The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-07
THE w-sEPoay (liss.) ByrQaERY.

The Deco Committed by n Couple Of colorcd
Boys-Soth of tho Young Murdercrs Ar.
resred-A Fall Confession OF the Crime--A
Horrible story OF Yonth.ni Deprsvity.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Dec. 9, 1870.
TIE terrible tragedy at Westport Head. In which
ola Benjamin Howard was so cruelty murdered and
butchered, has already been successfully traced ana
the authors OF the foul deed are now
in custody. They prove TO be cou-
pie OF colored boys. about fifteen years
of age, ana since Their apprehension one
OF them has MADE full confession. Their arrest
was brought about through District Attorney Mars.
ton, Assistant Marshals Perry and Dayton of this
city, and Deputy Constable Durham, who went TO
th, scene OF tie tragedy yesterday aud made
minute INVESTIGATION.
la tAe course OF their lators they ascerained that
co!oled boy aged about fifteen years, named
Charles Horatio Cun WAC lives "a short distance
from howaid's house and near where the cart
track leaves the cross road, had DeelI seen with
money IN his possession, and mat he was suspected
OF having stolen tie old mans watch some time
ago. The boy was known 10 have changed q ten
dollar bhi NJ "a store ut the Head oil Westport on
Friday last, ana be eApende1 IL IN foolish manner
Duylag priLc peanut packages to great extcat aud
then giving tie gus which they contained TO his
acquaintance.
Inc possession OF 50 much money naturally at
tracted the attention O the people IN the vicinity
and consider able Yak vas made In regard to IT, In
the course OF conversation the Officers also ascer-
morning, say 1T about Tour O'Clock. These cncum-
sances excited tneir suspicious, and going To
school, winch Gun attended, and where ne was yes
terday morning, they pretended to have lost the
road, saying they were anxious 10 Visit he scene
the murder. ,iniis services AS g4tde
secured, ana Mr.. Marson, with Captain Perry and
o.llcer Dayton, drove 10 Towards house The boy,
wen acquainted with the premises, showed tue
three strangers about tao place teng the iauts OF
the discovery oil the murder, as previously published,
AID appearing but little cOncer ed at several sharp
anu telling suggestions made by tbe officers.
captain Perry being satisfied that the boy knew
something in regard 70 The murder determined to
bang I'm 10 ihis ely and subject MN TO a rigiJ
cxaliila.lon. Telling the boys mother tnat they
wanted hiln to go u the Head OF Westpost wlln
them, and that nc would not return until ,hls
morning MOI me party TOOK Gun IN their, vein ne
from Eoward's house 10 the Head or Westport
the boy was quite laxative III regard TO the watch
Tue mad dscoyere that his com anioiis were oili-
cefsl ana denied having stolen n. CuI in6upnJ
there was To be slight examination before justice
Clifford. al the Head Of Wesiporl bat when ne found
that no stop Vas made at Ginold ) house anu the
team was coming dlrectly TO this city he became
very reucent having little II any conversation with
Arriving here about nirN P. NJ the boy was
socNed up, and District Attorney Marston had a
consultation WIN the officers III regard to what was
best TO oe done. the circumstances were very
strong against the hoy, ald .he stories watch he
AL Guns house the oiilcers drained shot gun, q
pouch wiIp slot lii IL. o. the SIZE of those found In
or by tile 10y IN the early part or the week, was
also secured. 1he clothes were covered with blood
Lutchenng, and 1t was expected that a micro.
scope examination OF the clothing would have TO
be made but murder VIII out, ana The bow
unable TO Withstand the rigid examination OF Perry
ami Drayton, finally made a clean breast, stating
the author OF tue deed ana lmplicatlEg HIMSELF
The examination by the two officers was held IN
the Marshal ) ONCE last evening. Commencing with
tue stolen watch, Perry aud Dayton, step by step,
despite eyasions and lies only TOO appa ent UNI
rayeed The story Of the murder, uItu the boy,
hedged in with fasehoods every side In regard
10 the watch, the money and his whereabouts on the
confession told plan straightforward story Of the
deed.
HIS story ls substantially as follows He has been
intimate with q boy named John Petis, about his
own age and who lives near by, and the two boys
knew thai Howard had quite sun OF money on
his person. Cur robbed the Old man OF his watch
as the people suspected, and the Two boys were
thoroughly acquainted with the habits OF the Old
man aud the promises The boys apparently
had considerable talk In regard 10 the money
and on Monday OF last week they met, when
Peitls owned, break into Towards house at night,
cover himself with Dedqullt 50 the old man would
not know him, and obtain the money, shooting
Howard IN case he was discovered. THIS Cuff de-
cined 10 do, saying that Pettis wanted to have HIM
HIM OUT, and finally the boys separated with the
understanding that Pettis should undertake rob-
berry on Tuesday morning, and that Gun should be
there to assist him.
On Tuesday morning Gun says about four O'Clock
he woke up just as pistol shot was tired. Telling
ms mother he was gong TO see about some traps, he
hurried 10 Howards house Just as Peltis struck the
old man WITH an ak Oh the doOrsteps OF the house. lie
tnen saw PetliS drag the BODY 10 the bars ana enue9
vor 10 get II through. AT that time Gun discovered
by the other boy. who called TO him for assistance
THIS assistance Cur willingly rendered and the body
dragged into the meadow where Il searched.
The Old mans wallet key, knife, aud some To-
bacco were found in the pocket Of his pants. Petris
took possession of the money and KEY ana the other
articles were lett on the BODY. The boys then COM
menced the grave, dggibg alternately until Gun
says, II began 10 grow light and they were alarmed
The corpse was placed IN The grave, but 1t was not
deep enough and CuT took IL out. The boys then
had consul tation, and finally Pettis went to the
house ana obtained the saw and ak and while Cuff
watched Pettis cut of the leg. Gun says they could
not drag him on the wall Tor he was very heavy,
and That was the reason Tor severihg the limo. The
boys then hurriedly carried the remains into the
woods, partially covered them with leaves and left
them
behind wall when Howard came from the barn
with the mix pail The old man saw him and asked
him what he was dong there. Petfis made no re-
ply, but fired at him just as he reached the door
step. The old man sat down his mix pail and then
fell Pes ,, ran CUT, attacked the victim with an
CUT says Petts gave MIN ten dollar bill and
some scrip on the way home, but does NOT know
and key were thrown In the woods. On Sunday
night Pettis cautioned Gun against telling anything
quiverlng all over while they were haDdling Howard
but that ne did dot feel scared.
Gun boy about hve feet eight inches in height
and is not very strongly built He has a thorough
negro face with very low forehead and thick
Dusny hair. HIS answers to the numerous questions
OF the officers displayed considerable cunning, and
he does not appear 10 be impressed with the magni-
tude OF the deed. HIS story carefully prepared,
but not plausible enough, and the close Questioning
of the officers soon broke 1t down, and the above
narrative, drawn out BY piecemeal, was obtained.
Having thus obtained u clue 70 the other party In
the terrible tragedy, the officers, al half
past Que this morning, started for Westport
arrest Petis, and the announcement
has Just been received that they were
successful, and they viii undouDte ly arrive here
with the young murderer In the OF the even
Ing, and she preliminary examination VIII probably
be held tomorrow.