Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-24
boston Cursed wit II
Another Horror
A LITTLE GIRL BRUTALLY
MURDERED IN DAY
LIGHT
The House of God DcSecratcd by
the Terrible Crime.
THE SEXTON OF THE CHURCH ACCUSED
OF THE MURDER


Boston, May %. Another murder, even more
horrible in its details than that of Mrs. Bingham
which so shocked and startled the whole commu-
nifty few weeks since, was perpetrated in this
city this afternoon. bright little girl, five years
of age, was murdered IN a church and the bruised
and mutated body carried up into the tower and
thrown upon the floor of the loft, for years the
abode OF hundreds of doves and pidgeons. The
victim of this cruel tragedy was Mabel II. Young
who with her widowed motberl resided with her
grandfather, at 80 East Chester Park. The latter
Mr. James w. Hobbs, is well known and highly
respected mcrchant-senior partner of the firm Of
Hobbs, Pope & Co. the family being of the high
est responsibility.
an aunt attended the Sunday School anniversary
exercises Of the Warren Avenue Baptist Church.
On coming out of the church at 80 o o'clock the
aunt renamed in the vestibule about ten minutes
conversing with some friends, and on starting to
go home missed the child who fow minutes be-
fore was at her side. At first il was supposed she
had gone back into the church, but when she was
not found within and persons outside declared 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 q child ap-
parently from the church tower, and noticed an
unusual commotion among the doves that swarm
ed in and out the windows. Some young men
who had joined in tine 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 and steps leading up to tho next landing
They also found a strip of board, covered with
blood at one end, and soon heard low means from
above Ascending long, steep flight of stairs
and raising the scutte, which required the strength
of strong man, they found the mangled body of
the child lying near the edge of the scutte, as
though it had been carried up the steps and hastily
thrown there. Carefully they carried her down
into the church where large crowd had consre-
gated and into the presence of her aged friends.
From the top of her head which was broken in,
blood and brain slowly oozing, while the nose
was broken in and the face terribly mutated. She
was carried to her grandtather's residence and
surgeons at once summoned; they pronounced
the case hopeless and her tea. / question of but
few hours at the farthest
Thomas Piper, who has been sexton Of the
church for about year, was soon after arrested,
and is now confined at the Chiefs office He was
engaged at work about the church, but his sus-
picious manner and denying that he had keys
when the two keys fitting the doors to the tower
were taken from his person. points strongly to him
the party. He is dark heavy set man, about
26 years old, and has once been under arrest on
suspicion Of murder, but was discharged for want
Of sufficient evidence. Many of the police still
believe him guilty Of the murder CT young girl
in Dorchester district about Ii months since. This
last affair has caused profound sensation in the
community, and intense excitement prevails. The
very boldness of the affair lends addi
tional horror. Scarcely three-quarter of an hour
elapsed from the time the child came out into the
vestibule of the church till she found in a
dying condition How she was enticed away, and
for what motive has not vet tanspired.