Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-01-04
From tho Providence Journal Of Tuesday.
Murder Of Mr. Sprague.

II
\ The Coroner's inquest on the body Of
Mr.. Sprague, failed to elicit evidence 10
| iasten the suspicion Of his murder upon
any individual DIR. Miller, who was
called to view the body Sunday eve
ming, found the following wounds upon
it:
/ There were FIVE wounds on the head !:
two on the back and upper part Of the
head, one inch in length each, and near.
ly parallel one on the left upper part of
the forehead, two inches and half in
length, and large fracture ofihe skull
and laceration Of the meCbrane Of the
brain, causing considerable escape Of
the same. About one inch from the
termination OF this, backward, and one
inch above the ear, is another, three
inches in length, with corresponding
and large fracture of the bone this frac-
ture extends to the back Of the head !;
another on the right side oflhe head two
inches and hall in length, two inches
above and forward of the ear, with a
slight fracture of the skull There was
IA confusion on the right side Of the head,
extending from the cheek bone and over
the temple, which depressed the former,
together with large portion Of bone
which forms the ri ight side Of the fore
head The skin was not broken at this
place. There was a blow on the left
temple, which fractured iae bone into
many pieces the bridge Of the nose
was badly fractured there was wound
on the lower margin and front of the
chin, one and a half inch in length, and
fracture ofthc bone al this part. There
was a gun shot wound in the fore and
right arm the ball entered at the end
wrist, taking an obliqne direction up
wards, and passing out four inches above
its entrance, on the top ofthe arm ; the
ball did not enter his head. No other
wounds were discovered.
/ Ii is evident that the murder was not
consummated without a severe struggle.
Il Mr.. Sprngue was an uncommony stout
and athletic man, and of determined
personal courage. The ground bore
traces Of an encounter, and appearances
indicated that there might have been two
assalants. The pistol which was found
was no, discharged although the percus-
sion cap had been exploded. A piece
Of musket- stock, with hair, clinging to
it, was found near the fatal spot and the
marks of blood were visible for distance
of seventy five feet. 1t would seem that
the assassins, or one Of them, fired at
him with a muskct or rifle, ms he was on
the brow of a slight declivlty which ter
minated in foot bridge. The ball en-
tered his right arm at the wrist, as de-
scribcd above and thus disabled, he fell
upon his hands, and, after recovering
himself, turned towards the bridge where
he appears TO have met his assailant -
Here the pistol was snapped, as would
seem from It's being found at this spot
Il He then passed on to the bridge nearly
\ half way across, and fell or was knock
ed off A scuflle appears to have taken
place here, and the marks of blood trace
the path to a direction OF some twenty
! five feet back, where the unfortunate
( man was found dead, ly ing upon his face
and weltering in his blood. The blows
on the head appear to have been given
by some smooth, blunt instrument, prob
ably the end of a musket
II There are strong reasons 10 suppose
| that the deed was not the sudden impulse
Of passion, but deliberately planned
A rock near the spot affords q place OF
conce ament, and tracks in the snow
were found leading TO it. Tracks were
also found leading to swamp in the
vicinity, but they coulG not, be traced
beyond it. His person was not robbed.
i Fifty three dollars in money and q gold
watch were left untouched in his pockets
Punder, evidently, formed no motive for
II The deed.
\ Various ruinors are a1nat, but none OF
them can be traced to any satisfactory
source, and no motive can be assigned
for the foul deed II cannot, however,
remain concealed the publicity Of the
act, the numerous friends OF the deceased,
and the public alarm, will all aid in
| bringing the murderer to account.
Il II is impossible To describe the shock
which this event has given to the whole
community. We have, indeed, been
familiar with horrid tragedies but, where
accounts have reached US OF murders
committed ~ other cities, and upon un.
known persons, the distance has prevent
ed us from viewing the crime in its full
atrocity. But when, within our own
borders, man we'll known and highly