The Republican journal., 1870-12-15
SHOCKING MURDER.
From The New Bedford Mercury, Dec. s.

From the New Bedford Mercury, Dec. s
A horrible murder, sickening in every detail, was
committed within few miles of the Head of West
port, some time between Tuesday and Friday
mornings of last week The victim was Benjamin
Howard an Old man of 81 years, who for about
forty years has resided in the house where the
deed was perpetrated. The house is situated about
Il quarter of mile off {. cross road leading from
roaI to Westport Point to one known as the "Sod-
ON Road" In this house for the length of time
mentioned Howard has led solitary life, relieved
now and then by visit from Mrs. Eliza Howard,
an old lady over 60 years Of age, and the widow of
his brother. Within few months past she visited
her brother-iD-law, but lett him about two weeks
ago, and the old man remained alone his nearest
ncghbor being quarter of Il mile distant. The
old man had a and two yearngs, and few
fowl, and his habits had been regular for many
years past in regard 10 the of his little farm,
and his life had invariably been such solitary one,
that his neighbors felt great socitude in regard
to him. On Thursday morning last, one of the
neighbors passed Howard's house, and noticed it
closed up, but as it was at an early hour, the
man was not alarmed. On Thursday afternoon, 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 concern
inc his whereabouts. On Saturday, the neighbors,
becoming somewhat alarmed, thought best to make
search for him, and proceeded to his house to
if lie had returned there The house was found
locked, although the cattle were out and every
thing bore its usual aspect. At the south end of
the house. beneath the underpnnng, a milk pail
filled with milk found, and beside it the old
mans cap. simultaneously one oi the searching
party discovered apparent blood stains on the stone
steps of the front entrance on the west side of the
building The search was pursued, every minute
portion of the premises being Investigated. FINAL
", a few blood stains were found on a new top
rail, at the entrance to meadow southwest of the
house. and passing through into the meadow, near
Il stone WALL and about six rods from the entrance
a freshly dug hole, about six feet long and two
inches deep, was found Proceeding about six rods
farther to the westward, Il large spot of clotted
blood. partially covered with fresh earth, was
found. and on the other side of the wall wood
saw and an axe, both of which were covered with
dried blood. From here the search was an easy
one The parties were on the scent, and Il trail of
blood leading over stone wall into the west field,
and still over another wall. partially thrown down,
into the woods few feet distant, was only too ap-
parent, Following this trail into the woods about
thirty feet, the searchers found that damnable
deed had been committed. The dead body of the
old man, with his head beat in, shot through the
arm. and with the right leg severed from his body,
at the thigh, and missing, there lay. A search for
the missing limb was then made, i'll the course of
which the dirt in the intended grave was thrown
over. and one of the victims shoes was there found
The leg was finally discovered in the woods, par
tallv covered with leaves, few feet south Of the
body. 4 diligent 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, Ill small garden near the
house 1t was also discovered that an attempt had
been made to break opcn the back door with an
irou bar three marks of its insertion being plainly
taking the body to the house and removing the
garments il was ascertancd that Mr.. Howard had
been shot with BIB shot through the arm. He had
also been struck four times i'll the head with an
axe Two of these wounds We're between his eyes
and about two inches long. These We're evidently
done with the edge OF the axe One of the other
two was near the left tomple and fractured his
Skull The remaining one was slight wound on
top Of his head. boy Who was not far from the
SPOT early ON Tuesday morning. that he heard
very loud talking i'll the direction of the house,
and thinks he distinguished the words you let me
alone, and III let you alone,' but says nothing
about hearing the discharge of Il gun. 1t Is hard
to conceive the object Of the murderer 1t is said
the old man had paid small bill ut store near by,
and had 1t that time sixty dollars III his possession,
ana it is rumored that he gave an order to friend
at Westport to draw four hundred 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-knite 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 stol-
en- from the house.
From the New Bedford Mercury, Dec. 81
Yesterday morning District Attorney Marston.
Assistant MarshalS Perry and Dayton, and Deputy
Constable Durham Went to the scene of the tragedy
and made Il careful and minute investigation. In
the course of their laborS they asCertained that
coored boy aged about - years, named Charles
IIoratio Cuff who lives short distance from How
ards house, and near where the cart track leaves
the road, had been seen with money i'll his
possession, and that he suspected of having
stolen the old mans watch some time ago. The
boy was known to have changed ten-dollar bill at
a store at the Head of Westport on Friday last, and
he expended ii in foolish manner buying prize
peanut packages to a great extent, and then giving
the gifts they contained to his acquaintanceS. The
possession Of so much money naturally attracted
the attention Of people in the vicinity, and consd-
cradle talk was made in regard to it, In the course
of off 1sn
Cuff left his house early on Tuesday morning, say
about four O'Clock. These circumstances excited
their suspicious, and going to a school, which Cuff
attended, and where he was Yesterday morning
they pretended to have lost the road, saying they
were anxious to visit the scene of the murder
Cuffs services as a guide were secured, and Mr..
Marston, with Capt. Perry and Officer Dayton,
drove to Howards house. The boy, well acquaint-
cd with the premises, showed the three strangers
around the place, telling the facts Of the discovery
of the murder we have previously published
them. and appearing but little Disconnected at sew
eral sharp and telling suggestions made by the Off
GERS. Capt. Perry being satisfied that he boy
knew something in regard to the murder, de,ermin-
ed to bring him to this city and subject him to
rigid examination. Telling the boys mother that
they wanted him to 90 to the Head of Westport
with them, and that he would not return until this
morning, the party took Cuff in their vehicle and
started for New Bedford. On the road from How
ards house to the Head Of Westport, the boy was
quite talkatiye in regard to the watch Che had dis
covered that his companions were otlicers) and
denied having stolen it. Cuff thought there was to
be slight examination before Justice Clifford at
tho Head Of Westport, but when he found that no
stop was made at GiiforC's house, and that the
team was coming directly to this city, he became
very retieent having little if any conversation with
the officers. Arriving here about p. NJ, the boy
was locked up and District Attorney Marston mad
a consultation with the officers i'll regard to what
was best to be done. The circumstances were
very strong against the boy, and the stories which
he had told in regard to himself very contradictory
At Cuffs house the officers obtained shot gun
pouch with shot in it, of the size of those found in
Howard's body, and bundle of clothes taken off
by the boy in the early part of the week was also
secured The clothes were covered with blood
but Gun had been helping man to do some butch
ering and 1t was expected that microscopic ex-
animation of the clothing would have to be made
but murder will out. and the boy, unable to with
stand the rigid examination of Perry and DAYTON
finally made clean breast. stating the author of
the deed and duplicating himself. The examine
ton by the two officers was held in the Marshars
office, last evening. Commencing with the stolen
watch Perry and Dayton, step by step, despite |
evasion and lies, only too apparent unravelled the
story of the murder, until the boy hedged in with
falsehoods on every side, in regard to the watch,
the money and his whereabouts on the morning of
Tuesday last and seeing no refuge from confession
told plain, straightforward story of the deed. |
His story is substantially follows He has been
intimate with boy named John Pettis. about his |
own age, and who lives near by, and the two boys |
knew that Howard had quite Il sum of money ON