Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-07-31
Horrible Murder at st. Adams.
The Vermont daily papers of Monday
have the following dispatch:

The Vermont daily papers of Monday
have the following dispatch:
ST.. ALBANs, July 26.
A horrible case of rape and murder
was revealed in this town, this morning.
The victim was Miss Marietta N. Ball,
modest and interesting young lady,
employed as school teacher in District
number two, situated three miles east of
this village. After closing her school,
last Friday afternoon, she set out to visit
friend, living a mile distant. Her
course was over lonely road, partially
through woods. When she had walked
about half the distance, she was seized
| by man with a mask about his head,
who sprang from an ambush by the road
side. She was brutally outraged and
murdered. Her body was then conveyed
about 40 rods into the woods, leaving
traces of blood on the way. She was a
girl of uncommon muscular power and
appearances indicate that she made des.
perate resistance. Search was instituted
last evening, as soon as her disappear
ance became understood, and her body
was found at 10 o'clock this morning.
Two men have been arrested on suspi-
cion, but the real perpetrator is probably
still at large. Intense excitement Dre-
walls.
When murdered Miss Ball was on her
way from the residence of Mr.. w. N.
Abel, where she boarded, to the house
of Mr.. Foster Page, about one mile dis
tant, where she usually spent Saturday
and Sunday. She passed the house of
Mr.. Collins about half past three Fri.
day afternoon, carrying a night dress
and soiled linen, which bundle has not
been found. She was expected at Mr..
Pages that afternoon, but no concern
was felt for her non-appearance un.
til Saturday afternoon, when it was
found that she had started for there the
day before. The friends we're then at
once alarmed and search was made on
the evening of Saturday. AT about one
o'clock in the morning the
BODY WAS FOUND
by colored boy named Frank Harris,
lying beside stump with slight marks
of violence on the body and arms and
skull crushed in upon the left side of
the head. A trail of blood was traced
through some underbrush back to the
road some thirty rods away where marks
OF violent struggle were found.
A MASK WAS FOUND
near by under rock, which was made
of carpet. The object of the crime was
apparently rape as nothing of value
was missing except the bundle.
Frank Harris, who found the BODY
has been locked up ON suspicion though
no proof can be laid against him of any
moment. Also an old Frenchman has
been arrested who is tramp and of
somewhat suspicious character.
A place of ambush was found in a
thicket by the side of the road, in a yery
lonely spot. Attention was first attract.
ed to it, by couple of twigs twisted off
and set up so as to form with the other
bushes, hiding place. Within this
nook, the ground was worn and trodden
quite smooth, and there were marks of
whiting on the lower rail of the fence
behind. This seemed to furnish evidence
OF foul play, SO party of six or seven,
with lanterns, set out to scour the woods.
THE BODY FOUND.
About l o'clock in the morning
colored boy, named Frank Harris. came
upon the body, which remained nm.
touched. until DIR. Fassett and the vii.
lage authorities could be brought from
st. Adams. The body lay by the side
OF stump, the hands lying by the side
and the feet crossed. The hair was dis.
heveled, and filled with leaves. and
here we're some slight marks of vio.
lenee on the body and arms. The nm.
happy girl had evidently been killed bv
blow or blows upon the left side of the
head, which smashed the skull TO a min
The left hand was also crushed. doubt.
less by blow which she was TRYING 70 ,
ward off. Her neok oha;r