The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-02-12
THE MAIDEN MURDER,
Confession of Edward W. Green, POST
master of Maiden

confession OF Edward W. Green, Post
master of Maiden.
Our readers will remember the published
accounts of the murder of Frank E. Con-
verse, assistant cashier of the Maiden Bank,
On the 18th day of December. The whole
transaction was so shrouded in mystery that
it SCENE as if no clue could be obtained
by which the perpetrator might be brought
to justice. But murder will out" especially
if Massachusetts, detective is on the watch
for the murderer. On Sunday evening, Ed
ward w. Green, postmaster of Maiden, was
arrested for the MURDER and finally confessed
the crime.
The fact that Green manifested no feeling
whatever during the excitement incident to
the murder, and never attended any meeting
of citizens or other gatherings, where the
matters was discussed, first caused suspicion
to be attached to him. Detectives we're i'm
mediately detailed to watch him. see where
he went, what he did, and what kind of mon
ey he paid out. The detective ascertained
that Green had paid bill of 500 which had
been due about two years. and that the
money paid by him was all on the Maiden
Bank. 1t was also ascertained that he had
paid sundry bills of $40 and under, since
the murder, mostly in Maiden bills. This
evidence was deemed sufficient to warrant an
arrest, and on Sunday evening an officer in
vited him to walk to the house of promi-
nent citizen, where were assembled half a
dozen others. When told that he was arrest
ed for the murder of Converse, Green re-
manned as if struck dumb but exhibited no
marked emotions. After being searched and
some Maiden bills found upon him, besides
about $40 on the same bank which he had in
his hand and endeavored to lay upon the
table unobserved, he confessed the crime.
His confession in substance was as follows:
He stated that on the day CT the murder
he visited the Bank twice, and the first time
he found conductor there who left a pair of
skates. The next time was at just halt-past
eleven o'clock. Immediately on entering
the Bank, he said, he walked into the
Directors room, and seeing that no one was
there, he drew his pistol-a six-barreled
Smith & NELSON'S revolver-pIaced the muz
zle within foot of young Converses head,
and fired, the ball taking effect under or back
Of his ear-the shot telling him to the floor
He instantly discharged second barrel the
shot from which took effect in thetempe, while
his victim lay on the floor.
The murderous deednaving been consum-
ated, Green seized the bills in the drawer,
amounting to about $4,000. and thereafter
repaired to his office. After detailing these
facts, Green informed the persons present
that portion of the money was concealed
in piece of newspaper in an old boot in the
Post office, where S6l2 in hills on tn Nal
end Bank was Subsequently found. The bal
ance of the stolen money, Green said, was
secreted underneath the flooring in the attic
of the Volunteer Engine House. ard, on
making search there, detectives Heath and
Jones found S3454, all in Maiden Bank bills
making in the whole $1,000. This, with the
several sums paid away by him, as above stat
ed, accounts for the whole sum stolen from
the Bank.
Green is man of small stature, being
scarcely over five feet and an inch or two il
hight. He was - years Of age last October
and has an estimabe lady for wife, who has
a.. infant bat three Or four months old. The
agony of his wife on being informed of TIE
arrest of her husband, can be better ina gin
ed than described. 1t is represented as hay
ing been Of the most heartrendlng descrlp-
ton.
Green was arranged before trial Justice
Hill, of Maiden, on Monday afternoon, and
was committed for trial. Justice Hill then
stated that there was still another complaint
against the prisoner, charging him with the
burning of building, on the Isl Of Noyem-
Der last, known as Dawes Block, occupied
in part as stores, and owned by Thomas
DJwins. The warrant was issued at the
instance 0. G. rshom l.. Fall, one of Green 5
bond II the government tor his lntegrl-
ty as ? IStmaster. Il was read by the Justice,
ard to TIE charge the prisoner pleaded
GUILTY. For the discovery of the perpetra-
tor of the ircendarism confessed by Green,
the town Of Maiden had offered a reward of
5000. Green's object in firing the building, it
is supposed, was tie destruction OF the Post
Office, together with the records showing the
receipts, &c. By accomplishing this he
could have probably defrauded the govern
ment out of considerable sum of money.
1t is thought by many that, if the Post Office
ard the records had teen thus burned, ard
Green had succeeded in retaining the govern
ment's money, that the murder which he con-
fessed to have afterward perpetrated would
have never been committed.
Religious Intelligence.
a revival Of religion is in progress at
Springfield, Vt. Rev. Mr.. Jocelyn, late of
Lancaser, y, H., was rdained as pastor Of