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Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 30, 1875
What savages think of twins
In Africa according to Dr. Robert Brown ("Races of Mankind") the birth of twins is commonly regarded as an evil omen. No one, except the twins themselves and their nearest relatives, is allowed to enter the hut in which they first saw light. The children are not to play with other children, and even the utensils of the hut are not permitted to be used by any one else.
The mother is not allowed to talk to any one not belonging to her own family. If the children both live till the end of the 6th year, it is supposed that Nature has accommodated herself to their existence, and they are thenceforth admitted to association with their fellows. Nor is this abomination of twin births restricted to Africa.
In the island of Bali, near Java, a woman who is so unfortunate as to bear twins is obliged, along with her husband, to live for a month at the sea shore or among the tombs, until she is purified. The Khasias of Hindostan consider that to have twins assimilates the mother to the lower animals, and one of them is frequently put to death.
An exactly similar belief prevails among some of the native tribes of Vancouver Island. Among the Ainos, one of the twins is always killed, and in Arebo in Guinea, both the twins and the mother are put to death (Popular Science Monthly).
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 23, 1875
A widower's tribute
The Boston Globe tells the following as a "true story". A minister, newly settled in one of the "waste places", was walking in the village cemetery one day, when he saw one of his parishioners standing by the "family lot". "Are these the graves of your children?" he asked. "Yes", said the man, looking about. "Here is Tom, there is Bill, this is Mary, that's the baby", and then, pointing contentedly to a corner gay with flowers. "There lays the old woman, all blowed out".
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 5, 1875
News of the week
Attorney General Pierrepont has decided that the German boy who was born in the United States and whose father afterward returned to Germany and renewed his allegiance to the Emperor, has two nationalities. He is a German until he is 21 years of age, when he becomes an American citizen, entitled to all the rights and privileges of one born on our soil. [See Google Books "The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography" from 1895 for more information and a photo].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 14, 1875
News of the week
A woman died in Morelia, Mexico the other day, at the age of 132, and over 200 of he nearest relatives, among whom were her two sons of 90 and 100 years, were at her funeral.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 17, 1875
Shelburne Falls
E.G. Lamson is building a fine large hen house, with roomy accommodations for doves. That last provision will necessitate the scouring up of all the old shot-guns in the village.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 10, 1875
A sad sequel to an unhappy married life
The sad story of the death of Mrs. Anna Curtis, soprano of the Church of the Atonement in New York from the effects of an abortion, and of her previous unhappy intimacy with Benjamin Gregory, the organist of the church, has a sequel equally sad. Her husband, Tyler Curtis, who was in San Francisco at the time of her death, received the sad event from a telegram asking him what should be done with his wife's body. He hurriedly telegraphed to have the body placed in a receiving vault until his arrival. While packing up his effects preparatory to leaving San Francisco, he got an evening paper in which he read with grieved amazement the story of his wife's shame. Dazed and heartbroken, he took the train for New York, where he arrived on Apr. 8. The sudden shock to his feelings was too much for him to bear, and he sank rapidly, dying on Thurs. from grief and prostration under the blow which he had received. [For more on this story, see the New York Times article of March 19, 1875 entitled "Mrs. Tyler Curtis' Funeral"].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 22, 1875
Montpelier has a first class sensation in a suit for damages for breach of promise and seduction
Montpelier has a first class sensation in a suit for damages for breach of promise and seduction, brought by Miss Hattie J. Bradshaw of Manchester, N.H., against John W. Page, a graduate of Dartmouth and son of the wealthy banker and State Treasurer, John A. Page http:/
oliticalgraveyard.com/bio
age.html Another suit is entered by the same plaintiff in the same court against Dr. J.N. Brigham [probably Dr. Gershom Nelson Brigham http://homeoint.org/history/bio/b/brighamgn.htm ], a well known physician of Montpelier, for procuring an abortion upon her.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, January 11, 1875
"A Chapter for Women, By a Woman" (poem by M.M.W.)
"A Chapter for Women, By a Woman" (poem by M.M.W.) - "Good gracious, Zeke, what ails our world? / What are our women saying? / Dressed so like dolls, and why those men / So like wild asses braying? / Tut, tut, dear Miss, if you were me / With pretty babes to nourish / Of words, about your "equal rights" / Is simply made of fancy / I'm sure the world no better is / To Jonathan, than Nancy / Indeed, she takes the roughest part / Lets no rude hail storms pelt her / But when life's storms beat cold and hard / Provides for her a shelter / The trouble is, Madam or Miss / Your pride usurps your senses / In good old times, when I was young / We heard none of this whining / Saw not fair forms for "liberty" / Or freedom sadly pining / They found their sphere without the aid / Of Women's sly "Conventions" / And to be faithful in that sphere / Was ever their intentions. / Was it a daughter? She could make / And wash her clothes. A mother? / She could always tend her child / And welcome yet another! / But now adays, alas! alas! / Girls sit all prim and painted / Miss Blank was asked to wash her clothes / And for the insult, fainted! / Her sphere is "higher", yet her ma / Works hard with no assistant / While daughter dear, for wider sphere / Lectures and begs persistent. / As for the married of today / They do not "help", but hinder / A laboring man, as well might burn / His money to a cinder / As to expect his wife to save / Or add to it, a dollar / She'd spend the wages of a week / For one ride, for a collar / And as for children, is he "mad" / To bring such bothers to her? / "No sir, I'll never be tied down / To young ones, sir". Nor do her / Unnatural feelings rest at this / She kills her fine affections / And boasts that she has power to rend / All such unliked connections / And if, by watching faithfully / (Aided by her physician) / She sees a child approaching her / she pleads a better "mission" / Which simply is but visiting / Dressing, http://webtext.libra...2html/music/ci-d.htm piano drumming / So, when the babies start for her / She kills them, while they're coming!!! / "Lo! children are a heritage / From God", the Word declareth / But such a heritage as now / The world most gladly spareth / The precious gifts are counted "plagues" / Few arms with joy enfold them / They Heaven's gifts! Then glad would we / Let Heaven forever hold them" / And yet, such plagues some women need / To bring them to their senses / To keep them in their proper sphere / And kill their vain pretenses / O woman, first learn faithfulness / In labors God ordained you / And never yet a burden gave / Where grace would not sustain you / Then we more readily would yield / for you to build our nation / As yet, we think you've work to do / In your becoming station". Erving, Mass.
Gazette & Courier - Tuesday, November 10, 1874
(Whately) A pleasant occurrence with the people of this quiet town came off in the Congregational Church on Tues. eve., Nov. 3rd, in the marriage of S.B. Crafts, Esq. and Miss Helen Graves, youngest
(Whately) A pleasant occurrence with the people of this quiet town came off in the Congregational Church on Tues. eve., Nov. 3rd, in the marriage of S.B. Crafts, Esq. and Miss Helen Graves, youngest daughter of the late Randall Graves. The church was prettily trimmed for the occasion, beautifully lighted, the company in attendance being large and brilliant. Upon the entrance of the bridal party to the church, the organ pealed forth its loveliest strains. In fact, "all went merry as a marriage bell". The happy pair left the same evening on their bridal tour northward, carrying with them the best wishes of friends and neighbors. A long prosperous and happy life to them.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 30, 1873
Execution of Albert H. Smith
Execution of Albert H. Smith - Albert H. Smith was hung in the Jail yard at Springfield on Fri., at a quarter before 11 in the forenoon. About 150 persons witnessed the execution. Among others, Sheriff http://www.gencircle...jsbarto1/1/data/9476 S.C. Wells , C. Bryant and G.A. Kimball and Constable Henry F. Hutchinson of Greenfield. Previous to the execution, a portion of the 51st psalm was read, and a prayer was offered by Rev. William Rice, chaplain of the Prison. Smith remained standing and was at once approached by Sheriff Randall, who pinioned his wrists with leathern straps which had been prepared for the purpose. This done, Sheriff Lathrop led him under the gallows to the stairs by which he was to ascend to it. Smith walked with a quick firm tread, and even proceeded the sheriff and led the way up on to the gallows. He stepped boldly upon the drop, and after a brief delay sat down in a chair that was handed to him. Then for the first time he seemed to manifest some slight emotion, although it was so slight that few except those dearest to him, noticed it. The death warrant was read by the Sheriff, after which Smith made the following speech: "Gentlemen, I suppose, in your minds, there is a doubt which I wish to clear, and that is this: I suppose this doubt, of my relations to the girl. Those reports that I made are facts - of my criminal intercourse and the abortion, they are all facts. Here I stand on the drop and it would be useless for me to say anything but the truth. All the accounts of my intimacy with the girl are true - of my engagement with her. I went to Westfield to meet a friend, who told me that Jennie was walking with Sackett. On the 8th of Nov., saw Mr. Sackett on the foot bridge, and told him of my relations with the girl, and told him of my engagement with her. He promised me then and there to surrender all claims upon her, told me that he would not have anything more to do with her. Went over to Westfield that night, and was told that Jennie and Mr. Sackett had gone to the theater . My feelings were not feelings of revenge. If I had wanted to murder the man, might I not have done it on the night of the 8th of November? I had no malice, and did not care to murder the man. I told him I had no malice toward him. I had no malice toward her or Mr. Sackett. Can you not believe what I say, and cannot the people believe me? Cannot the world believe me, cannot the people, and you, gentlemen, believe what I say to be true? I do not say this to injure her character. I have no more motive to injure her character than I have to injure my own. These words are all true, and I cannot speak them when I am dead. I did this when I was engaged to the girl and a long time before Mr. Sackett knew her. He told me that he would give her up and have nothing to do with her in the future. I do not ever remember of my ever telling the girl that I would speak about her to injure her character if she did not come with me. I say I told her that I would make her face look blacker than it was then. I do not bear her any malice, nor anyone. Now these are the words written at my request, to be placed over my head in my dying hours. May I meet you all in Heaven. Farewell to you all. I trust you will all meet me in Heaven, where I am prepared to go. Farewell! Farewell!" Smith spoke in a rapid nervous way, which betokened extreme excitement, although it was not essentially different from his manner of speech in prison, whenever he has talked about "the girl". After he had finished speaking, one of the sheriffs took a letter from the condemned man's pocket, and placed it in his pinioned hands. He managed to raise them to his lips, after which he kissed the letter fervently, and it was returned to his pocket. His arms were then tied behind him, Smith smiling even when this was done. He then shook hands with Sheriff Bradley and the deputies who were on the scaffold [with his hands tied behind his back?]. Deputy Sheriff Cooley placed the rope up around his neck, yet he did not flinch or quiver. The black cap was then drawn down over his face; the pins which held the fatal trap were removed. Sheriff Bradley placed his foot upon the spring, and at 45 minutes past 10 o'clock, Albert H. Smith was launched from time into eternity. He died without a struggle. After the body had hung about a half hour, it was taken down, placed in a plain coffin, and taken to Baltimore for burial, on the I.P.M. train.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 7, 1871
The dead body of a child found
The dead body of a child found - Three boys, the oldest but 10 years of age, found on Mon. the body of a female child floating in the river near Sunderland Bridge on the Deerfield side. Coroner http://archiver.root...L/2002-04/1020045398 Samuel J. Lyons of Greenfield was at once notified and took possession of the body. The child could not have been over 5 or 6 days old and bore marks of not only having been murdered, but of the most brutal mutilation. The scalp had been cut from the head by a sharp knife, probably to prevent identification, and the skull pierced by some pointed instrument. A jury consisting of http://www.memorialh...age.jsp?itemid=15457 Dexter Childs , C.B. Tilton and George H. White of South Deerfield and Horace Lyman, John R. Smith and http://www.townofsunderland.us/HAYRIDE.html Albert Hobart of Sunderland, held an inquest Tues., and it is their verdict that the child came to its death by some sharp instrument in the hand of person or persons unknown. The Selectmen of Deerfield have taken hold of the matter and should spare no efforts to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 24, 1874
Mrs. Patrick Sullivan of South Braintree died Tues., from an abortion procured through the instigation of her paramour named John Thompson, a man of family. Before her death she confessed, implicatin
Mrs. Patrick Sullivan of South Braintree died Tues., from an abortion procured through the instigation of her paramour named John Thompson, a man of family. Before her death she confessed, implicating Thompson.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 1, 1874
According to the Wilmington Gazette, ther is a woman living in Pencader Hundred, Newcastle County, Delaware, who has been married 24 years,
According to the Wilmington Gazette, ther is a woman living in http://www.hsd.org/DHE/DHE_where_hundreds.htm Pencader Hundred , Newcastle County, Delaware, who has been married 24 years, and who last week gave birth to her 23rd child, which makes her record one child per year since her marriage.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 3, 1873
(South Deerfield) For sale, a large 2 story house with ell and about one acre of land in a high state of cultivation, situated in the village of South Deerfield, Mass., within 5 minutes' walk of the
(South Deerfield) For sale, a large 2 story house with ell and about one acre of land in a high state of cultivation, situated in the village of South Deerfield, Mass., within 5 minutes’ walk of the High School, post office and depot. The house contains 16 good rooms, with convenient pantrys, closets, etc., well calculated for keeping boarders or for 2 families. There is quite a variety of young thrifty fruit trees and grape vines, hard and soft water, a new barn - in fact everything connected with the place is in good repair. Also, a lot of household furniture, consisting in part of 1 first class piano, 3 chamber sets, 5 or 6 stoves, dressing tables, bedsteads, chairs, crockery and other things too numerous to mention. If not previously disposed of, the whole will be sold at auction on or before the first of April next, due notice of which will be given by posted handbills. For further particulars inquire of S.M. Rose on the premises, or of William Warner, Jr.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, January 10, 1870
Dr. A.F. Shannon of Adrian, Mich. was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for causing the death of Mrs. Abigail Duryea by abortion.
Dr. A.F. Shannon of http://www.ci.adrian.mi.us/ Adrian, Mich. was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for causing the death of Mrs. Abigail Duryea by abortion.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 10, 1873
Melissa Brown of
Melissa Brown of http://auburn-in.com/index.asp Auburn, Indiana drowned her illegitimate child in a well and took morphine herself the other day, and the discovery of her dead body was the first intimation of her trouble that her friends had received.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 24, 1873
The newspapers down East have discovered a family in Oldtown, Me., in which there are 14 children
The newspapers down East have discovered a family in http://www.walden.or.../o/Oldtown_Maine.htm Oldtown, Me. , in which there are 14 children, all boys, the oldest of whom are but 7 years of age. There are 4 sets of twins and two of triplets.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, January 30, 1871
Pittsfield has a case of child murder, the victim being the babe of an unmarried girl, the daughter of a widow in poor circumstances. The
http://www.townstuff.com/townhome.cfm?town=237 Pittsfield has a case of child murder, the victim being the babe of an unmarried girl, the daughter of a widow in poor circumstances. The child was strangled to death by its grandmother.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, December 1, 1873
A colored boy named Samuel Agge, 17 years old, quarreled with a woman named Mrs. Kelley, Sun. at Washington, about the pay for sawing some wood, and drew a pistol and shot her dead. He then escaped,
A colored boy named Samuel Agge, 17 years old, quarreled with a woman named Mrs. Kelley, Sun. at Washington, about the pay for sawing some wood, and drew a pistol and shot her dead. He then escaped, flinging his pistol into his own house door as he ran past, and saying "I’ve done something now that will send me to hell or some other place". His mother says she has had 21 children, and that on the father’s side it is a bad race. An older brother murdered a woman in Virginia 20 years ago and she hoped this one would be taken care of.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, December 1, 1873
(Athol) The trial of Dr. John W. Snow of Athol for having procured an abortion on Eliza A. Flint of Winchendon last May, commenced in the Superior court at Worcester on Tues., the physician sent to A
(Athol) The trial of Dr. John W. Snow of Athol for having procured an abortion on Eliza A. Flint of Winchendon last May, commenced in the Superior court at Worcester on Tues., the physician sent to Athol by the court to investigate his alleged illness, reporting that he was well enough to appear in court. The woman told her story, which was quite clear and apparently trustworthy, and her paramour confirmed her statement in his testimony Tues. Snow’s defense was an alibi, his counselor trying to prove that on the day of the alleged abortion he was in Norwich Vt., but the jury couldn’t see it, and Snow was convicted. The case will be carried up on exceptions, however. The case gives one a rather bad idea of morality in Winchendon, if the parties whom it brings into notoriety can be taken as a fair sample, the woman being a member of the Orthodox church, and the man of the Unitarian.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, November 3, 1873
(Athol) "Dr." John W. Snow has got into a tight place, because of an alleged abortion, and has been formally indicted by the Grand Jury at Worcester and bound over in $5000.
(Athol) "Dr." John W. Snow has got into a tight place, because of an alleged abortion, and has been formally indicted by the Grand Jury at Worcester and bound over in $5000.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 24, 1871
Florence Mitchell of Litchfield, Minn., a school teacher, of highly respectable parentage, was arrested recently for infanticide, and the dead child was found in her trunk. Justice Young discharged t
Florence Mitchell of Litchfield, Minn., a school teacher, of highly respectable parentage, was arrested recently for infanticide, and the dead child was found in her trunk. Justice Young discharged the prisoner, and she immediately fled the country.
- Fri, Feb 6, 2009
