Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-08-04

hwfnI Murder.
The facts of an atrocious murder have re-
Gently come to light in very peculiar manner
! The murder was committed in st. Joseph
! county, Michigan, and the circumstances ar,
| thus related by friend Of the murdered man
| ltscems that n r.Thomns Eastabrook of Read
ing, w., who formerly resided at Alden, in thi.
county, left Reading IN December last. 10 %
to st Joscph's county, Michigan where he wa,
engaged TO marry a lady who also formerly re-
sided IN this county, and where he intended tC
reside He reached the railroad station nea
White Pigeon, and within ten or twelve mile,
of the residence of Mr.. Wood. where he ex
pec'ed to meet his betrothed Here he procured
person 10 take him tc tavern within two and
half miles of the end of his journey, where
nls trunks were safely deposited This was
the last that was heard of him. until the facts
whlch we are about to relate, were brought to
light
The nonarrval of Mr.. f. on the dav his
nuplials were TO be celebrated, caused much
disappointment and alarm on The part of the in
tended bride. His trunks arrived on the dav
appointed, but nothing was heard of Mr.. f..
save the declaration of the person who left
them, that he wonld be along soon, as he was
coming by another conveyance. The day
passed, and still another, and Mr.. F.. did not
come. I he 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 mad
carried his brother to the tavern. The team
ster described Easabrook 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 was then ascertained that
wo men had engaged to carry him to Mr.
Woods house, and that they left accordlngly
Here there seemed to be no further trace to
be had of Eastabrook, who had left his trunks
N charge Of the landlord with money to pay
the expense Of forwording them. His brother
nade every eXctton to ascertain what had be-
come of hiu, but to no purpose Suspcons
d foul play generally prevailed, and the Sheriff
with other officers have been on the look out
since
\ few weeks ago. man who had been about
that neighborhood for some time was arrested
and committed to inil for larceny. During his
confinement he appeared restless md much dis
posed to converse with the sheriff aud others.
tie was INDUCED in this, and cautiously inter
rogated on some points connected with the alb
sence and whereabouts Of Eastabrook, He
made several admissions and declarations that
he ritcrward attempted to explain, but only to
arouse stronger suspicion that he knew what
had become of Nj. f. After leading him on
in this way, for some days, the sheriff told hIm
his suspicious, aud what he had asccrtalncd in
the matter. The prisoner finally told the
sheriff that he would reveal the whole story of
the murder--thnt he could not rest until he had
done 80.
The prisoner then stated, that two men took
EaStabrook on the way to Mr.. W ood's to the
h,
the purpose Of hauling lumber. There, as by
accident they met the prisoner with another
5 an Of horses and a wagon, and two others IN
his company. the names he gave of both. t:ere
they inquired Of the first party where they were
were going. On being told to Mr. Woods,
the two, III company with the prisoner, said
hey were going the same way, and wanted
hem to get INTO their wagon and ride together
III thl. new ruld--being more direct. They
all got into the wagon and started. -."-'
going some tmr'y rods, the pmsoner dTV,nG,
- ...t i'""' "''i r"~ '"c party TOOK CluO
rom under his coat and struck Eastabruok on
he head. l.. fell back, eXclaming, 80, dear,
am dead" Others of the party then stabbed
nm to the heart.
After this they stripped him OF his clothes
md money, dividing with all those present. and
'ured the body under an old root or stump
lie stated that they got about eight hundred dol
urs from him, and that the boots fitted him.
md ;hcy were given to him and he then had
hem on. The coat was given to another who
lad wCrn It ever since. The sheriff went with
,thers, to ascertain the truth of the prisoners
tory. he body was found deposited lust a.
lie had described. Measures were then taken
o secure the other nurderers, and two of them
we're arrested and imprisoned. The others will
'e, probably, in due course of time. The pris-
'ner stated that he had nothing further to do
With the murder, than to hold the horses and
AXE his share that he acclden ally overheard
ne plans the others were perfectlng TO perpe
rate this murder, when they set upon him
to kill HIM if he revealed word
" uttered liSp about it, He was compelled
o do what he did. 1t seems these despe-
ADDE'S had become acquainted with the crcum-
tance of Eastabrook' visit, and knowing that
e had purchased place in the nelghborhood,
nd would have money with him, they entered
nto this scheme to murder him and get posses
ion of what he had with him.
We doubt whether such another foul deed
an be found on record, where so many entered
no conspiracy for the murder of one man. 1t
satisfaction that all of them are likely to
eceive IN time their Just punishment for so
letarious and cold blooded crime Mr..
ius,abrook was man much respected among
hose who knew him. He leavss many
rends and some Connexions in this country
Who will gricve TO learn his sad fate.