Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-29
Murder!-A Mysterious Affair.

MIR. Richard Freeman, of Berwick, the
main portion of Great Falls Village, was
missed on Monday morning last, and has
not been heard of since. Suspicious were
entertained. from the first, that he had been
murdered, and vigorous efforts have been
made and are still being made to ferret out
the perpetrators os the crime. The most
intense excitement still prevails throughout
the village, and host of foolish stories are
current. We have taken all pains 70 learn
the truth in the case, avoiding all reports,
until substantiated, and give it below
On Sunday evening last, Mr.. Freeman
was at Oliver Fernald's bar room, in Ber-
wick, where he was known to have about
twenty-five dollars. 1t is probable that
when he left the house, which was between
nine and ten O'Clock, he had more money
than he carried there. This probability is
based on the fact that he was a shrewd
gambler, and from belief that there was
gambling in the house that evening. All
between his leaving the house at a late hour,
and the next morning remains mystery
Shortly after he left the house, horrid
shrek was heard, after which, various per-
sons in houses near by the bridge, across
the river, heard stified groans, of the most
painful nature, which not only excited GU
riosity, but gave evidence of something
wrong. Among those who heard these
cries may be mentioned as good authority,
Messrs. ID. Dearborn, and r. Janvrin, and
Mrs. Rev. j. Medium. Search was in
stituted on Monday morning, and his wallet
was found on little island in the river,
where it had been washed by the waves,
destitute of money, containing nothing but
receipt from man with whom he had
dealings.
The finding of the wallet n,oneyless, the
evidence of those who heard the groans, the
fact of his having been at the tavern, and in
such company, without shadow of doubt,
confirmed the opinion that it was case of
the foulest muder.
A meeting of investigation was held by
the citizens of the village-but nothing was
brought to light. The select-men of the
town of Berwick, early after the opinion OF
murder was established, offered a reward
OF $3.50, and the select-men of Somersworth,
$3.50, for the recovery of the body and the
detection and implication of the murderer,
making S675, which is virtually offered by
| the village OF Great Falls. Strong suspi-
cions have been fastened upon one James
Usher, recently from the N. III. State Prison,
who is reported to have been called James
Hammet, Charles Gardner, and Charles
Nutter. He and Luther Farnald, son of
the keeper of the Newichwannock House,
are now under arrest, awaiting the develop
ment of further facts. Messrs. Pitman, and
jenkins, in searching the premises Of the
tavern yesterday, found newly spilled blood
in the barn. Many stories are aAoat, which
are unauthenticated. One states that Usher
was suspected as having been connected
with the Parker murder at Manchester
The whole affair bears a mysterious APP
pearance, at present, but new facts will
probably be brought to light which may yet
show this community some truth of which
they have little dreamed. - Great Falls
Thursday Sketcher.