Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-04-19
From the Boston IT. GueIIer.
AWFUL TRAGEDY-MURDE OF A
WIPE AND HER TWIN GIRLS

On Wednesday morning, between 3 and
iU o'clock, the e0dieS Of Mrs. Hannah ID,
Pearson, and her swim daughters four years
OF age, were found at their residence IN
Wilmingt0p, Mass, neaI Andover, dead,
with their throalS cut and otherwise man>
gled. This discovery at once created a
great excitement Among the inhabitants Of
the town, and q coroner's inquest assembled.
Il appeals that the deceased had for the IaS1
eight moRshs lived separately from her hus
band, Thomas B. Pearson, who pretended
TO be Jealous Of her, though it is the unani,
nous opinion OF the towns people without
shadow Of cause. Latterly he has been en-
ployed in this city, and is not knowa TO
have visited The town where she lived, On
the night previous TO the finding of the bo"
dies, the father of the husband visited her,
when she appeared to be in unusual good
spirits. This is the last that was seen Of
her alive. Under the circumstances, the
Jury returned a verdict of wilful murder by
some person or persons to them unknown.
Yesterday, the husband, who could not
be found in this city when taey came to tell
him OF what had occurred made his appear.
ance at the Western depot, and was forth
with taken into custody as the murderer.
Upon his face was several scratches, which
would seem to have been Inflicted in the
death struggle of the wife and molher.-
There was also mark upon his wrist, and
another upon his arm. These marks be
accounted for by saying that he got into
squabble with an Irlshman in Providence !;
but when asked if he could point out the
place where il happened, said that he could
ncs The chief evidence against him is,
that he was seen near the house of the de.
ceased on the night previous to the murder,
and again the ne&t morning was met on his
way to the Junction at Wi mingloA. The
peighbor remarked the scratches upon his
face, but as Pearson seemedto he in hnr>
ry to catch the cars, did not have much
converse lion with him.
After his arrest, he was taken 10 Read
ing, where seven al of his townsmen vent in
TO see him, One of them remarked to him
that he had seen his wife and children and
a more ghasuy sight his eyes never looked
upon. Pearson attempted to appear uncon.
ceraed but was only partially successful.
He remarked that cases of suicide were al.
ways horrible, or something to that effect,
il being his design no doubt, 10 give the
idea that she took her own life and those
of her children. Indeed, after performing
the dreadful act, the murderer placed the
knife in the hands OF the deceased, in a
way to give coloring to such superstition,
had not the mangled state Of the remains
al once repudiated it.
We learn further, that the accused has
been employed as domestic in family at
the Wess End, in This city, for some years.
That week age, he settled with his en-
ployer, sayiag that he was going 10 live in
the coNnlry. When arrested. he said he
had been on a joarney to New York, and
had been absent for five days, which was
untrue, as he was seen by different persons
in the vicinity of his wiie's residence on
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Pearson is to he examined al l O'clock,
to-day, before Justice al Reading, aud
will NO doubt be fully committed to take his
trial for the murder of his wife and children.
P.S,-We have since learned that Pier>
son was examined o. Reading Court House
and the circumstances against him proving
sufficiently strong, he was committed to take
his trial for murder before the Supreme Jn-
Gicial Court at its next term, to be held at
Cambridge.