Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-05-28
A Shocking Murder.

A Shocking Murder.
Another murder even more horrible in its
details than that of Mrs. Brigham, which so
shocked and startled Boston, a few weeks
since, was perpetratcd in that city, Sunday
afternoon. A bright little girl, Eve years
Of age, was murdered in church, and the
bruised and mutilated body carried up into
the tower and thrown upon the floor Of the
loft, which has been for years the abode
of hundreds Of doves and pigeons. The NC
tim of this cruel tragedy was Mabel II.
Young, who, with her widowed mother, re-
sided with her grandfather at 80 East Ches-
ter park. The latter, MIR. james W. Hobbs,
is well known and highly respected mer-
chant, senior of the firm of Hobbs, Pope &
Co., the family being Of the highest respec-
liability. Little Mabel, in company with au
aunt, attended the Sunday school anniver-
sary exercises of the Warren avenue Bap-
fist church. Sunday afternoon, and, on COM
ing out Of the church at half.past three
o'clock, the aunt remained in the vestibule
about ten minutes conversing with some
friends. On starting to 60 home, she miss
ed the child, who, few minutes before was
at her side. At first it was supposed that
she had gone back into the church, but,
when she was not found within and persons
outside declared that she had not come out,
the aunt became alarmed, and search was
made in every direction. About O'Clock
some ladies at an open window across the
street heard faint cries Of child apparently
from the church tower, aud noticed an unus-
ual commotion among the doves that swarm
ed in and out of the windows. Some young
men who had Joined 10 the search started at
once to ascend the tower. They found the
door leading up from the organ.loft locked,
and, on forcing it open, were startled at
seeing fresh blood upon the floor aud steps
leading up to the next landing. They also
found astrip Of board covered with blood
at one end, and soon heard Low means from
above. Ascending long, steep flight Of
stairs and raising the scuttlc, which required
the strength Of a strong man, they found the
manglcd body of the child lying near the
edge Of the scuttle, as though it had been
carried up the steps and hastily thrown down
there. They carried her down into the
church, where a large number OF persons
had congregated, and into the presence OF
her agouized friends. From the top Of her
head, which was broken in, blood aud brain
were slowly oozing, while the nose was bro
ken in aud the face terribly mutilated. She
was carried to her grandiather's residence
and surgeons at once summoned VINO pro-
nounoed the case hopeless and her death a
question Of but q few hours at iarthest.
Thomas Piper, who has been sexton oil the
church for about year, was soon after ar
rested, and locked up. he was engaged at
work about the church, but his suspicious
manner and denying that he had any keys,
though the two keys fitting the doors to the
tower were taken from his person, points
strongly to him as the guilty party. lie Is
a dark, hcavy-set man, about 20 years old,
and has once before been under arTeSt on
suspicion of murder, but was discharged for
want OF sufficient evidence. Many OF the
police still believe him guilty OF the murder
Of young girl in the Dorchester district
about 10 months since. This last affair has
caused profound sensation in the commu'
nifty, and intense excitement prevails The
boldness Of the crime is remarkable scarcely
three-quarters OF an hour elapsed from Tho
time the child went out into the vestlouie o
the church till she was found IN dying con
dition. How she was enticed away or irou
what motive has not yet been discovered,
The victim Of this awful crime died Mon
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