Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-04-21
From the ClaremOnt Eagle.
.,oc,trNG MURDER.

SHOCKING ny nD
,,ho most horrible murders in the
Doc Of 'u .;ne was perpetrated last Friday
Us l. u the village of Contoocockvllle' IN
oo0n" in IN this State. 1t appears that
psnIOu Titcomb and Russell, were at
tCop No shop together when some dis.
u 10 ''t Lo,ween them as to the quality OF
aIo .,syes. Titcomb became so enraged
30 , s;ao' IN large cudgel, an lnstru.
n1, "J in coopering, he struck Russell
ps' 'L Of the head as he was bending
be " %;S work The blow fractured the
5So,jIc,Irecked it like glass. Finding that
a' Joad Thcomb then began to contrlve
vas l ue~ ronceaIng the body, and removing
n u ~, Of his guilt With a degree OF
ssy,'I uyuI0d lerociiy, that could be looked
r' ", IN those Infatuated 10 crime, ne cut
OIL! :" and legs from the body, with the
al,"' !, is supposed, of concealing it in a
fnI0 .,J i q, night privately making way
rel, " IN the river or elsewhere. While
% +" 10 do this however, the barrel,
oea Az a. bis hands and clothes, became so
' { ,So, ABANDONING all attempts 10 con-
0Go \. '' Evidence Of his gull, he placed the
n ,pr of the body in corner oil the
n throw shayingS, slaves, &c. over them,
v . ,~ 70 bis boarding house to change
I1 and wash his hands. He re-
nod s' 10 The shop, and just before noon, set
Nv ,a the sbayings, and, fastening the door
S!l him went 10 dinner 1t is supposed
4 " aair Inv in the shop an houi or more
, WV Tilcomb thought of adding the crime
Wv .,soo to that of murder. AT dinner he
obssryed 10 be pale and i'll at ease, and
l.n asked why Russell did not accompany
be repliel that "the lazy devil hadn't
4 HE barrel done-but would be in soon"
=, dinner he returned to the shop, and in
4 s,d Of entering it, went to work in front OF
h bnildng. without pretending to notice
NJ rroaress of the flames, which had now
,r,n 10 issue from the building. While
/ ;sprey at work, several of his fellow-board-
Il. came up, and seeing the fire, were about
Sskins measures to extinguish it. Titcomb
prGe1ded to be as much surprised and
Manned at the appearance of the fire as the
Ill., First, (said hey let's save the neigh,
kodnr buiIdingsl" (There were several
mail buildings adlacent.) Where is Rus
EeNP was asked on all sides. "He is gone
[o,he other yillage!" said Titcomb by
l. Idon't believe but that he is in the shop
E HI this momenl"-said one, who began tc
have bis suspicious excited. NO" sale
FTicomb al agreed to meet him at the othel
Village, and must go there this moment.
| As l6e guilty wretch was about taking to hr
|heeIs, he was secured by several of the com
|pany and, though he offered good deal o
resistance, he was held down till entrance
could be had into the shop, and the trutl
| Known As tho door was fastened, and tn
flames were spreading within. it was neces
say TO tear down the building; which upol
being done, revealed The mangled corpse
and the bloody slaves which had been throw
over it in one corner.
TncOmb was carried to the tavern and pu
under arrest A coroner was sent for fror
Concord, and the verdict was that the d,
ceased came to his death by wilful murdel
On Saturday, Titcomb was brought before
Justices Court He appeared perfectly il
different and careless, and during a grei
part Of his examination no positive evidenc
was adduced that tended to fix the crime NJ
onhlm, or warrant his commitment. Whel
however, Mrs Crowell-the lady with whoI
he and Russell boaI ded-was examined, til
prisoner, BY hasty and incautious contri
dcon OF her, completely ensnared himsel
Mrs Z. stated that Titcomb came home frol
The shop twice in the forenoon, aud washe
DIS hands at is false" said Titcomb, "
dld not go home ttoice to wash my hands
"for what then did you go home the 9th
umeF 81 rent home 10 change my cloth
The ~, gaIlows buttons were broken off,
!, lhe Pantaloons were immeditaly sent fo
Inc blood upon them, and the snow still a
he'Ing to them, which had evidently be-
uSed 10 cleanse them ofthe stain, bore damn
Ole evidence of guilt, and seemed TO fix Il
crime lncontestibly upon the heart harden
prisoner Titcomb, who had been so CO
and indifferent before, now upon the appes
d AZ oil the bloody garment, said not VOL
ne was commiltcdto the Hopkinton Jail. a
Will IL, take his trial in August.
These are some of the circumstances
ending this dreadful tragedy-as elicit
lIOn ilIcomb' 5 examination, and as we ha
@ela from gentleman from this place W
was v, on the spot from Thursday night
monday morning. Titcomb was new CO
Wn flopklnton, about thirty-fve or fol
years oil age. Russell was some ten we;
Younger, an older resident ofthe town, who
parents reside in Hillsboro. The excl
Ne'l' was intense as soon as the inlelliger
VI 'IlS hellish deed spread from Hopkini
- tne neIghboring towns, and sent sucl
;ullll OF horror through the community, Il
was with the greatest difficulty the TO
SSae'nofllles could prevent the citizens of HI
anton and neighboring towns, who Gro,
gu about the tavern from rnsh;no ;nto