New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-09
TIE PiRRICIDE AT DRICIT
Ecom The Ros.on TTareler.

Joshua Heath, the deceased, was blacksmith, 60
years of age, and for some years has hved at the
" Black North" part of Dracut adjoining New
Hampshire not notorious for ts morals intelligence.
Ilis neighbors describe him rather quiet, peace
able man but if the testimony of his son and daughter
fthe perpetrators of he murder could be believed he
was grossly Incorporate, and when IN liquor perfectly
brutal and tyrannlcal.
They make no denial ~ the murder both freely adj
hitting it, though their stories disagree on some essen
ial points.
II seems that the son and daughter had been for
ION. time medatDgthe deed and that the son, Frank
Ileath, had procured some apple of Peru seeds, which
they made into tea, and having swectenod II well TO
deceive his taste, administered il Ia him. While doz
ny in his chair from the effects Of the poison, Frank
got his gun loaded with slugs, and pointing II ut his
fathers head, the muLIle was within eight inches
Of his temple fired il with fatal effect, killing him in
stantly.
One of the slugs passed through his hsad and
lodged in the hoor beyond. They then stripped his
body dragged il TO the side door, and threw II out
on the ground, whence Frank removed II 20 the
black-mith's shop near by and left It unburied. In
the morning he buried il in corner of the shop and
hung up bed quilts the windows to prevent pas.crs
by from seeing what he had done. The murder was
discovered, however, on Monday morning by the
neighbors, who room ascertained the real state of
things and sent for Deputy Sherht Butterh.ld AMI
Shed. The murderers were arrested aud taken 10
Lowell The body Of the deceased was also taken IN
charge by Mr. Shed, by virtue Of his office OF Coro-
ner II we- taken 10 Lrwcll, and Coroner Shed avn
moned jury OF inquest.
Frank Heath is II years old, and .ay- he wa born
in SALEM n. H. He il feet - inches IN hight, and
rather slender He has full dark beard, and though
wearing foolish book IL not very singular in appeal
ance til hi, hat which he most Of the time, il
renewed. Then his aspect IL decidedly lud'rous,
from total deficiency of hair which he rays wa Loot
nv the salt rheuIn and from the inferior shape of his
head. which ia, phrrnologically, OF very unlntel'
Icciua form. He had on the vest which he took from
the body Of his father, and also one OF his fathers
coais.
lie showed no disposition to evade questions, but
gave quick answers, in an unconcerned manner
He saws that lie has always been abused by his
father who was good man when sober, but who bad
been since his earliest recollection, badly addicted 10
drunkenness. lie cGnpOt read oT write. lil- mother
died when he was On infant, ana ne ,ayS an eiaer
brother whom he can Just recollect left home be-
cause of his fathers cruelty. He has worked at rtone
work and at farming occasionally, but -ays Ms rather
took all his earnings for liquor
Iis starry il that he and hs father were at work on
saturday afternoon trimming alders by the road
III. and that hi. father got angry with him, and be-
ing very much in drink threatened To spit ms head
omen with the Ak. He then went home, ana was Joy
lowed BY his father, who commenced abusing NJ
SITTER They sat down Ia supper wh'h MS i"'he'
threw abutcher-knife at him because he TOOK up
nj, ce of meat He then went out doors and me- iather
,lluw.d with loaded gun and threatened to rhoot
him if he didn't 60 m He went H. anu soon "ns.
his sister gave his father the POISONOUS YEA ne wn
evidently not Of strong mind, but showed s"nT
,hrew,lness and some Of his answers wer" e''"'!
framed for the occasion. =,
Miriam York Heath, the daughter OF the muraerea
man is almost idiotc in appearance ana has nelsc'
NJ .nceeb which renders her Conversation a'Hr' un
,ll;g;bIe nj times She is % year, Old, mas s"gn'
finn ard her hair grows nearly to her eyes. She
Ie mother Of an iegitimate child three months Old
~, -. father she says is VIM. Thomas, mulatto
harLsr tor,nerly OF Lowell. She Gays che went to
"ha" - little once" and thinks she can remember
letters She also states that her father wasa
,Is IN 5rrk and her brother very drunk; that her
e did NOT throw knife at her brother; that her
h.her brought the poisonous stramonium seeds made
% 10 and administered il himself that she told her
en,hor what be drinking, though he was too
ob intoxicated TO notice II, and that her brother
irer knife at her and threatened 10 kill her for
doing H. She Gays that she told the story Of con-
yarv import before, out OF fear Of her brother, who
be states loaded the gun expressly for the purpose
of killing his father, and that the murer had been
long planned by him. He had some time before asked
hi. father what would poison man quickest and be-
ing told apple Of Peru seeds had told her that he was
going 10 procure some, them by che hou-e, aud
when he had raised enough he would eniice IN rich
travellers and poison them TO get their property
Neither OF them To have m adequar~ id'a oi
what they have done, the conse9 lences oi theiF
crime.