Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-03-19

ihO hSAb iiOluiuS thO SOJtdSc WAS
closed and deserted, but the circumstance
did not excite remark Buckson, it was
presumed, had gone to Providence to
prepare his sloop for sea, and Nancy
had habit of making sudden pilgrim
ages to the neighboring towns. The
event, then, was so far from being sus-
picious that it was not even unusual.
In those days magnificent forest
stretched to the northward from the lit
tie town, interspersed with patches of
open land where the blackberry grew in
great abundance. This wonder and de-
light of the American glades had fully
ripened under the hot July sun, and the
children of the village were busily cru
ployed in gathering the fruit. That af-
ternoon the patches were unusually
crowded. One group of children start
ed home just before sundown, taking
their way direct through the wood with
out regard to beaten paths. They had
gone but short distance when the little
dog that was with them stopped, and be-
gan to sniff eagerly at spot of ground
which appeared to have been recently
disturbed. Giving a long mournful
howl the dog scratched furiously with
his paws in the sand, and in a moment
had uncovered human hand. Howling
more mournfully than before, he bound
ed off couple of feet, and tore at the
ground with redoubled energy. He soon
completed his task, and the children saw
woman's face, pale and rigid, imbed-
ded in the moist clayey earth. With
but one glance at the horror, they drop
ped their pals and fled to the village
The dog detective remained yelping over
the crime he had unearthed
Every village, probably, has its sensa-
ton at some time, and that of Seakonk
came with the story of the children. As
the tidings spread from house to house
the people gathered at the inn, and ca
gerly discussed what should be done and
who should do it. At last, all the male
inhabitants, headed by the Squire, bear
ing lantern, and piloted by the chill
dren, started out to investigate the mat
ter. But the pilots were not needed, as
the dog still maintained his watch and
with his mournful Iowlings echoing
through the dim woods, the party could
not go astray. Reaching the spot, they
O.. 4i.~---s -.,,r,,,s =, -t..A a. fs1ai-.. "a
vanced and, kneeling down, wiped the
dirt from the face OK the dead woman
with the skirt of his coat. Then he held
the lantern over it.
It's Nancy Buckson ~
He fell back few PAGES with the ex-
clamation, and his companions turned to
initiate the conduct of the children
shortly before. They rallied, however,
at his summons, and fell vigorously to
work to exhume the body. A few shov-
elsful of earth, and the body of wo-
man, without shroud or coffin, but fully
dressed in the ordinary garments of life,
was exposed About the body white
substance was plentifully sprinkled, and
was found to be chloride of lime, doubt
less placed there to insure speedy decom-
position.
Every one recognized poor Nancy
Buckson, and saw the ridged and livid
mark upon the neck, pointed out by the
Squire. 1t was plain that she had been
murdered by strangulation, and tossed,
dressed as she was at the moment of her
violent death, into the rude grave where
the dog had found her.
The neighbor, Pauls, now recalled the
quarrel of the preceding day, and told
how Captain John had stood before the
angry woman, playing with the whip
cord. The cottage was searched, and a
cord was found lying on the floor of the
room, which, when tried upon the wo-
mans neck, fitted exactly the ridged and
livid circle. In the cellar was a quanti-
ty of white substance precisely similar
to that found in the grave, and those ar
ticles belonging to Mrs. Buckson found
upon the corpse were missing from the
house. There could be no more doubt
as to the criminal than the crime.
Captain John Buckson was not found
in the village or in Providence; but it
was ascertained that he had sailed with
his sloop, and the presumption was rails
ed that he intended to touch at New
York, and there, leaving the vessel, seek
to elude the officers of the law in the
labyrinths of the great city. A messen-
ger was, therefore, dispatched in great
haste to reach the city before him, with
a requisition for his arrest.
His authority was placed in the hands
of Police Captain Leonard-the officer
referred to in my preamble-who search
ed diligently among the shipping, until
he found the slooD 20 Oreron. - moorad Of