Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-04-27
Nous Of the AOrcIt.
Astonishing Revelations by Mes
merio Clairvoyance.
From tho Doslon Chronotype Of April 10

About the Goth of February, 1896 young
man, named John s. Bruce, aged about 10 years,
son of Mr.. Lewis Bruce, respectable farmer IN
Westford, Middlesrx county, started from his
fathers residence with span of horses and
sled load OF straw, lof the purpose of selling the
latter in this city. The distance being only %
miles, he was expected TO return the following
day. Days, weeks and months passed. however,
and no tidings were heard OF him by bis anxious
family, though dlligent search aud inquiry were
made.
1t appears that Mr.. Otis llildreth neghbor
who subsequently removed from Wcstford to
Salem, N. II. --arrunged with Bruce to take TO
Boston a small key to be filed with molasses for
him--which of course, was never returned. Mr..
lldrcth came to tie city on business in the sue
ceedng month Of july and happening to call in
the office connected with the stable of Edward
Eastman, in Deacon street. sur his keg there, and
Unidentified it by several marks. On inquiry ne
was told that it had been left there during the
winter previous, together with span of horses.
FROM the accoun's given, Mr.. iiildreth was
satisfied that the horses were those driven by
young Bruce, but of the latter lie could gain no
Intelligence except faint remembrance that
person Of similar description had been seen a.
bout the stable sometime the previous winter.
Upon his return to Salem, Mr.. lldreth wrote
TO Mr.. Bruce at Wesford, stating the above cir
cuustauces.
Some time after this, Mr.. Bruce was induced
by the solicitations of friends though himself
an unbeever Ia Mesmersm--to come to the
city and employ the carvoyant powers OF Mrs
Freeman, in Lyman place-a practitioner some
what celebrated tor her success in similar cases
In farther inquiry respecting his son. The
cldlrVoyant made some startling developments,
which were repeated at subsequent examinations
attended by both Mr.. Bruce aud IA daughter who
resided in Lowell and from the investigations
which they were able 10 make, it was conclusive
to them that there was much truth in the state
ments, although from the nature of the case II
was dihcut to ascertain certain things thus re-
vcaed, or even to connect the several luks Of
evidence so as to form a tolerbly complete chiin.
The principal features of the cairvoyant's
revolutions drawn out in fragments at different
times comprised the known facts concerning
young Bruco's journey to Boston, with the dec
lGratons that shortly after his arrival he was in.
duced by certain persons TO take something to
drink, which threw him into violent conYulsons,
of which he died that his body was concealed
for some time under manure heap, but after
wards taken by colorcd nan IN the night time,
carried out upon the water and sunk in the har.
bor-that 1t was subsequently discovered and
was Il be found in u certain tomb in The City Bu.
rial Ground on The Neck! The clairvoyant also
for the purpose Of obtaining money, &C., which
he was supposed TO possess, and that a certain
individual cogniZlnt OF these transactions had
since been dangerously ill., and came near dlvul-
gng them, &c.
These representations so inffamed the curios-
ity OF Mr.. Bruce and others to ms pect the Gem
etery, that OH Tuesday afternoon last, accompa-
MED by Mr. Franklin Smith, one of the city I'M
dertakers, they proceeded thlther for an examin-
atom Abiding by the minute instructions he
had received from the clairvoyant, Mr.. Bruce re-
quested that Tomb No. Is might be opened, and
if the remains Of his son we've not in the lowest
coffin in that tomb he would be satisfied without
further search. Mr.. Smith accordingly pulled
down some dozen or fifteen collins, and on pry.
ing up the lid Of the lower one, mirable dlctu
the father recognized the dress of his son within
the coffin!-he having been entombed with hi:
clothes on, as is usual when bodies are found lr
decayed condition.
Mr.. Bruce took from the coffin piece of the
pantaloons, the vest and the other articles de-
scribed, and returned home. As soon as it was
seen, the clothing was recognized by members
Of the family, and store-keeper Unidentified the
buttons, needles and thread as sold by him t
young Bruce the day before lie lett Westford.
The identity Of the remains being thus clearl,
established, the father, on application TO Mr.. Lin
cola, Superintendent of Burlals, was granted 1
perml; TO remove them, and on Friday afternoon
he conveyed them home, stating that he shoult
have the stomach analyzed; and thus this singu
| larly mysterious case rests at present.