The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-05
THE BOSTON BUTCHERY.
How Leavitt Alley Killed and
Slaughtered Abijah Ellis.
SECOND WEBSTER p ARKMAN TRAGEDY.
Interesting Details of the Trial
Of the Accused.
The Evidence Circumstantial, but Ter
nbly Convincing.
"Father, How Came that Blood
on Your Shirt"
THE MUTILATED CORPSE
Careful Tracking Of the AL
legged Assassin.
IDENTIFICATION OF The BLOODY AXE.
"Father, How Came that Blood
on Your Shirt"
THE MUTILATED CORPSE
Careful Tracking Of the AL
legged Assassin.
Identification OF The BLOODY AXE.
Was the Victim Murdered for the
Money He Carried?


Money He Carried?
BOSTON, Feb. 4, 1878.
Last November, two or three days after the gen.
eral election, there was developed in this city one
OF the strangest and most sickenng horrors that
has characterized the criminal history Of America
for many years. Some workmen employed along
the banks of the Charles River, on the Cambridge
shore, discovered an old barrel floating down
stream and out to sea. small boat being conven-
iently near, one Of the number jumped In, and
went to secure what he thought might be prize
of more or less value. Judge OF the laborer's hor
ror when he found the floating cask to contain
THE BUTCHERED REMAINS
of a human being The head and legs Of q man,
who from all appearances had been but lately
slaughtered. were here concealed ins the rude
barrel, and the fresh blood was scarcely through
flowing from the remnants Of the carcass. The
features OF the decapitated victim were sickening
and horrible, and denoted that there had been a
fearful struggle for fe and that the murderer was
only successful after desperate encounter. While
the terror-stricken laborers were gazing upon the
CHASTITY spectacle one OF their number had his at
tentiOn attracted by second BARREL similar to the
one just found, floating rapidly with the tide
down the same stream To recover this was
but the work Of moment and, as may
be anticipated, 1t contained the trunk
or remaining portion Of the body Of him who had
been so strangely and horribly slain. The cutting
mp had evidently been done In order that the
mains could be more securely packed, and to pre-
vent them from rolling out few Stats had in each
instance been nailed across the top OF the casks.
As before stated. everything denoted that the
murder was recent, the most convincing circum-
stance being the possession by the victim Of some
election ballots which had only been printed q
couple Of days before. In his possession was also
. gold watch and chain, a pocketbook containing a
sum OF money and various other valuables but still
nothing to indicate who the unfortunate man was
The case, therefore, was at once
AS MYSTERIOUS AS IT WAS HORRIBLE.
1t was evident that the man was not murdered
for his money, and what could the motive have
beenf The body was given in charge OF Cam
bridge Coroner, and for three days was publicly
exposed for Identification. At the end of that
time the remains were found to be those of middle
aged and respectable man named Abijah Ellis and
belonging in Boston. The results of the efforts Of
the detectives caused suspicion to be directed
against Leavitt Alley, teamster as the murderer,
and in the course OF a few days he was taken into
custody. The evidence gathered then and since
accumulated, although wholly circumstantial, ia
guilt OF the accused, although it is possible
that in the absence OF direct proof he may escape
conviction in the trial which has just been COM
menced. The case, according to the theories gen.
orally established recalls fOrcibly the celebrated
Webster Parkman murder in this city some twenty
odd years ago; and II the prisoner is convicted it
will be upon evidence similar to that which sent
Dr.. Webster to the scaffold.
The most probable solution of the affair Is that
Alley and Ellis had business transactions TO-
gether, and that the former was indebted to the
latter for considerable sum Of money, which
he found it difficult to provide for; that Ellis
had pressed Alley for the hquidstion Of the
debts due him; that Alley was loose and shift
less in his business habits while Ellis was
close, snrewd, econ omical and exacting; that the
murder was committed in Alleys stable, and the
body acked in some rubbish removed by him from
the shop Of Mr.. Schouler, on Washington street !;
that both Ellis and Alley were seen on Washington
street about halfpast seven O'Clock on the night Of
the murder; that Outcries were heard in Alleys
stable later the same evening; that Allev was seen
to drive away ms team containing several barrels
River, and to return without them. There were
other suspicious circumstances pointing to Alley
as the man, and upon them all he was accused OF
the murder. He received the accusation calmly
and coolly, and, as Daniel Webster always advised
NE DENIED EVERYTHING AND ADMITTED NOTHING.
During the two or three mouths of his confne
ment In jail he has shrunk up quite perceptlbly-
physically speaking. His appearance in court,
however, does not cause one to suspect that he Is
the least bit nervous. or course he manifests
lively interest In all the proceedings, but he is
nevertheless as calm and serene as Summer
morning. The TACT, however, that he has lost so
much flesh would seem to betray something OF
mental anxiety. The recent harvest OF murders
here. as well as In New YORK, together with the
knowledge OF the probable execution of convicted
assassins In each OF the cities named during the
nj ha
In some degree his own precarious situation.
r tn,s celebrated case is Of course attended with
the greatest interest, and the court room and all
the approaches to it have been constantly crowded
special session Of the Supreme Judicial Court
Associate Justices Wells and Morton on the bench.
Tho commonwealth Is represented by Attorney
General Charles X. Train and the District Attorney
for SUFFOLK county, John W. May. The defendants
counsel are G. A. somerby, l.. s. Dabney and John
Court was commenced the accused was placed
ut the bar for trial. The jury list was
rst gone through NTH and those who had had
state them. The principal excuses were from De-
ing active members OF the Ancient and Honorable
Cused for other causes. In selecting the panel
thirty eight jurors were called nineteen OF whom
were challenged by the DEFENDANT four by the gov,
opinions to the guilt Of the prisoner. AS finally
selected, the jury was composed OF the following
gentlemen Nelson c. Hazleton foreman), Samuel
Ashman, Henry Ewell, Jr., William b. Fenner,
Frederick Folsom, John H. Humphrey, Thomas
King, Benjamin +. Mahan, George Morse, Charles
y. Morgan, Nathaniel M. Mason and Ira A: Nay:
Aftef the panel was filed the jurors were allowed
to communicate with their families by message, as
they will be kept together during the trial.
THE INDICTMENT
was then read amid most painful silence. 1t con-
tains four counts, the first alleging that Alley
killed Ellis with an axe; the second alleges the
killing to have been done with club; the third
charges that the murder was committed by chok-
ing and strangling and the fourth count by means
20 the Jurors unknown. (The last count was
Drawn 70 meet an objection which arose in the
meosJer-Parkman case.) Alter the reading OF the
snmctment mad been concluded the Clerk said =
TO Ems Indictment, gentlemen of the Jury, the
prisoner has pleaded Not guilty. ana for trial has
PM himself ppon the country. which country you