The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-12-04
Horrible Murder in Connectic ut.

Horrible Murder in Connecticut.
Mrs. Sarah Selleck, who is a widow re-
sided at what is known as Selleck's Cor
ner. about two and a half miles from New
Canaan village. Conn, where she had
lived tor a number Of Years She has been
twice married, first to man by the name
of Jones, Two sons We're the issue Of
the first marriage, both Of whom are now
living one Of whom is Il brakeman on the
New York. New Haven and Hartford Il.
r.. while the other has recently returned
from OHIO. MR.. Selleck has lived on the
place where She was murdered since her
last husbands death. which occurred some
three years ago. and has occasionally fol
lowed the occupation of a dress maker.
On the day of the murder. which occur
red ON " ednesday. she was engaged to
90 to the house of Michael Scotield, who
lives ut Pound Ridge, about three miles
distant, and ii was agreed that Mr. s.
should call for her on that morning Ac-
cordngly about o'elock in the morning
he arrived in front of Mrs Selleck's place.
and proceeded to the front door and
the latch to the door; and finding it UNI
locked. entered the hail. Opening the
parlor door. he saw no one. Passing to
the sitting room, he found it filled with
smoke Believing that the house was on
fire, he 1t once hurried to the nearest
neighbor. who was Mr.. r. H. Pennover.
about twenty rods distant, and gave the
alarm Returning to the house. and en-
crin@ the parlor. which was full of smoke,
Mr. Pennovrr suddenly fell through hole
that had been burned through the floor by
the fire TO the cellar beneath Though
badly injured he managed to escape thro'
4 cellar window, and on arriving outside
the building, he at once gave an alarm to
the other nei@hhors. who rallied for the
purpose OF distinguishing the fire. They
responded 10 the call, and after great eX-
ertions the fire was cXtinguished. A search
was then made through the yard and sur
roundmgs ion traces OF the missing wo-
man. it being supposed that She had tenn
porarilN left the house, but no traces of
her could be found The house was then
searched from garnet TO cellar, and Il
hllchcned mass in the cellar which after
wards proved to be the charred remains
Of thc murdered woman. was not recog-
niIrd rs ANYTHING but a Smouldcring bun
these We're the remains OF a human being.
and the parties present concluded that
from some unforeseen accident the cloth
inc q Mrs Sclleck had caught fire, and
that She had been burned to death A cor
uner'~ iury We're summoned. and al once
began to make an examination. On en-
tcrin4 the parlor they first discovered an
0Nr. with blood and hair upon it, and
pieces Of skull and brains scattered about
the door 1t was also found that a hole
had been burned through the floor. three
and onc-hall feet long by two and one
half feet vide, near the edge of which
stood an empty kerosene oil can. and I'M
dermcath the tioorand in the cellar bottom
lay the charred remains OF the victim Of
this terrible murder The carpet aroun Il
the hole in the floor was saturated with
blood, and and every thing about the
house WAS in cOnftlSiUn The bureau
drawers had been ransacked and GOLD
Watcs. gold ~pcctacles and silver spoons
Were missing. showing that the woman
had been murdered. the house robbed and
atterWard her clothing had been saturated
with Kerosene and set on fire, the murder
cr surprising that the house would be
his Guilt On making an examination OF
tho remains Of the person found in the
cellar, the limbs below the thighs were
found entirely consumed. the bowels pro
lrudel from the body, and the heart, in a
nearly perfect state. was exposed The
head. Which Vas the least burned OF
AMY part of the body disclosed the muir
IeroU~ work of The assassin The first
blow wa- evidently given while standing
ri the -Ir OF the victim. and cut away
cutie q large piece of the skull The
second blow was on the side Of the head
making a deep indcntatiOn into the skull
while the third blow, which was evident
y GIVEN after the woman had fallen to the
lloUr penetrated the skull on the back of
The head far into The brain. the entire
width Of the axe From the evidence
! brought ont before the Jury, il was found
IN addition to the facts already stated tina
the teapot Wa Standing on the stove quite
Wl1l when th" murder WAS discovered,
showing that MIS- Srlleck had arisen early
Ion the purpose OF preparing her break
last before fulfilling her engagement. Ilel
necessary apparel was also found packed
AMI the superstition il that some person
VA either concealed in the house. ur al
tr1ctrd ~ the light before DAY break, was
led to The house and committed the muir
der Those best acquainted with the fact
are At a los TO explain in regard 10 the
motive for th" murder, unless il wa,
plumber Rewards amounting t. 500 ar.
offered for the apprehension o. The IN
known murderer. to whom 50 far no elm,
has been found.
RoraHIND ir. \ few evenings since
Detroit chap WAS sparkling u West Sid,
Girl Whn Wore AN ElilHbrttan ruff, EN
prclug hl- coming, She had dressed TO
the occasion. and her ruff, stiff as an unre
-lri'tcG Use OF ~l1m-Starch gloss c0ul,
make IT, was ot the most stunning charac
ter The lover came At the orthodox time
and was U~hrrcd into the paror. where tn,
enchanting maiden and her father an,
mother were seated He was cordially re
criyed, ana the evening passed pleasantly
although the old folks sat up much Longer
than the Youngsters thought necessary
| Finally they went to bed and the twain
We're left alone After a certain amount 0
| preliminary bashlunes,. the maiden as
sented TO her lovers request for a kiss
| He rS-ayrd to take it. but was met a
every point by bri-tling wall Of tarle
tan and starch. He came up to her il
| 'front.' and WAS g0Ugcd in each eve Iii
| sldled up To her and the right hand prong
| cut one of his ears of He attempted
To reach the prize over her shoulder, IAN,
4 cheyauN de trise of lace tickled his nos,
till he was obliged to take seat an,
! smeezr, Then the maiden came to tn,
Rescue aud held down one side of the pro
Eo>in@ ruff, and again the lover advance,
Just u rs had AL but reached her bloom
inc cheek the damsel lost her Grip, an,
the razor-Iike decoration flew 10 with
force that took All ''under bit out of hi
righ ear. Then he GOT mad Then 81,
GOT mad. Then they both got mad, IN,
an anticipated wedding has come to A pre-
mature end.
THE MOTHERS INFLUENCE. The soil,
rock that turns the edge Of the chisel, bear
forever the impress OF the leaf and acorn
received long, long since, ere it had becom,
| hardened by time and elements If we trac,