The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-26
THE BELL TOWER TRAGEDY.

AN IMPORTANT WITNESS IN THE BOSTON CHILD
MURDER cAsE-PREE IDENTIFIED-AN INTER-
VIEW BIT THE REV. c. H. PESTEcosr WITH
OF OBSCENE BOOKS.
BOSTON, May 25 1878.
There appears TO be no abatement in the pubic
excitement over the murder OF little Mabel Young
In one OF the south end churches last Sunday.
Little else IS talked Of, and the papers 1lled
with theories as to the motive OF the cruel nend.
Concerning the guilt Of Thomas Piper the sexton,
there seems TO be- scarcely shadow OF a doubt.
Besides his own strange and excited conduct
since ne was taken into custody there are clrcum-
stances constantly developing which indl-
cate him the murderer. reliable
man called upon the Chief OF Police to-day,
and stated that ne was passing down
Warren avenue on sunday afternoon, about three
O'Clock that he saw several persons standing in
the vestioule OF the church, and that as he was
walking along on the opposite side or the avenue
he saw man emerge from window on the
avenue side or the church, ana let himself down
TO the Sidewalk, distance Of about ten iest
THE MISSING LINK.
The man then Immediately entered the church
by the sections door, the young man had seen the
person on the street several times, but aid
not know that he was the sexton or the
church. He was confronted with Piper, and
July idenLined him as the man he saw jump
out OF the window. The window in ques-
ZION is In the staircase, leading from the
vestbule 10 the gallery OF the church, and the
superstition Is that Piper. after committing the
horrible deed came down from the belfry, locked
tins door, and, instead OF descending into the
vestbule, where ne would have met the persons
who were there engaged In conversation, leaped
from the window and entered the church unseen
hua No mo- far
ward aud supplies this iLnportantn link OF evidence.
PIPER's PREVIOUS PRACTICES
1t has been discovered that during the past
three or Jour months Piper mas enticed and al
lowed large number OF lttle girls residing IN
the church. Some or the little children say that
he was IN the habit OF caressng and kisslng
tnem but II Is also limited tnst his actions
III some instances were not IN accordance with
morality and virtue. A few weeks ago little
girl named Florence Leland daughter u 2 dignity
respectable family living near the church, told her
parents that PIPER asked her 70 80 into the oellry
WITH MN ana see the ,,,, pigeons. Last ian
mother that from Plper's behavior IN her presence
she thought him TO be bad man and was AFRAID
Of him. Girls az various times told their parents
4 the same thing, and since the arrest OF the
/ sexton Tor the murder many other children
fellow Since witness has been found
4 who identifies Piper as the man he saw jump out
\ OF a window IN the churca on Sunday afternoon
! as above described, Piper mas been made ac-
quainted with the fact OF mis- Identification. He
day. When told VINO saw him jump out ne
pied, "Well, guess that's the fellow have seen
several times loading about the church In the
morning" "Did he ever take little girls up into
the church tower ~ inquired the otcer. ION,
no." SAID Piper We'll, you have, responded c.,d
girls around tue vestry, WITH the doors locked,
ana kissed them.n
To this Piper turned away and answered not
word. IL IS reported that he has been given TO
the TACT may tend 10 snew the motive which actu-
TED HIM In certain questionable operations he Is
accused OF having OF late engaged In independent
oil this murder.
The accused was arraigned IN the Municipal
Court TINS afternoon on the charge OF wlliul
murder. When Piper was brought llto court there
was considerable commo ION about tue court
room. All present manifested great desire 70
get a full view Of the prisoner, whom they
seemed 10 regard as little less than
monster. Ills name icing called his counsel
waived the reading OF the complaint, when he was
ordered TO be committed 70 jan anu there SAFELY
held Tor examination on the 4th Of June next.
Piper took seat low in the dock, and after
snow Ills mead ABOVE the ran. Many people
crowded about the dock led by an Irresistible Gu
riosly 10 see Piper-a curlositv wnicn tie officers
or the court found IL Impossible 70 entirely re-
\ strain the gratiu,'atlon OF.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PASTOR.
i The Rev. G. H. Pentecost, the pastor ofthe church
\ the supposed murderer ana eX-scXton IN
/ the basement Of the city Han this morn
4 ing and had confidential talk with MIN
/ on the subject OF the murder. Piper appeared
sadly aflece and said ne was not IN his right
II MIND on SUNDAY ana cOulu not remember any
thing OF the murder. TINS plea seems rather aO-
surd, As parties who met Piper during ne day are
Of the opinion that he was q SOUND mud. Mr..
4 Pcntecost - the clergyman who, year OF 20 ago.
lOund IN this city the boy who it was alleged
sent away from Brooklyn 70 prevent him rom
identifying some parties then on criminal trlal
4 there.
THE POMEROY MURDER
/ This last tragedy, as Wen as others which have
lately taken place iii Massachusetts, has naturally
\ revived discussion concerning the Iact ~ POM
4 eroy, the iiendlsn boy murderer. lie Is now un-
der sentence Of death. anu thousands OF citizens
Incluuing many women, have pctIuoned thaL the
laws decree may faithfully and speedily exc
cutcd. Tue Executive, however, does not ACT IN
the matter, ana the murderer stu fingers ia iat
About "A month ago II was MS Intention 20 COM
mute his sentence 70 lmprl>olment for life, tut
these later events ana the excitement among tile
people may work q cnangc IN the mtud Of the
Governor.
THE MINERS STRIKE.