The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-08-02
From the Buffalo Republic.
Awful Murder in Michigan,

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From the Buffalo Republic.
Awful Murder in Michigan.
The facts Of an atrocious murder
have recently come to light in a very
peculiar manner The murder was
committed in ST Joseph county Mich
lgan, and the circumstances are thus re-
dated by friend of the murdered man.
1t seems that Mr. Thomas Eastabrook,
of Reading, VI, who formerly resided
at Alden, in this county, left Reading
in December last, to go to St. Joseph
county, Michigan, where he was engaged
to marry lady, who also resided in
this county, and where he interded to
reside Ho reached the railroad station
near White Pigeon, and within ten or
twelve miles of the residence of Mr.
Wood, where no expected to meet his
bctrothed Here he procured a person
to take him to a tavern within two and
half miles of the end of his journey,
where his trunks were safely deposited
This was The las. that was heard of him.
until the facts which we are about to re-
late were brought to light.
The non-arrival of Mr.. T. on the day
his nuptials were to be celebrated caused
much disappointment and alarm on the
part Of the friends of his intended bride.
His trunks arrived on the day appoint
ed but nothing was heard of Mr.. E.,
save the declaration of the person who
left them that he would be along soon,
as he was coming by another convey.
ancc. The day passed, and still anoth.
er, and MIR. E. did not come The lady,
terribly alarmed. wrote to his brother
in Reading, who left Immediately to as
certain why he had not arrived Tho
brother stopped at the same station on
the railroad, and happened to employ
the same man who bad carried his broth.
or to tho tavern. The teamster de-
scrlbed Eastabrook to his brother, and
stated all the circumstances that took
place on the way and at the tavern.
All seemed to DO right thus far. It
was then ascertaned that two men had
engaged to carry him to Mr.. Woods
house, and that they left accordingly.
Here there seemed to be no further
trace to be had of Eastabrook, who had
left his trunks in charge of the land.
lord, with money to pay the expense of
forwarding them. His brother made
every cxertlon to ascertain what had be-
come of him, but to no purpose Sus.
plcions of foul play generally prevailed,
and the sheriff with other officers have
been on the look out since.
| a few weeks ago a man who ha6 been
about that ncighborhood for some time
was arrested and committed to jail for
larceny. During his confinement lie ap-
pcared FESTIVE and much DISPOSED to
converse with tho sheriff and others.
h0 was INDUCED in this, and cautiously
Intercepted on some points conncc.
ted with tho absence and Whereabouts
of Eastabrook. lie made several admis.
sions and declarations that lie after.
wards attempted to explain, bat only
to arouse stronger suspicion that he
knew what had become of Mr.. L
After leading him on in this way for
some days, the sheriff told him Ms sus-
ricions. and what he had ascertancd in
the matter The prisoner finally told
the sheriff that he would reveal the
whole story OF the murder-that he
could not rest until he had done so
The prisoner then stated that Two
men took Eastabrook on the way to Mr..
Woods, to the junction with a new road
recently cut out for the purpose of haul
ing lumber. There. as if by accident,
they met the prisoner with another span
OF horses and Wagon, and two others
IN his company. the names lie gave of
both. Here they enquired of the first
party where they were going ; on being
told to Mr.. Woods, the two in company
with the prisoner said they were going
the same way and wanted them all to
get into their wagon aud ride together
on this new road-being more direct
They all got into the wagon and star
ted
After going some thirty rods the
prisoner driving, they stopped, and one
OF the party took club from undeurhis
coat and struck Eastabrook on the head.
i. fell back exclaiming, 80 dear | am
dead" Others of the party then stab
bed him to the heart After this they
stripped him of his clothes and money,
dividing with all those present, and bu.
ried the body under an old root or
stump. Ho stated that they got about
eight hundred dollars from him. and
that the boots fitted him, and they were
given to him, and he had them on. The
coat was given TO another who had worn
1t ever since. The sheriff went, with
others, to ascertain the truth of the pris-
oner's story. The body was found de-
posted just as he had described
Measures were then taken to secure
the other murderers, and two of them
wero arrested and imprisoned, The
others will be, probably, in due course
OF time. The prisoner stated that he
had nothing further to do with the mui-
der than to hold the horses and take
his share that he accidentally over
heard the plans the others were perfect
ing to perpetratc this murder, wher
they act upon him, threatening to kill
him if he revealed word or uttered a
lisp about it. lie was compelled TO do
what he did. 1t seems these despsra
does had become acquainted with the
circumstances Of Easlabrook S visit, and
knowing that he had purchased place
in the neighborhood, aud would have
money with him, they entered into thi.
scheme TO murder him and get possess
ion Of what lie had with him.
We doubt whether such another fou
deed can be found on record, where &c
many entered into a conspiracy for tho
murder of one man. 1t is a satisfaction