The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-20
HORRIBLE AFFAIR AT GRAFTON, N. l.
ARREST OF BAPTIST CLERGYMAN FOR
THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
Correspondence of the Boston Mail.

THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE
Correspondence Of the Boston Mail
CANAAN, N. H., April 8, ls4s.
The quiet community of this charming in
land town has been thrown into feve.ish
terday of the Rev Enos Dudley, Baptist
clergyman of some note in these parts, in
charge of an officer, to undergo an cxamina-
ton for the murder of his wife, in the neigh
boring town OF Grafton, about FIVE weeks
since.
The facts connected with this horrible
charge as have been able to collect them,
are these; About the middle of March, Rev.
Mr. Dudley took his wife out to ride, and az
ter an absence of couple of hours, he return
ed to his house, bringing back the lady a
corpse. In explanation OF the tragedy, he
told his family that the sleigh upset, throwing
his wife violently against a stump, and caUs-
ing her death upon the spot He at once
proceeded to make a coffin with his own
hands, and with as little assistance as posi-
Bile, placed the body in it, The funeral was
conducted with haste, and marked by Il total
absence of all decent preparation and display.
The version he gave Of the manner of his
wife's death, appears at first to have been
credited; but the manner Of her burial, and
something peculiar in the conduct of the hus-
band, after the funeral, aroused suspicious of
foul play. AT the suggestion OF several of
the deceascd's friends, the lady was diSinter-
pd in the early part Of this week, and Il coun-
Gil Of physicians held post mortem examn-
ntion upon it. The result was a unanimous
opinion among the medical men, that the de-
ceased WAS strangled
This announcement caused an immense
excitement in Grafton, where the accused
was well known, and aside from some pccu-
liar leaning towards the doctrine of Miller
ism, much esteemed and respected. He was
Immediately arrested and conveyed to this
place, where the affair is now being investi
gated What adds still more to the mystery
OF this tragical affair, and the apparent guilt
of the accused, is the fact which has come
out during the examination, of his cores
pondlng for some time time previous to the
death Of Mrs. Dudley, with young woman,
q school teacher in this town; and tits rumor-
ed that his intimacy with her has partaken
of far more criminal character than mere
letter writing. In justice to the young lady,
however against whose character nothing has
heretofore been said | will state that the
latter charges are based upon mere rumor
She WAS called as a witness against the
prisoner, and is now being questioned before
the Justice. A son and daughter of the ac-
cused have also been upon the stand, and
their testimony, as well as that of the school
mistress, is represented as bearing fearfully
upon the guilt of the accused. The eXamin-
ntion | hardly think will be concluded be-
fore Monday or Tuesday. The most intense
excitement prevails in the village, which is
filed with people from Grafton and the add
joining towns.
l am told that Rev. Mr. Dudley has for
some time back preached the Millerite doc
trine in Grafton, and that he recently pre-
dicted his wife would soon die-the Lord
having, as he said, divulged that event to him
in advance.