The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-19

met his astonished gaze. Upon the kitchen door
amid large pools OF blood lay Mrs. Brown, with her
head terribly crushed and herself and clothing
covered with blood. Leary at once gave the alarm,
reused Mr.. Browns sons ami the neighbors living
IN the vicinity, and Immediately summoned DIR.
Charcs II. Sanborn, OF Hampton Falls. and
sent for DIR. William Perry, OF Exeter A surgtcoa
examination disclosed the fact that the victims
had been struck with an axe that was found upon
the door covered with blood. Mrs. Brown was struck
in the centre OF the forehead the skull fractured ana
upon the brain: Mr.. Brown was struck UPON the lelt
side OF the head The cash was three inches and 4
and portion OF the brain protruded from the wound
special messenger was Immediately despatched TO
and Sewbrypcrs were In lew a Momsns
instructed to look out for -" :.
THE MURDERER. go
SusDiclOn at once fell upon young man who had
been in Mr.. Browns employ until within about
week. He came to Hampton Falls last September,
and gave his name as John d. Ross Mr.. Brown
hired him to work upon his farm, where
he remained, as before stated, until within week
81 Pike sne was born in Newburypor Mass and IL a.
the present time about thirty years old. He married
ten years ago. but his wife and child died soon after
During the war he served two years In the Mozart
regiment, was twice wounded at the battle OF VIII
llamsburg, once severely; was carried TO the hos
pital and soon after discharged After his recovery
he enlisted in the navy and took part in the capture
Of Mobile. Pike has rather bad record, has been
in trouble many times for drinking ana stealing He
had just completed two years. term In the Ipswich
(iass.) House OF COrrectOn-where he had been sent
for robbery-when he hired out with Mr.. Brown
under the assumed name OF Ross. While with Mr..
Brown his conduct was uneXceptonable, and he was
well treated and cared for. When he leit Mrs:
81. Pike being the suspected murderer measures
were at once taken to insure
HIS ARREST.
The city marshal of Newburyport upon being
shown tintype Of the supposed murderer. at 6hoe
recognized the features or Pike. Upon inquiry in
uor rio n 4 atnnA IA
stayed at public house in Newburyport portion OF
Thursday night; that he came there from Amesbury
Mills, exhibited considerable money and left In
hurry Friday mOr0.ng. Concluding that he pike
might he ut the residence of his Pke's) m0ther-in-
with other officers went to the house and found Pike
conyersing with his mother-in-law and another
woman. He had just given his mother-in-aw some
bills, and had the wallet in his hand. He remarked
to her, :" have got some money now, but 1t won't
last always" He was at once arrested and charged
with the murder, when he answered, "Oh no; I
guess not bad" Upon examination it was found
that he had upon his person S171 and some odd
change mat he , mad shortly before bought AL new
new coat. He was soon delivered into the
hands of the New Hampshire officers and taken
house into the very room where few hours pre-
vious, he had SO endishy assaulted his benelactOrs.
manifested the utmost indifference, and cooiy de-
CARED that he was not guilty OF the murder.
THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM,
although circumstantia, was Of such character aa
to leave no doubt OF his guilt. II was proved that
on the afternoon previous to the murder ne called az
small hotel in SeabroOk, three miles from lamp
ton Falls, and asked for drink, stating that he was
very dry. had walked ten miles, wanted drink.
but had no money to pay for it, The proprietor gave
him drink, when he left, saying that he was going
to walk 10 Hampton Falls He was seen by several
persons on Thursday afternoon, and lady saw
soon as Pike made the assault and rendered
his victims 1nsensible, ha proceeded to search
about his person, and taking the hey from his
tBrown's) pocket unlocked the desk and took some
frAt ft,o dpa.u rI,Aia
The murderer then went TO Amesbury, where ne ar
rived about ten O'Clock Thursday night. coat be-
house she night before the murder, was found In the
room that Pike slept in at Amesbury. Some papers
belonging 70 Mr. Brown were , found uad , n
been to Hampton Falls or SeabroOk at all; said his
name was Ross; but upon being made aware that lie
was fully recognized admitted that his name was
Pike. Mr.. Brown conscious at short inter-
walls on Saturday, and said, 'John Ross was here
vious to being struck but gave no evidence of dis
tincty remembering anything afterward. After ex-
animation by the Justice PIKE was carried on Friday
afternoon to Exeter and lodged in the jail at that
place.
THE PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE PRISONER
fully indicate the hardened criminal that he is. He
Is five feet eleven inches In height, rather smly
built, dark complexion, and sports black mustache.
phren0logist who has examined him states that his
intellect Is Of low order and his organization In
sSc as would lead nun 10 SGs Almost rS =, any e1e:
positive proof that he Is lacking In ordinary shrewd-
ness
DEATH OF MR.. AND MRS. BROWN.
Mrs. Brown gave no sign OF consciousness bus
gradually grew weaker until Saturday morning,
when death ended her sufferings. Mr. Brown fingered
along, with intervals Of returning reason" until
Wednesday morning at one O'Clock. and then quietly
breathed his last. Thus ended this most horrible
trayedy-a cold bl00ded, brutal murder, that has No
parallel In the annals of crime in New Hampshire. The
victims were highly respectable people and were
greatly beloved by all who knew them. The indgna-
ton Of the community against the murderer Is most in
tense and can scarcely be subdued by the customary
restraints OF the law. Next Monday MAY Isl Pike Ii
to have further examination ut Exeter, and IL In
thought by some that the indignant citizens will sum-
mariy lynch hun. Whatever may be the strictly le-
gal aspects of the case, justice evidently demands
terrible and swift retributon.
PIKE CONFESSES HIS GUILT.
At five O'Clock p NJ. on Monday, the 18th, Pike, on
learning how strong was the circumstantia evidence
his guilt indicated to the keeper Of the JAIL deputy
sheriff N. h Leaytt, that he knew something OF the
murder and called for writing materials. Upon be-
ing furnished with these ne sat down and wrote o
foolscap page concerning the murder, acknowledge
ing thar he did the borrid deed. lie says he does not
know what prompted him TO commit the murder;
does not want a trial; does not want to die; but Is
ready 10 suffer whatever punishment Is ordered,
whether hanging or Imprisonment for life. II mat
tiers take the ordinary course Pike, after the prem-
mary examination next Monday, will be remanded
jail until the October OF the Supreme judicial
Court which will be held ut Portsmouth, where no
will be removed for trial, and trust, for convc-
toa and execution.