The New York herald., 1872-12-13
MURDER In MASSACHUSETTS,.
A Sporting Man Killed by Ills Brother-in.
Law.
From the Hartford Times Dec. Ill

From the Hartford Times, Dec. Ill
In our third edition last night we made brief
Thompson, well known in this city rs SANDY"
which occurreda at the Ashley Pond House, Holyoke,
Mass. o notorious place kept by Thompson. The
house Is situated between HOyOke and Westleld.
The murderer, Charley Stesrns, is the brothcr-n-
law Of Thompson. SO far as can be learned the
deceased had quarreied with his wife about her
openlnr closet which he had locked up and which
the woman had afterwards broken open. Thomp-
son went into the dining room, where his wife
was turning out o cup OF tea for her brother,
Stearns, VINO was eating his breakfast Thomp-
son went up to his wife and said :-"What
did you open that cupboard forf" and commenced
CHOKING her. StearDs got up from the table and
lnterposed, when Thompson pushed him and
struck him. StearDs then seized a carving knife,
which was lying on the table to cut bread with, and
struck Thompson two fearful blows, one over the
head and another in the chest, the latter being
aea s seans the KNIFE and rs
followed by Thompson, who fell on the d0orsteps.
His wife and or the female inmates OF the house
before they laid him down. Molly, the girl at once
started or for medical assistance, taking horse
and Sus e rel a ons er tho 70
next train Tor Springfield and although active
measures were instituted no further traces OF
him had been discovered late last night Stearns
Is a medium sized man OF about thlTty.two. with
dark hair, chin whiskers and mustache. he wore
dark clothes, blacx slouched hat and light over
coat. His sister tThompsons wiie) was anxious.
according TO the girls statement, Ior her brother
to escape, and bade him never to let her see his
Jace again. Iut KlII, Uu ItHtHiHp tHIGOpcc, Sc
cured the attendance Of Or. Shepard, and tncn
drove to Springfield Tor further medical aid. She
was in n state OF intense excitement, and inquired
OF the 0nicefs who questioned her If they supposed
che would he arrested.
Thompson was married in 1862 and though he
often guarrclled with his wife, the couple lived as
happily together as people OF their class usually
do. He was o powerfully built man and quite
q pugi,ist. Among the gambling fraternity, OF
which he was member he was considered q
peaceably inclined man when sober, but II
aroused when under the influence Of liquor was
man to be feared. He was always free and gener-
Gus with his money, even at the time he was work
ing at his trade, as carriage painter, at which he
earned large wages. Last summer his wife pur-
chased the trotting horse Tom Thumb, which she
was going TO give aim to-day as present, this be-
ing his thirt ysccond birthday.
Stearns, the murderer, has worked on the larm
year, ana has been considered a quiet and rather
simple man, Dut would always Interfere 10 protect
his sister. She once applied Tor divorce, but the
matter was finally settled. Considerable sympathy
Ia manifested for the murderer by the towns peo.
pie. he was seen In springfield. and II was
thought came to this city on the 'scoot' train,
which arrives just before noon. u was said that he
had been hero on Tuesday. but this Is not certain
The officers are securing the country IN all diiec-
toGs Tor him,