The New York herald., 1873-09-22
The Body Hung Up in a Closet on the
Suicide Theory.
ARREST OF TEE MURDERER



s. Patte had committed suicide by hanging. The
circumstances, as first developed created an idea
that the death of Mrs. s. Patte was not Of q sui
cidal nature, and the early suspicious that she
came to her death at the hands OF her husband have
been fully established, not only by his conduct,
but by full confession. The story gathered from
the citizens of the town reveals one Of the most
singular, mysterious and strikingly horrible MUIR
ders ever committed, followed by an ingenious
and desperate effort afterwards to cover up the
terrible crime. On the Sunday morning OF the sup
posed suicide Mr.. Patte appeared at the house Of
his nearest neighbor and asked the family to
assist him to find his wife, who, he said,
was missing. In explanation he remarked
that during the previous night his wife got up and
went into another room, saying she would read
awhile, and that was the last he had seen OF her,
as he soon afterward fell asleep and did not wake
until morning. When he at length arose he went
to the room where he supposed Mrs. Patte was
and, 1t being fastened, he called to her, but re.
ceived no answer. He then partOok Of o breakfast,
and then Immediately set out in search OF his wife.
The neighbors accompanied Mr.. Pate to the
house. and diligently set about the work Of
FINDING THE MISSING WOMAN.
TwOladies named Smith and son of Pattee went
20 the room of which the husband had spoken but
itwas not fastened. They went into tile room and
to closet, the door oil which was fastened but o
broken place in the wall showed that 1t might
have been fastened from the outside The door at
length being opened horrible spectacle was pre-
sented. The body Of Mrs. Pattee was found hung
to an iron hook. She was partially dressed; her
slippers were only partly drawn on. or course
there were bruises Oh her neck, but there were
suspicious marks about her mouth and two Of her
teeth were broken. There was also a fresh bruise
upon one side Of her face. The bed where Pattee
said they had slept showed no indications of hav-
Ing been used at all that night The whole ap-
pearance OF the place and body was such
that the spectators at once suspected
that q foul murder had been committed. They,
however. for the time kept that opinion to them
selves and anxiously awaited further develop
ments. On being called Pattee went in, viewed the
body and assisted to remove it. During the solemn
moments he was to all appearance, utterly
nerved by the sad sight. During that and the
following day his conduct was very suspicious
In order to draw him out neighbor asked him what
would become Of the property, as the deceased had
no children. Pattee answered cheertuly, .'Oh,
the farm Is mIne.n Reference was then made to
THE PROPERTY CONTRACT,
when Pattee further added, "That contract don't
amount to anything. knew IL didn't in the first
piace.n Such conversation and conduct, OF course,
led to the open utterance OF the opinion that Mrs.
Pattee had been murdered. Measures were taken
for an autopsy and q Coroner's inquest. and, un-
known to him, Pattee was placed under survei-
On Thursday an inquest was held, and the con.
clusion unanimously reached was that Mrs. Pattee
came to her death by murder by strangulation;
also that the rope was not put round her neck
until after death on Wednesday night. Pattee
made
AN EFFORT TO ESCAPE,
but was prevented by the persons watching with
the remains. The accused still watched for an op-
portunity to run away, and finally succeeded at
noon. The day OF his disappearance he was seen
near squam River. Some men attempted TO cap.
% in the woods He was next seen IN
Campton yesterday That day he went to William
Browns in that town, he M having got acquaint@ed @
ossippee Mountain, y the east part ! q ca@psqS:
and some h ta s 09 s New woon5 Ms%p'0a aarns ne
all OF the Thursday night, William nr"wn Ir. "ssSS
in Plymouth that day and heard of the alleged mur-
der. Returning home TO Campton be found Pattee
at his fathers house. Young promptly went back
to Plymouth and informed Mr.. w. w. Blair Of
raees whereaDSnts tary the next msrning
Sheriff, d. c: -yatchelder, at Lacona. Mr.. Blair
also telegraphed to Coroner Vaughan, who was
gave instructions for Pattee's arrest. Mr. Blair
then Issued warrant and sent Deputy Sheriff j.
X. Clarke, OF Plymouth, to Campton to make rhe
arrest. When the Sheriff arriy ed near the house
some OF the Brown family said TO Pattee
- .7EEY ARE AFTER YnVp'
Iattee went anu nau M ','ilrse'f between chimney
if stationed nl%..u outside, and then entered the
house and ccmnenced to search for Pattee. AT
ney and discovered Patte VINO, realizing the use.
lessness Of attempting to escape came out OF his
concealment ana delivered hlmseli up to, the OIL.
cer Turning to the Sheriff, Pattee said, II am
in bad nx; have done wrong" Before his cap.
ture Pattee was busy writing, but the Browns did
per TO o the @ sner@ a. and SAID Here IS my cones
son.' 1t is addressed to Friend Cox. The
person intended was Mr. Caleb Cox, OF Ho
derne's. who has been for some years the family
and business adviser OF Mrs. Pattee. The Sheriff,
being anxious 10 start with the prisoner, did NOT
stop TO read the confession, and In few moments
Plymouth. During their stay at the town Pattee
made statement to the officer the same in sub
stance as he had written, but giving fuller partcu
iurs lie said tnat during saturday night Mrs.
Pattee sung and prayed in an adjoining room then
hand. Placing the light on table she approached
sne ss eea, aud catching Pattee by the whlskcrs,
DEN, pattec instantly 'c caught l her her, putting m @
one hand over her mouth and the other over
Der nose; nos he also run his asger down her throat,
teld her until she became still. He supposed she
sad tainted; II. He got up and took the lig6t and,
Hc was horrorstruck at the situation, and for
some moments at aperiect loss TO know what 10 do
At length he hit npon the suicide idea and thought
he could so dispose OF the body 70 convince per
sons that she had taken her own lle lie then
precnrea rope, anp, mp pacg nnd ~ around the neck
HANGING 1T UP,
he left II In the manner in which 1t was found by
lie could not tell the exact time o. the night when
be KILLED her, After disposiEg OF the body he re-
turned TO make up the bed. While he was choking
his wife the blood came from her nose and be-
slneared hts hands. In the struggle both fell on
the side OF the bed, and the pillow case got stained
With blood When he went to make up the bed he
uoticed the bloody pillow and took on the case ana
concealed H. and that accounts for the pillow case
being missed. When the search was made on sun.
aay morning, after the body had been hung up and
the oca arranged, Pattse passed some time In en-.
Sssasorng svs, to discover and osntersss any blood
sNIni stntness and solemnity OF the night, he sat
ao"n 10 Ihe room adjoining the closet where hung
IhE BRUISED BODY OF HIS BEAD WIFE,
anu fel AIMED there an hour or more till the
tnoInins came. such Is the confession OF the mur-
neIeI; Last night Pattee was kept ~ Plymouth
Ao Aho 'hiS mofnlhg was taken TO Lacouia on the
crs s. ~ frCm tnc station he was carried TO the
oulce oI coroner vaughan, an excited crowd fol.
owing, the persons Expressing the opiniop that
neg. ne %Tgns 70 & oe &ynched He was detained At she
made out after which he was iormaiiv srrestsS
~ enenn batcncldor. Pattee sent for Colonel