Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-04-20

MURDER IN IIoPKISTON, N. H.-The Ex-
etcr News Letter publishes the following
letter, giving description Of a murder COM
mitted at Ilopkinton, which for atrocity,is un-
parallced in the annals Of crime in that State.
Concord, April sU, lS37.--To-day, John
George, Esq. of this town, held coroner's
inquest Mt the West Village in Hopkinton,
upon the body of Mr.. Israel Ii. Russell, aged
% years, son of n worthy Revolutionary SOL
tlier in the town of IiIlsborough, who was
murdered, as appeared on evidence before
the coroner's jury, by Mr.. John S. Ticomb,
aged about 25, formerly of Newburyport,
Mass. Russell and Titcomb were both sin
gle men, had aborcd together at the cooper
ing business, and boarded together near the
shop in which they worked. Yesterday u
bout half past ten o'clock, A. NJ, young
man of their acIuai intnnc c, was in the shop,
and found them discussing the question,
"whethor people are predisposed to murder
each other for money!" During short dis
cussion, TitcOmb remarked that people
would sometimes commit murder without any
hope Of gain. This remark however, made
no impression upon the young mans mind,
and he Withdrew, leaving Russell and Tit
comb busy at their work.
. At ] | o'clock, Mr.. Wyman, the proprietor
of the shop, was in, and found them quietly
at work. At ~ o'clock, Titcomb went to his
boarding house, washed and shaved himself,
and seemed so much Disconnected as to lead
the lady of the house to inquire what had
happened. that he looked so pale, and appear
ed so much agitated. This so Disconnected
him, that he returned Immediately to the
shop, from which he was soon called to din.
ncr, and when he was asked why Russell had
not come with him, he replied that he re-
mancd behind to finish shaving three or four
slaves that completed certain lot. He ent
quickly, quickly returned to the shop, set it
on fire, and walked into the street. The fire
was soon discovered and the alarm given,
when the people collected in great numbers,
-TItcomb among the rest.
/ The roof soon fell IN, and the flames we're
cxtngnishcd, when the body Of Russell was
found burnt badly beneath the bench at the
side ofthc shop, where it had been thrown
by Titcomb, and covered with shavings and
slaves to some depth. Both legs were bro
ken above the knees, and both arms were
broken above the elbows, evidently showing
that the murderer attempted TO put the. body
into barrel to conceal il. 1t was apparent
also that Russell was killed by severe blows
on the head, while seated on the shave-horse,
witheut having made the least resistance.
Titcomb is now in Jail, at Hopkinton, to
await his trial next September. phe reader
is ready to ask,had Rum any thing to do with
this horrid affair? Ajug of rum ,cas found in
the shop, Of ,c'iich ITtcon,b had dranken frtely
Russell FOR the last three months, had aban-
doned the use Of Intoxicating liquors, and
was mild and inoffensivc man. No cause
is known why this murder was committed.
Most Foul TiAany.-On the night Of the
last Fast. some villain went on the farm Of
Sam. ID. Torrey, in the town Of Milbury, with
an axe or hatchet, and cut down over 100
choice peach, pear, cherry and other fruit
trees, in the orchard, and all the grape vines
in the garden. The trees were from three to
five years old, and they had been selected
with great care, and cost the owner over
$1,000. The scoundrel richly merits cxem-
pary punishment. He ought to be confined
in solitary cell, never to look on bud or
blossom again until his crime is fully expiat-
ed Boston TrnnscyiDf