Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-07-12
Attempted Wholesale Murder.

CONCORD, n. II. July 8.
One OF the most diabolical attempts
at wrecking railroad train, and at
murder besides, that has ever occur
red in New England, took place ore
mile north OF Suncook, On the Ports
mouth Branch, this evening. just
before the Boston express train for
Concord was due at SuLcook, say
about 8 o'clock, a woman came into
SuncoOk depot presenting a wild and
almost frghtful appearance and be-
ing in state of the greatest excite
ment. Her clothing was almost torn
from her body, her face and arms were
bruised and bleeding, and large black
and blue spots were seen on her neck.
Her first exclamation was, "The train
they are going to throw the train from
the track - The first impression of
the depot-master and the bystanders
was that the woman was insane. She
was so earnest, however, in her voice
and manner that they put confidence
in her statement, and Immediately sent
men up the track to warn the engineer
of the coming express, which always
stops at Suncook. The train soon
came, the proper warning was given,
and it moved on cautiously toward
Concord.
When about mile this side of Sun
cook the reported distractions were
encountered in pile of sleepers placed
upon the track. They were barely dis
covered in season to prevent terrible
slaughter, for the locality selected was
where the train usually runs at a great
speed, and where, if the train had
been thrown off, it would in all prob
ability have gone down a steep en-
bankment into the river.
Soon after reaching the depot the
woman sufficiently recovered herself
to tell the particulars of the attempted
tragedy. She was from Pittsfield and
had been to Manchester, where she
had collected money to the amount OF
nearly $500. She came to Suncook
in the early afternoon train that does
not run through to Pitts6eid. Having
some spare time she went into the
outskirts of Suncook and called upon
an acquaintance.
About the edge of the evening she
set out to return to Suncook village,
and went to the railroad track in
order to walk down that way. As
she stepped on to the track she noticed
two men at work, she supposed as
section hands. AS she neared them
she noticed they were piling sleepers
on to the track, which she could not
understand. On coming up to them
one of them asked her with an oath
where she was going. She replied
pleasantly: To Suncook; please lei
me pass" Then the man said: mo
you shall never 60 to Suncook.
tell We that" He then caught her,
struck her several violent blows on
her head, threw her on to the ground
and choked her till life, as he sup
posed, was gone, and then threw hel
into the bushes by the side of the
track. She soon recovered conscious
ness and lay there some minutes
while the two men kept on their fend
ish work Of obstructing the track
Presently one said to the other: "Le
us go up the track and get piece o
iron for | know where there is some.
The men then started up the road
and the woman, bruised and bleeding
crawled on to the track and got dow
to the station as we have mentioned
above, in season to have the trair
warned and a calamity averteG.
AS soon as the train started tn
woman told of the money she had il
her satchel which was torn from her
Officer Hildreth was notified, ant
went Immediately to the spot. Th
satchel was found, but in place of tn
money was apiece OF paper, upor
which was plainley written with
lead pencil these words: owe mad
more than we should to have tippe,
off the train, you fool
No traces of the men could b
found. Prompt measures were a
once taken for their arrest. TIL
woman, who is respectable person
remembers them both distinctly. Th
bridges in all directions from SuncooI
are guarded tonight. The Concord
police are cooperating with the Sun
cook officers, and there is strong hop
that the villains will be captured
Boston Journal.