Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-01
Reported for tho Monmouth Weekly Herald.
A WOMAN MISSING.
SUSPECTED MURDER-GREAT EXCITE
MENT-A SEARCH MADE, &C.

1t is feared that a terrible tragedy has been
committed about. six miles from Freehold
The whole of the circumstances are mysterious,
and have created great alarm in the neighbor>
hood where the parties lived. The parties
are known to many of our citizens, and the
circumstances surrounding the case are as fol-
lows:
William Cottrell, man disspated in habits,
and having no other employment but that of
trapping, picking berries, basket making, and
l am informed. pllfering, lived with woman
named Mrs. Jane VanBrunt, i'll place called
the Big Swamp" about six miles southwest
of Freehold. The woman Mrs VanBrunt,
lived with Cottrell, as his mistress. On
Wednesday morning, the 18th inst, Mrs
johnson, a lady living about mile from Cot.
trelfs cabin, learning that Mrs. VanBrunt was
in a very weak condition, went to relieve her
immediate wants, and to make her as comfor-
table as possible, in the wretched abode ia,
which she lived Others visited her on the
same day, in the forenoon, and when they
asked where Cottrell was, she told them that
gone. But they say that few minutes after,
they heard distinctly mems voices on the out
side of the cabin, and yet, that few minutes
after, they went out, and no persons were to
be seen. These facts in connection with 9TH
ers. serve to give strong coloring to the sus-
.picions aroused. Since Wednesday, at noon,
the 10th inst Mrs. VanBrunt has not been
seen or heard of; and suspicion fastens the
crime of having murdered her, upon William
Cottrell. The cause of the suspicion rests
on the circumstances of the case And first.
the situation of the cabin is in dense wood,
bordering swamp, the extent Of which, am
told, is not less than twelve miles in length
Secondly, Cottrel isa brutal man, who, when
aroused by any selfish motives, knows no
bounds to his daring;. and, third, his motives
to rid himself of her, and the persuasion he
received, SO to do are not in absence of proof.
Two men are arrested, Cottreil, and an
equally bad character, Runyan, who lived
about mile from Cottrell These two were
together very much, and their occupation was
similar in all respects In reference to the
persuation Cottrell had to distroy Mrs Van
Brunt, it is positively stated that Runyan had
told him to put her out of the way by killing
her. and that as he (Cottrell) drew pension,
he could then come and live with him. But
further, since their arrest Mrs. Runyan has
been closely questioned, and she says that the
last she saw of the missing woman, was on
Wednesday forenoon, and that then she was in
very weak condition. She further states,
that on that day. Cottrell and her husband
went off after dinner, (about o'clock, p. NJ, y
md l..
light; and when we remember that that was
the time Mrs VanBrunt was removed, and
that she has not been seen since, suspicion
grows certainly very dark, whatever light may
come out of it
Mrs. Runyon, poor woman, who since her
husbands arrest is left with a little family in
a dreadful destitute condition, has the saddest
face T eyeFsaw. She is not dissipated in her
habits. Nothing bat the cruelest poverty has
made her picture of hopeless misery and dis
tress. 1t psias one to look into her face and
see the traciags of a native refinement, and
will for responsibility, struggling with brew
beating cares and troubles
On Tuesday morning last, about so persons
from the adjacent, and surrounding neighbour
hoods. congregated at the house of Mr.. VIM.
Smith, for the purpose of makigg search for
the missing woman They proceeded ia squads,
searching the woods and swamp, during the
entire day, but could sneceed IN obtaining no
trace Of her. If murdered, there are plenty
of places in this swamp where the. body could,
and may be concealed beyond. the hope io5f. a
recovery.
An examination Of the prisoners vac had
yesterday, but nothing ELECTED