The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-10
MURDER AND ARSON.
a RUTLAND WOMAN MURDERED
AND HER BODY BURNED
WITH HER HOUSE.
The Post MOrtcm Examination.

The people of Rutland were thrown into
state of great and unusual excitement
carly Tuesday morning by the discovery
Of bloodthrsty and criminal deed sucl
as was meyer before perpetrated in this
section. The crime is not only one of the
most revolving to contemplate, but its de
tails are sickening in the cxiJemc.
At the hour of Gas the fire alarm was
sounded by the whistle at the railroad
shops, and majority of the residents in
the immediate vicinity of the depot were
partly aroused. The signal, however, was
not continued and but few, comparatively
were seen upon the street The location
of the fire was easily to be seen from diff
were already rapidly devouring small
house in that portion of the town known
as the "swamp' at the extreme south.
western part of the village limits. The
fire department were quickly aroused in
good numbers, but on arriving at the en-.
ginc rooms could plainly observe that the
alarm was too late for their assistance and
most of them returned home.
But while SO little stir was being made in
that quarter. 81 different scene, more eXcit-
Ing aud startling, was transporting at the
burning building And in referring 10 the
first appearance OF the flames or smoke ii
will be well to give some accounts made to
US by Tie parties who reside in the imme-
diatc locality ard who were the first to dis
cover the existence Of the fire.
THE BUILDING
was situated No. 81 Forest street, owned
and occupied by Mrs. Ann Freeze, a widow,
whose character was not of the best, and
was a two-story frame. painted white. The
first to discover
TIE FIRE
was the next door neghbor, Frcnchman,
who resides at No. 90. Arising early that
morning he noticed, on looking ont doors,
a small cloud of smoke which he thought
proceeded from the chimney of Mrs.
Freezes house. Very soon after his neigh
Dor Just opposite discovered the fact that
that said building was on fire He mme-
diatcly gave the warning To the French
man, and the two rushed to the scene.
The house-top was then steaming with a
light blue cloud of smoke. The ditch in
front Of the house was full of water, and
the men, armed with buckets, endcavored
to uuench the flames. The fire was entirely
CONFINED no THE SECOND STORY
OF the house, as they soon discovered The
front door was locked, every blind in the
house was closed and an air Of perfect
quiet pervaded the building. The stiffness
seemed evan oppressive, coupled as it was
with the blue smoke which was slowly
rising from the roof. The men were about
this time reinforced by the arrival of Mr..
Edward billiard, whose parents reside
some little distance on the same street. II
was now half-past o'clock.
Going around to the rear of the house
the trio found the back door wide open
and through that they gained access to the
doomed building. No smoke was to be
seen on the first floor. The mon entered {
bedroom which adjons the kitchen, and il
which Mrs. Freeze was supposed to be
and found it unoccupied. From this they
readily inferred that she was away, while
every appearance Of the house, both inside
and out, strengthened their supposiion.
Other parties arriving, an attempt was
made to reach the flames. Ascending the
stairs, it was found that the front room n
the head of the staircase was locked, Will,
smoke was beginning to issue from tina
room. Before an axe could he brought
with which to break in the door the smoke
became so suifocating as to preclude the
possibility of any one going up the stairs
and all that was possible to be done was &c
attempt an entrance into the room from
the outside.
Two men therefore procured each lad
der and climbed up to the windows
Opening the blinds, the smoke was seen t.
be fcarfully black and dense within, al
most precluding any survey Of the room
whatever Soon, however, one of the mel
cries ont that he thinks
SOMEBODY Is on THE FED
in the room The window is opened
when like mighty wave the lurid flame
leap up out Of the smoke, and in an nstan
the room is in blaze.
Meanwhile the furniture, carpets, stove
and everything movable on the first foo
IS being saved from the flames, and it
none too soon as the flames are fast Ell
vcloping the entire structure.
Thinking that there is a possibility of tn
suspicion mentioned proving true, yt
dreadng its fearful reality, the GROVE
which has by this time become large
every moment, watches that portion of til
building where it is thought the bed mus
be located, and wait, with dread suspens
and bated breath, the falling of the built
ing
Soon the structure walls begin to toppl
and with a muflled sound the building give
way To the horror of the spectators VIII
are watching that portion, the floor give
way, part of a bed comes down with
and
THE HEAD AND TRUNK OF A HUMAN BElN
ARE REVEALED
The CHASTITY and blackened remains dro
into the ruins, and as the crowd gath'
around it sickening spectacle is presente
to their eyes The arms and lower liml