Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-12-09
The Ball Murder.

on a farm lying between ST. Albans and
Georgia Bay. As they were milking
ole night he said he knew where those
clothes we're. Mr.. Smith made some re-
ply, to rbe effect that they brought them
Ia with them, supposiug that he referred
to their coats, which they had thrown of
in the field, while at work. But Perkins
said he didn't mean that. but referred TO
the clothes of Miss Ball. Smith then.
drew out a story which led him to suspect
that he was on clue and so be thought
he would quietly follow it mp.
Taking into his confidence Geo. Bron-
son. they went to the young mans home
in Fairfax and there the boys mother
Mrs. Riggs. told them the same story
i that he had. with some other particulars.
The story In brief is that man named
John Mason, some fifty years old, and a
spinner BY occupation, had spen. consid.
cradle time at Mr.. Riggs when not at
work in the factories ut Fairfax, Enos-
burgh Falls, Sheldon or elsewhere. He
had been there the week before the MUIR
der aud told them that when he came
again he might bring friend with him.
On saturday night July 25th the next
day after the murder, two men came to
their house after they had retired and
tried to get III, one calling on both Mr..
and Mrs. Riggs to open the door, but
they refused them admittance. Mrs. Il.
is positive that he man calling was John
Mason.
He was not seen after for some six
weeks, when he returned there. and IN
conversation went on to describe bow
Miss Ball was murdered. lie said it
was done by one man, though another
was present; that he sprang IN behind
her, seized her and when she screamed he
struck her on the head with stone that
he then drew her over the fence, which
he had previously thrown down, and drag.
ged her to the thicket; that she there
caught hold Of SADDLE and he struck
her hand with club breaking thee Of
the fingers that other blows were then
dealt. and they drew her further on INTO
the woods that they pushed her watch
and belt one side into the leaves (aud the
woman gave such description Of the watch
as he gave her, and il is said to be toler-
ably like); that after they had lain her
behind the stump she rolled he: head
for some time and then breathed her last
they then laid her out and went down 20
the stream and washed themselves, taking
along her bundle; that they examined
her wallet before leaving her, but found
nothing in it but her teachers certificate
and some poetry clipped from paper
they first buried her bundle, which he
said contained her drawers, night dress,
slippers etc, 10 the sawdusi at The mill
but afterward took out a sloue from the
underpining and thrust it in there.
The young man Perkins says that one
of the men then went off south towards
Fairfax aud the other came to St. Adams
and took the train south. Mrs. Riggs at
the time called the attention of Deputy
Sheriff Halbert to the matter, aud he |
went TO her house and investigated it.
But be had no conf fence in, it, and the
woman herself says that folks don't al.
ways believe what she tells.
But there is another and even more sus-
picio rs circum stance related by her, rela,-
ing to the Minard murder, which occurred
only few days before the murder of Miss
Ball. The next day after that murder,
and before il was known in St. Adams,
she says that Mason came to her house
and told her all about it She had not
then heard of it, but afterward heard the
facts as they became known to the public,
and they correspondent with the story that
he had told her. At that time she asked
him to fix the clock, which was ont of re.
pair. He said lie coullu't for he hadn't
any toos not even knife. She saws she
knows that he had previously had knife,
for she had used it and broken the point
off one of the blades. She was then asked
to give description Of the knife. which
she did, aud it corresponded precisely with
the appearance Of the knife tina. was taken
from the body of Minard. She was asked
If she should know the knife on sight. and
she thought she would. A large number
knives were then produced and she Sc
lected one that she was very positive was
Mason's. IL aoas the same knife that ,cas
taken from the body of Minard
Mason disappeared shortly after relat.
ing the story to her and his whereabouts
are not know. While the authorities are
by no means sanguine this will lead to
discoveryof the murderer of either victim,
yet the story is sufficiently suspicious so