New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-05
4 New Murder Come to Light.

The facts of an atrocious murder have recently
come to light in a very peculiar manner The
murder was committed in ST. Joseph's county,
Michigan, and the circumstances are thus re-
lated by q friend of the murdered man:
1t seems that d Mr. Thomas Eastabrook, Of
Reading, Vermont, who formerly resided at
Alden, in this county, left heading in December
last, to go to st. Joseph's county, Michigan.
where he was engaged to marry o lady, who,
also, formerly resided in this county, and where
he intended to reside. He reached the railroad
station near White Pigeon, and within ten or
twelve miles of the residence of Mr.. Wood, where
he expected to meet his betrothed. Here he
procured 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 last that was heard of him, until the
facts which we are about to relate were brought
to light.
The non arrival Of Mr.. E. on the day his nup-
tials were to be celebrated caused much disap
pointment and alarm on the part of the friends
OF his intended bride. His trunks arrived on
the day appointed, 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 conveyance; the day
passed, and still another, and Mr.. Il. did not
come. The lady, terribly alarmed, wrote to his
brother in Reading, who left Immediately to
ascertain why he had not arrived. The brother
stopped at the same station on the railroad and
happened to employ the same man who had car
ried his brother to the tavern. The teamster
described Eastabrook to his brother, and stated
all the circumstances which took place on the
way and at the tavern. All seemed to be right
thus far. 1t vas then aseertained that two men
had engaged to carry him to MIR. Woods house,
and that they lett accordingly.
Here there seemed to be no further trace to
be had Of Eastabrook, who had left his trunks
in charge of the landlord, with money to pay
the expense of forwarding them, His brother
made every exertion to ascertain what had B,-
come Of him, but to no purpose. Suspicious o.
foul play generally prevailed, and the Sheriff.
with other officers, have been on the look out
since.
A few weeks ago man who had been about
that neighborhood for some time, was arrested
and committed to Jail for larceny. During his
confinement be appeared FESTIVE and much dis.
posed to converse with the Sheriff and others
He was INDUCED in this, and cautiously inter-
rogated on some points connected with the atl-
sence and whereabouts Of Eastabrook. He made
several admissions and declarations, which he
afterwards attempted to explain, but only to
arouse stronger suspicion that he knew what
had become of Mr. &. After leading him on in
this way for some days, the Sheriff told him his
suspicious, and what he had ascertained in the
matter The prisoner finally told the Sheriff
that he would reveal the whole story of the muir.
der; that he could not rest until he had done so
The prisoner then stated that two men tool
Eastabrook on the way to Mr.. Woods to til.
junction with the new road recently cut out fol
the purpose of hauling lumber. There, as b.
accident, they met the prisoner, with anothe
span OF horses and wagon, and two others il
his company, the names he gave Of both. Her
they inquired of the first party where they wer
goings On being told to Mr.. Woods, the two il
company with the prisoner, said they were goib,
the same way. and wanted them all TO get int
the wagon aud ride together on this new road
it being more direct They all got into tn
wagon and started After going about thirt.
rods, the prisoner driving, they stopped, and on
of the party took a club from under his coat
and struck Eastabrook on the head. E. fel
back, exclaiming: +" Oh dear, am killed Z
Others Of the party then stabbed him to th
heart. After this, they stripped him Of hi
clothes and money, dividing with all thos
present, and buried the body under an old roo
or stump. s
He stated that they got about $500 from him
and that the boots fitted him, and they wer
given to him, and he then had them on. Tn
coat was given to another, who has worn it eve
since.
The Sheriff went, with others, to ascertain til
uul4l VI prlSuhor LIS VI III
murdered man was found deposited Just as
had described Measures were then taken |
secure the other murderers, and two of the
were arrested and imprisoned The others wi
be, probably, in due course Of time The pri
oner stated that he had nothing further to
with the murder than to hold the horses an
take his share; that he accidentally oyerhear
the plans the others were perfeeting to perp
trate this murder, when they set upon hin
threatening to XIII him il he revealed a word
uttered lisp about it, He was compelled
do what he did.
Il seems that these desperadoes had becon
acquainted with the circumstances of East
brooks visit, and knowing that he had pu
chased place in the neighhorhood, and wou
have money with him, they entered into th
scheme TO murder him. and get possession
what he had with him.
We doubt whether such another foul deed o
be found on record whore 80 many entered in