Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-09
TIE WESTPORT MURDER.

Friday, horrible murder was committed
upon Benjamin Howard, an old man 50 years
of age, who lived alone in house near West
port Point, near New Bedford, Massachusetts.
The Boston Advertiser says: -..--....
On Tuesday morning last. one OF the neigh
bors passed Towards house, and noticed 1t
was closed up, but rs it was at an early hour,
the man was not alarmed. On Thursday at
ternoon, it was remarked by several farmers
near by, that Uncle Ben" had not been seen
for a few days. and on Friday there were
some inquiries concerning his whereabouts.
On Saturday the neighbors, becoming some
what alarmed, thought best to make search
for him, and proceeded to his house to see if
he had returned there. The honse was found
locked, although the cattle were out nd every
thing bore its usual aspect. AT the south end
Of the house, beneath the underpinning, milk
pail, filled with milk, was found, and beside
It, the old mans cap. Simultaneously, one OF
the searching part, discoveredapp blood
stains on the stone step of the front entrance
on the west side of the building. The search
was pursued, every minute portion Of the
premises being investigated. Finally, few
blood stains were found on new top-rail, a,
the entrance to a meadow southwest of the
house, and passing through into the meadow,
near stone wall, aud about six rods from the
entrance, freshly-dug hole, about six feet
long and two inches deep, was found Pro-
ceeding about six rods farther to the westward,
a large spot of clotted blood, partially covered
with fresh earth, was found, and on the other
side of the wall, wood-saw and axe, both Of
viii, h were covered with dried blood. From
here the search was an easy one The par
ties were on the scent and trail of blood
leading over a stone wall into the west field,
and still over another wall, partially thrown
down, into the woods a few feet distant. was
only too apparent. Following this trail into
the woods about thirty feet, the searchers
found that damnable deed had been COM
mitted. The dead body of the old man, with
his head beat in, shot through the arm. and
with the right leg severed from the body at
the thigh, and missing lay there. ssarch
for the missing limb was then madr, in the
course Of which the dirt in the int. nded grave
was thrown over. and one Of the victims shoes
was there found. The leg was finally dis
covered in the woods, partially covered with
leaves, a few feet south of the body. dill
gent search was again made around the house
for any traces of the murderer, and the other
shoe of the old man was found, where it had
evidently been thrown. in small garden near
the house. .-...
Upon taking the body to the house and re-
moving the garments, it was ascertained that
Mr. Howard had been shot with BIB shot
through the arm. He had also been struck
four tunes in the head with an axe. Two OF
these wounds were between his eyes and about
two inches long. These were evidently done
with the edge of the axe. One of the other
two was near the left temple and fractured his
skull. The remaining one was slight wound
on the top of the head. 1t is hard to conceive
the object of the murderer. Ii is said that the
old man paid small bill at store near by,
and had at that time sixty dollars in his pos
session, and it is rumored that he gave an or
der to q friend at Westport to draw four hun
bred dollars from one OF the Fall River banks;
but the money was not collected. There was
no money ON his person, nothing being found
but a jack knife and head of tobacco in one
of his pockets, nor has any money been found
in the house. The key of the house is also
missing. The neighbors say that Howard has
been robbed several times, on one occasion
losing watch; and eggs and other articles
have been stolen from the house.
A despatch says that the murderers of How
ard have been detected. One is in custody.
They are two boys aged about fifteen. They
murdered the old man to obtain the sum of
sixty dollars which he had on his person.
The New Bedford Mercury of Tuesday
gives the following account Of the arrest and
confession of one of the murderers.
Yesterday morning District Attorney Mars
ton, assistant Marshals Perry and Dayton, and
Deputy Constable Durham went to the scene
of the tragedy and made careful and minute
investigation. In the course Of their labors
they ascertained that colored boy aged about
Is years, named Charles Horatio Cuff, who
lives short distance from Towards house.
and near where the cart track leaves the cross
road, had been seen with money in his posses
sion, and that he was suspected Of having stolen
the old mans watch some time ago. The boy
was known to have changed ten dollar bill
at store at the Head of Westport on Friday
last, and he expended it in foolish manner,
buying prize peanut packages to a great ex-
tent, and then giving the gifts which they con-
tanned to his acquaintanccs.
The possession of so much money naturally
attracted the attention of the people in the
vicinity, and considerable talk was made in
regard to it. In the course of conversation
the officers also ascertained that Cuff left his
house early on Tuesday morning, say at about
four o'clock. These circumstances excited
their suspicious, and going to a school, winch
Auu dtttHueu, anu liz was
morning, they pretended to have lost the road,
saying they were anxious to visit the scene Of
the murder. Cuffs services as guide were
secured, and MIR. Marston, with Captain Per-
ry and officer Dayton drove to Howaris house.
The boy, well acquainted with the premises,
showed the three strangers about the place,
telling the facts of the discovery Of the mur-
der as we have previously published them,
and appearing but little disconnected at sew
eral sharp and telling suggestions made by the
officers.
Captain Perry being satisfied that the boy
knew something in regard to the murder, de-
termined to bring him to this CITY and subject
him to rigid examination. Telling the boy
mother that they wanted him to go to the Head
of Westport with thsm, and that he would no,
retu until this morning. the party took Cuff
into their vehicle and started for New Bed
ford On the road from Towards house to
the Head of Westport, the boy was quite talk
alive in regard to the watch (he had discov-
cred that his companions were officers) and
denied having stolen it. Cuff thought there
was to be slight examination before Justice
Clifford at the Head of Westport, but when he
found that no stop was made at Gifiord's house,
and the team was coming directly to this city,
he became veryreticent, having little if any
| conversation with the officers.
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