to unoccupied houses. Patrick Dwyer's suffering the loss of considerable glass. They had better consult Justice Davis and learn what penalty the law imposes upon such rogues.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
(Greenfield) George Woodard, son of Elbridge G. Woodard, was arrested by Officer Bryant on Sat. and brought before Judge Conant for stealing a gun and powder flask at the tool shop, the property of Simeon Phillips, last March. The robbery was traced to the boy who is 11 years old a few days ago. His case was continued until Wed. noon, to permit the presence of a member of the State Board, who look after juvenile offenders.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 30, 1875
News about town: Greenfield items
A desperate plan was laid by two of Greenfield’s young roughs, to burglarize Charles Keith’s grocery store last Wed. eve. About 11 o’clock in the eve. Miles Mowry, a clerk employed in the store, accompanied by E.S. Seaver, cutter for Seward & Willard, had occasion to go into the store. In the dark Mowry stumbled over someone secreted behind the counter. He at first thought it one of the other clerks trying to play a joke on him, but dragging the fellow out, he proved to be Jerry McAuliffe, the boy who, two years ago, broke into the store then kept by Mrs. S.F. Warner.
He served an 18 month’s sentence in the House of Correction at Pittsfield, and returned to Greenfield July 17th. Mowry and Seaver took McAuliff into the street and delivered him over to night policemen Jones and Carbee. McAuliff, when arrested, had a long dirk knife in his hand, the sheath of which was found in his pocket. It was not suspected at the time that there was another burglar in the store, and so it was locked and left for the night.
It leaked out the next day, when McAuliff was brought before Justice Brainard, that he was not alone. Another fellow, he said, cut a light from the back window with a diamond, through which they both got into the store, and it was their intention to open the safe, his comrade having the necessary tools. The fellow, he said, was not 4 ft. from him when he was taken from behind the counter, and he had a revolver cocked ready to shoot anyone who took hold of him.
McAuliff would not tell the boy’s name, but from what the Justice pumped out of him, it was suspected that Willard Gillett, employed about the Mansion House, was the second burglar, and he was accordingly arrested. Gillett denied the whole thing at once, but owned up little by little, and finally pleaded guilty to the charge of breaking and entering the store, with the intention of opening the safe to obtain money.
His trunk at the Mansion House was searched and in it was found a seven shooter loaded with six charges, capped and ready for execution, a long sheath knife, a policeman’s "billy", a hatchet, a diamond for cutting glass, a chisel, etc., beside some boxes of cigars and a few articles that are supposed to have been stolen. The magistrate bound each of the boys over to the Nov. court in the sum of $500.
Gillett was at one time employed by Dr. Severance, who now recollects numerous things that turned up missing while he was around the house. He afterward worked in Field & Hall’s printing office, but found he hadn’t a taste for that kind of work and so gave it up. A "form" of type was found in his trunk, from which he had probably printed some obscene literature for the benefit of his boy companions. He was certainly equipped for burglary on an extensive scale.
The wonder is, that with one of these boys armed with a dirk knife, and the other a pistol, they did not assault Mowry and Seaver when they entered the store. Had Mowry been alone, he might have had ugly treatment at their hands. McAuliff is 17 and Gillett 18.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 16, 1875
An imitator of Jesse Pomeroy
The Boston Post says that much excitement was created in Newton, Mass. last week in consequence of the development regarding a youth named Archibald Jackson, who was examined before trial justice B.B. Johnson on the 3rd. Jackson, who is about 18 years of age and respectably connected, inveigled into a field a child named William Mullen. With Jackson was a boy named John Dwyer, 9 years younger, who was intimidated by his older companion to join him, not knowing for what purpose he was wanted.
When Jackson succeeded in getting the Mullen child into the field, he deliberately stripped him naked and then administered to him a severe whipping, after which he taunted the little fellow on his helpless condition. While thus engaged, Jackson saw approaching a girl about 11 years of age, whereupon he tied the limbs of the Mullen boy, and then called the girl to him. At first she appeared reluctant but was induced to draw near to Jackson, who seized and led her to the prostrate form of his little victim, compelling her to gaze upon the boy in his nude state.
He then released the girl who fled at once. Then he untied young Mullen, who dressed rapidly and was about to depart, when Jackson again approached him with the evident intention of renewing his atrocities. Young Mullen, however, was dressed by this time, and in such a desperate frame of mind, that when he saw his tormentor approaching, he drew out his pocket knife and threatened to stab Johnson.
The latter thereupon picked up an ax halve he had carried, dealt the lad a very severe blow upon one hand, compelling him to drop the weapon and flee for his life. He succeeded in reaching his home without further injury, and then gave information which led to the arrest of Jackson.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 2, 1875
South Deerfield
The "Report Card", which was used successfully last summer, will be used again the coming term. It enables the Committee, once a month, to look over the record of every scholar in town. And they and the truant officers look after delinquents.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 2, 1875
Henry P. Haynes
Henry P. Haynes of Boston, 13 years old, attempted suicide by shooting himself through the head with a pistol Sat., and cannot recover. He had been a very wild boy for years, and was recently detected stealing his mother's gold watch and chain, which he sold.
Somebody borrowed a dump car on Royalston grade Sat. night, and rode down as far as the car would go, and then left it on the track, when it was struck by one of the night freights Sun. morning, about half a mile west of Athol.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 12, 1875
Sunderland
There have been great exertions on the part of the parish committee and the inhabitants generally, for the past few years, to prevent the ringing of the church bells on the night preceding teh Fourth of July. On sun. eve., having secured the church from the possibility of entrance, they retired to rest, but the boys baffled all their precautions by climbing to the belfry. One narrowly escaped a fall from the top by clutching the lightning rod just as he reached the end of the roof.
They drew up a rope and threw it to their companions below and then descended. At the sound of the bell one of the parish committee was aroused, and securing the assistance of Constable Davis, attempted to disperse the crowd, when quite a skirmish ensued. Davis received a severe cut upon the face and some bruises, but they succeeded in securing the bell rope and preventing further disturbance. The boys may hear from them again, as their names are known.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 14, 1875
Robert Collyer
Robert Collyer [see Wikipedia] says the children must have less study and more fun. He is right. There is the boy in the family across the way. Last Thurs. aft. he put a dead mouse in his mother's work basket, attached a split stick to the next door cat, set the vinegar faucet up in business, palmed himself off as a ghost on the hired girl when she went down cellar after the butter, besmeared his father's choice bantam rooster with blue ink, and finally wound up the entertainment by tying the boiler to a strange dog's tail, and slipping down in the slush and hurting his back. His father hardly knows which to hunt up first - the strange dog with the boiler, or Robert Collyer.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 7, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Charles Cramer of Buckland, a lad of 13 years of age, was brought before Judge Conant last week, for stubbornness and truancy. He was found guilty, and turned over to the tender mercies of the Board of State Charities.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 31, 1875
Curious story of a boy villain
Cambridge, Mo. furnishes to the world one of the most precocious young villains of the period, and also one of the best illustrations of parental forgiveness. A boy named Pomeroy Beeding, who was inclined to be wild, was sent by his father from Cambridge to Fayette to School, where he soon got deeply in debt and became engaged to a girl, who broke a previous engagement to accept his hand. Mr. Beeding immediately took him home, and the boy having no money, formed a design to murder his father, mother, and brother-in-law, so as to get their property.
/ He offered a man named Stanton $1500 to do the job for him. Stanton, in order to expose the boy's criminal intentions, pretended to accept the terms, and made an appointment with young Beeding to meet him in a certain log hut one night, to arrange the details of the tragedy. Stanton got two men to accompany him to the hut, unbeknown to the boy, and while the latter was telling how he wanted the crime committed, the men sprang from an ambuscade, and seizing the boy, carried him to his father. Mr. Beeding had him horse whipped, gave him a draft for $50 and discarded him. The boy immediately left for St. Louis and has not been heard from since.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 17, 1875
Hartwellville, Vt.
One of the boys that was arrested just before going to the State Reform School, owned that Calvin Fuller was their leader, and that they had lived high all winter on chickens, apples, and wine they had stolen. He will not have to steal now.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 10, 1875
Hartwellville, Vt.
[Also appears to be Heartwellville Vt.] There were two boys arrested and put under keepers last Wed., Willard Gibson and Brainard Canedy, for breaking into the house of I.E. Reed. The people are greatly in favor of having such boys put where they will do no harm.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, April 12, 1875
News of the week
Michael Caveney, living in the southeasterly part of Petersham, who was injured lately as he said, by falling from a beam in his barn, but, as his family testified, by blows inflicted by his son, has since died. An inquest was held on the body, and the coroner's jury found that the deceased came to his death from a blow given with a flatiron by his son, David W. Caveney. The son, a boy of about 16, ran away but was arrested in Springfield.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 29, 1875
News of the week
The police of Lynn have broken up a gang of 5 youthful burglars, between the ages of 10 and 14, who have committed numerous petty robberies in that city for some time past.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 22, 1875
News of the week
A shocking murder took place Mon. in the criminal court at St. Louis. While a boy named Charles Woodson was on trial for the murder, last fall, of another boy named Boatwright, a brother of the latter, about 16 years old, stepped up to Woodson and said "You killed my brother. I will kill you" and plunged a butcher knife to the handle into his abdomen. Woodson fell to the floor mortally wounded, his bowels protruding in a terrible manner. Young Boatwright was immediately seized by the deputy marshal and placed in jail.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 22, 1875
News of the week
Miss Angeline E. Porter, M.D. of Reading, formerly connected with medical institutions in Kansas, has been appointed physician to the Industrial School for Girls at Lancaster.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 15, 1875
News of the week
In Bristol Vt. on the 13th, some boys for sport took a little dog, saturated his hair with kerosene, and set him on fire. The canine ran under Mr. Jimo's[?] barn, and the canine and the barn went up in flames together.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 22, 1875
(Greenfield) The gathering at the parlor of the Unitarian Church on Thurs. eve.
(Greenfield) The gathering at the parlor of the Unitarian Church on Thurs. eve. of the famous characters made immortal by the pen of http://www.dickens-literature.com/ Dickens , was the most enjoyable reunion of public characters that has taken place in this town for years. Mr. Toots, the Angel Gabriel of the occasion, whose horn summoned the members of the various families together, although he says "it’s of no consequence" may well be congratulated upon the success of his reception.
The http://www.dickens-l...pperfield/index.html Copperfield Family were represented by 15 members, among whom were Miss http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Copperfield_(1999) Betsey Trotwood , acting hostess of the occasion, who still retained her wonderful confidence in Mr. Dick’s judgment, Mrs. Gummidge, who if possible was more melancholy than usual because Dan’l was not able to be present, poor Peggotty, not yet "willin" to follow Barkis, for Mrs. Copperfield still needed looking after, and Mr. Spenlow with his big wig and gown, ready to give advice on "the knottiest of questions".
It was uncertain for a time if Mr. and Mrs. Micawber would come as Mr. M. was just entering upon a new business, but at the last moment they turned up. The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickwick_Papers Pickwick Club were all on hand with 7 of their associates. Unfortunately Mr. Weller had a previous engagement. The Clan, including their venerable chief, who was looking so serene that no one would suspect that his gigantic brain was hard at work upon the question of how best to keep his clothes in proper condition, were ready, with notebook and pencil, to make a minute of everything new they might discover, and in the course of the evening sang, with great applause, that little old English glee "We Won’t Go Home till Morning".
Mrs. Bardell, fainting, fell into the arms of Mr. Pickwick just as, unfortunately, the other members of the club appeared to witness it. http://www.plazatheatre.com/1988nicnic.htm Mr. and Mrs. Mantalini in gorgeous array, the http://dickens.thefr...cholas-Nickleby/23-1 Infant Phenomenon , who exhibited some of her surprising accomplishments, and Mrs. Kenwigs, with the little Kenwigs, were among the 11 from "Nicholas Nicholby". Mr. Mantali said he was having a "demnition" [?] one time. Amiable http://www.dickens-t...co.uk/pecksniff.html
Mr. Pecksniff , with his daughters Cherry and Merry, jolly Mark Tapley and Mrs. Lupin, with 4 other friends of http://www.dickensmu.../stairs/stairs15.php Martin Chuzzlewit , were tenderly cared for by http://charlesdickenspage.com/gamp.html Mrs. Gamp and Betsey Prig. Mr. Harris had the diphtheria and was obliged to stay at home. From the Bleak House came 10 characters. Mrs. Jellaby [also seen as Jellyby] continues very active in her African schemes, to the neglect of poor Caddy, and little Miss Flite is still expecting judgment. Mr. F’s aunt, with her very singular remarks, looked carefully after Little Dorritt, while Mr. and Mrs. Boffin were disappointed not to meet "Our Mutual Friend".
Caleb, Plummer, Bertha, Tilly, Slowboy and several others had heard the chirp of the "Cricket on the Hearth". Fagin, with three of his artful pupils, caused considerable uneasiness wherever they appeared, for some one was sure to lose a "wipe" about that time. Poor Oliver Twist had been taken away from the "Kind Old Gentleman" and was not present. http://charlesdickenspage.com/gamp.html Mrs. Jarley , the Marchioness and Dick Swiveler [also seen as Dick Swiveller] were the only ones from the "Old Curiosity Shop", and Miss Havisham and Estelle entertained "Great Expectations". Dolly Varden came for Barnaby Rudge, and Mr. Gradgrind, with his wonderful array of facts, represented "Hard Times". In all there were about 100 present.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 15, 1875
(Buckland) On Fri. the 5th, Sereno Forbes, after a brief but painful sickness, died of that terrible disease pneumonia. Up to within a week of his death, he attended school with the bright anticipati
(Buckland) On Fri. the 5th, Sereno Forbes, after a brief but painful sickness, died of that terrible disease pneumonia. Up to within a week of his death, he attended school with the bright anticipation of entering the dental profession at its close. He was a young man of sterling worth, and of that promise too seldom found among young men of the present age. His desire seemed to be to make those attainments in life which would be of the greatest utility to himself, and make him the most useful to his fellow men. Being easy to learn and of good nature, he was capable, and bid fair to qualify himself for worthy positions in life. Although he was not a professor of religion, yet he held in great respect the preaching of the gospel, and felt it no sacrifice to labor and give for its support. He was seldom, if ever found in mean or unworthy company, or associated in any way as a companion with those who were, regardless of those principles which go to make up the type of true manhood. Regularly every school day morning, we were accustomed to seeing him ride by on the Ashfield stage, but little did we think as we thus saw him, that on the morning of the 28th, that this was to be his last school day, and that we should see him no more as in former days, with a cheerful countenance and cheek aglow with health. But alas, it was so!...and in one short week, he whom we so much loved was dead. Though short, yet his was a well-spent life, and the name of Sereno Forbes will long be held in kind remembrance by all who were intimately acquainted with him...[short poem follows].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 15, 1875
(Greenfield) A little son of the widow Conkey, who lives at Cheapside, had an adventure the other day that he will not care to repeat. With another lad, he undertook to steal a ride on "Jake's" trai
(Greenfield) A little son of the widow Conkey, who lives at Cheapside, had an adventure the other day that he will not care to repeat. With another lad, he undertook to steal a ride on "Jake’s" train, jumping on at the place of stopping this side of the Deerfield River bridge. In some way he stumbled or slipped under the train and two cars ran over him. Jake whistled ’down brakes’ and went to the rear platform to see the urchin’s mangled remains. But instead of being a subject for a coroner’s inquest, the little fellow scrambled up from between the rails and struck a beeline for home, while Jake, shaking his fist after him, started up his train. Aside from a hole torn in the boy’s jacket, and the wholesome scare it gave him, he got out of the scrape unharmed.