The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-18
TRIPLE ASSASSINATION.
Two Wealthy Farmers and a
Maiden Lady Murdered.
A Mysterious Story from Hall
fax, Mass.

HALIFAX Mass, Feb II, 1874.
This obscure village, in Plymouth county, has
been the scene OF tragedy which, Tor the number
OF victims and the mystery OF the circumstances,
Is unparalleled in the history OF crimes in this
region Yesterday morning a shoemaker by the
name OF Lull having occasion TO visit q neighbor
Tor the purpose OF sharpening some knives,
summed upon the body OF a maiden lady named
mary nucAiey' H'hS on a crosspath, about thirty
roos from the farmhouse OF Thomas and Simeon
Sturtevant, with whom she lived IN the capacity OF
housekeeper. She was lying face downward, and
the back OF her head presented a sickening sight,
being crushed as II by the heavy blows of some in
strument impeled by SUCH powerful force as to
embed her face almost completely in the ground
THE SECOND VICTIM
Startled by the evidence OF murder so appalling
Lull hastened at once to the farmhouse OF Sturte.
want to give the alarm, when he was horrided to
find the body ofThomas Sturtevant stretched at
u length 10 the porch Of the dwelling, cold in the
embrace OF death, with lantern by his SIDE as IL
he had been assassinated just as he was on the
point of stepping into the yard. His face was most
brutally mangled, presenting additional evidence
that the assassin, whoever he may be, mad not
rested content with the taking OF single life.
DISCOVERY OF A THIRD CORPSE.
Penetrating into the dwelling, Lul crossed The
kitchen and entered an adjoining bedroom, where
the bed he discovered, stiff in death, the re-
mains of Simeon Sturtevant, the walls and ceiling
of the apartment being spattered with the
blood OF the murderer's third victim. Lull then
fastened to arouse the villagers. and by them the
body Of the woman was taken up and conveyed TO
the Kitchen, where 1t was laid side by side with
the body OF Thomas Sturtevant, which was
brought in from the porch. The triple murder is
supposed to have been committed on Sunday
night. At nine O'Clock on that evening all the
victims are kn0wn to have been alive, as neigh
Dor parted with them at about that hour.
THEORIES ON THE ASSASSINATION.
The theory In the village Is that Ihomas was
stricken first, as he was preparing to take u
rest, and that the murderer after assailing
him then proceeded to despatch Simeon.
terror only to be pursued. overtaken and
slain by the assassin. 1t is supposed that the object
OF the crime was money. as 1t was well known in
the village tnat the Sturtevants were In the habit
OF keeping large sum IN the house. and digent
search has failed to discover the presence or any
| funds IN the dwelling From the circumstances 1t
is conectured that the murderer was entirely sue
cesslul in carrying out his plan case OF drawers
where one OF the brothers Kept his valuaDles was
| thoroughly examined and stirred up by the muir
derer, aud 1t it is propabe that considerable sum
was found that her trunk had not been disturbed,
and IN 1t were found about S9Vo and a gold watch
| with which all the murders were committed was
evidently birch sled stake, about Jour leet in
about six feet from the spot where the body OF the
woman was discovered and the indentations on
| to the assumption that they were made as the
| murderer swung the club. At present there are
| no threads by which the author or the crime can,
without difficulty, be revealed suspicion rested
at once upon an individual who, happily for him
self, is able TO conciusively account Tor
| his whereabouts from the hour wnen the
parties were known to be alive until the time
| when they were discovered dead. Against no ne
else is suspicion directed that this will be co n
signed to tue catalogue Of undiscovered assas
forts OF the police. The neighoOrs have not
noticed tramps OF late but people in Hanson ana
the adjoining towns have been alarmed by gang
OF fellows who have been scouting round, sleeping
shops and schOOlhOuses at night, and building
fires at all kind OF places to warm themselves
VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY
| were all elderly persons, Miss Buckley heing about
| seventy years old. while the Sturtevant brothers
had nearly reached eighty. The latter were well
to do. the weathiest farmers in town and among
the most highly respected. They were rlg.dly
economical and boarded all the money they OBJ
| tained never deposlting any In savings banks.
They held on to their landed property with great
with any portion OF their Immense pos
sessions at any price. Once, however, while
attending an auction sale, Simeon Sturte-
want was asked how much he would
take for q certain piece OF land, and replied,
Fifteen hundred dollars" His interocutor hav-
ing come prepared TO purchase, laid down the
money and the sale was effected greatly to the
chagrin of Mr.. StuT tevant gentleman who
owns land adjoining the estate Of the Sturtevants
describes them as tall, stalwart men, simeon being
they had in their possession considerable sum Of
money at the time Of the murder, which fact he
| ing known TO the perpetrators OF the CRIME, In
duced It's commission. coroner's investigation
| has been commenced but thus lar nothing beyond
| the circumstance OF finding the bodies has been
| hav