The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-14
The Murder OF Two Sisters In South Gard
ner. Maas.

The Boston Traveller has an account OF the cold blood
ed murder of two old ladies' at South Gardner Mass,
in letter from that place, which says
fendish crime has been committed In this vicinity,
between Baldwinville and Gardner. Two aged maiden
sisters living alone, distance from their neighbours,
were cruelty killed Tuesday night The sisters slept
In separate rooms and had gone to bed One was killed
on the bed by repeated blows of large chair found,
and the other feed by the weapon as she was
coming from her bedroom adjoining probably to see
what allied her sister, and then large stone had been
on the bed the other at the foot, on the Both
awfuy beaten upon the head. The intent OF the
murderer was robbery, as everything was ransacked
They poor, some where near sixty years OF
age, and sisters of the late Abner Kneeland the
n6del. Both were pious A vagrant Frenchman has
been arrested on suspicion OF being the murderer,
The Trdpeler adds: -Tns murder, when announced In
Fchbure Thursday night created an intense excite
meht me iact tnat tnee appeareu 70 pe ho tv
the crime the victims being without any valuable
moveables or money-was considered remarkable cir
cumstancs. 1t Is thought that mil take was lde, as
there another maiden couple about half mile distant
from the place OF tie murder who vel OIL but who,
however, do not keep any great amount of in the
house.
A correspondent OF the Milford Journal gives the FOL
lowing additional particulars Of this horrid afsr:-
GARDNER March 7, nearly Midnight
Mr.. Edtor-It my purpose TO write TO you at this
time about far different matter than the one which Ia
the most plain before me. have just returned from
witnessing Of the most horrible sights imaginable
This evening was at fyeeum gathering, hearing some
remarks emigration and secret societies, &c Ia an
favor OF the former and opposed to tho la ter under the
name Of rhe character and life Of Washington, wh'n
were startled by announcement at the door that
murder bad been committed, and help was needed
We started with rush and way found thu. the
supposed muir ercr arrested, and we took look at
him and went on.
We came 10 the house, poor old dilspdated affair
in which had lived two old females, Is aud the other
IS, known by the name of the Kneeland maids. They
we're subjects Of charity though not on the town en-
tirely The lower sash OF the window stove in
out and there upon the floor in her night Clothes lay
Of these old women with her head all crushed or
stabbed There su .h . crowd had to look in At
the window, and therefore could not tell certain o.
the bed the other, and her a bloody chair
with which the deed done Oh, II was awful 1t
probably done for plunder, as their trunks were
burst open. The arrested Ii a Fren Gilman, OF
the most ugly looking objects imsgnab le-some like
Dickens 'Fsgin." His clothes had spots OF blood
them, and be the house which is stu sed
and half miles from the village. II he Is nnorent
would tempt me 10 be willing 10 have such object
COME 20 my house, IL lived in such situation
although this had never occurred
The Traveller learns that the Frencnman whose looks
disturbed the writer for the Milford paper has been
disc harged but named George Stacy was arrested
At Wnchendon just he about taking the cars for
Burlington. The OF the deceased are, Miss Mr.
RAM kneeiand and Mrs Sarah X phiuney the latter
being widow. The place OF the murder the birth
| spot Of their brother
correspondent Of the Journal speaks OF the person
| arrested at Win:hendon depo. being Canadian,
about 70 years Of small in stature and inferior in
appearance Suspicion rested upon him, and he was
watched through Thursday. lie said he was going to
work In Gardner Friday; but time in the night
missed, scouting parties sent in every direction
and he was captured at this station while stepping
board the cars, having purchased ticket 70 Burlington
on bis way TO Canada.