The Portland daily press., 1870-12-07
The Westport Murder.

The telegraph Informed US on Monday that
an atrocious murder had been committed at
Westport, Massachusetts, last week. Tie
murdered man was Benjamin Howard, SO
years old, who lived alone in that town. 1t
was not until several days after the deed had
been committed that it was found out and his
bodyl discovered, with his head beat in shot
through the arm, and with the right leg
severed from the body and missing, lay there.
A search for the missing limb was then made,
in the course of which the dirt in an intended
grave was thrown over and one of the victims
shoes found there. The leg was finally discov-
cred in the woods, partially covered with
leav es, few feet south of the body. 1t was
supposed the murder was committed to obtain
small sum of modey, some $50, which How
ard was known to possess at the time. The
District Attorney, with the Assistant Marshal
and constable, went to the place of the mur-
der on Monday and commenced an investiga-
tion of the affair. Learning that Charles H.
Cuff, negro boy about Is years old, who re-
sides near Howard's house, had been rather
flush of money for two or three days, and had
expended it foolshly, and who was suspected
of having stolen Howard's watch some time
ago, and who had left his house at a very carly
hour Tuesday morning, they determined to ar
rest him. The officers went to the school
where Cuff was, and under pretense that they
had lost their way and wished to visit the
scene of the murder, secured his services as
guide. The boy was well acquainted with the
premises and showed the officers about the
place. relating facts of the discovery of the
murder.
The officers being satisfied that Cuff knew
more about the matter than he had related,
took him to New Bedford, first searching his
house, where they 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 Cuff had been helping man
do some butchering, and it was expected that
microscopic examination of the clothing
would have to be made; but murder will out,
and the boy, unable to withstand the rigid ex-
animation of Perry and Dayton, finally made
clean breast, stating the author of the deed
and duplicating himself. His story is substan-
TALLY as follows:
Cuff says he has been intimate with boy
name John Pettis, about his own age, and
who lives near by, and the two boys knew that
Howard had quite sum of money on his per.
son. Cuff 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 and with the premises. The boys
apparently had considerable talk with refer
ence to the money, and on Monday of last
week they met, when Pettis suggested that
Cuff take pistol which petts owned, break
into Howard's house at night cover himself
with q hQdOuilf hak bo oil Iy,,a,,
know him, and obtain the money, shooting
Howard in case he was discovered. This Cuff
declined to do, saying that Pets;s wanted him
to do all the work. and that his own people
rated, with the understanding that Pettis
should undertake the robbery or Tuesday
morning, and that Cuff should be there to as.
sist him.
On Tuesday morning, Cuff says, about four
o'clock, he woke up just as pistol shot was
fired. Telling his mother he was going to zee
about some traps, Ii hurried to Howard's
house just as Pettis struck the old man with an
ak on the doorsteps of the house. He then
saw Pettis drag the body to the bars and en-
was discovered by the other boy, who called to
him for assistance. This assistance Cuff cheer
fully rendered, and the body was dragged into
the meadow, where it was searched. The old
mans wallet, a key, knife and some tobacco
were found in the pocket of his pants. Pettis
took possession of the money and key, and the
other articles were left on the body The boys
then commenced the grave, digging alternate
ly, until, Cuff says, it began to grow light, and
they were alarmed.
The corpse was placed in the grave, hut it was
not deep enough, and Cuff took it out. The
boys then had consultation, and finally Pet
tbs went to the house and obtained the saw
and ak, and while Cuff watched, Pettis cut off
the leg. Cuff says they could not drag him on
the wall for he was very heavy and that was
the reason for severing the limb. The boys
then hurriedly carried the remains into the
woods, partially covered them with leaves, and
left them.
On the way home, Petts told Cuff that he
was hid behind wall when Howard came
from the barn with the mlk-pail The old
man saw him, and asked him what he was do
ing there. Pettis made no reply, but fired at
him, just as he reached the door step. The old
man sat down his milk-pail and then fell-
Pettis ran out, attacked the victim with an ak
and at that moment Cuff appeared on the
scene
Cuff says Pettis gave him ten dollar bill
and some scrip on the way home, but does not
know how much money he retained. The
wallet, pistol and key were thrown in the
woods. On Sunday night Petts cautioned
Cuff against telling anything. Cuff says Pettis
was very much frightened and quiyering all
over while they were handling Howard, but
that he did not feel scared.
The officers left New Bedfoid about o'clock
Tuesday morning for Westport to arrest Pettis
Probably our telegraphic dispatches will men
ton their success.