The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-08
THE BRIDGEPORT MURDER.

A State Attorney who Performed His
Murderer by Circumstantial Evil
dence.
From the Hartford (Ct) Tines
James III. Olmstead, ESQ.,, State Attor-
ney for Fairfield County, is complimented
highly for the energetic manner and thor
oughness which characterized his efforts
in bringing to light the chain of evidence
upon which the murderer Latin was late
" convicted. There had been several muir
ders in Bridgeport and its vicinity within
a comparatively brief period, and the muir
derers had escaped. On the morning of
October 3, 1874, Miss Ellen Lucas, young
lady of that city, was found dead in a
small stream of water not far from her
fathers residence. She was lying face
downward in the stream, the water of
which was only three or four inches deep.
Mr.. Olmstead was appointed State At
torney last summer, and with regard to
crime and criminals he determined to do
his duty. He resides in Stamford. On
hearing of this case he went to Bridge
port. He became satisfied that a murder
had been committed. The young lady
was found dead in the brook. 1t was for
him to trace the chain of evidence, delicate
and difficult as it was, to the murderer.
First, did the victim die by violence? The
first post mOrtem examination was not
sufficient. He had the body disinterred,
and a more thorough examination was
made, from which the surgeons were en-
abled to testify that every organ of her
body was in healthful condition at the
time of her death.
Did she commit suicide? The sand
found in her stomach, which correspond
ed exactly with that in the brook, with a
vegetable substance which grew on the
stones in the brook, and the water also,
proved that she was alive when plunged
in the water. and that she sucked in the
sand, water and vegetable substance in
her attempts TO breathe. Could she drown
herself in four inches of water? 1t was
evident she did not. There were marks
on her wrists, made by her murderer.
The back of her bonnet was crushed in, the
indentations made by thumb and fingers
being apparent. 1t was clear that she was
forced in and held face downward till life
was extinct. A necktie and collar were
found torn, showing there had been a
struggle, and there we're shreds of shawl
near the brook and on the bushes near by.
The girl had put on her bonnet and shawl
on the night of October 3, watched the
clock, and waited until z O'Clock, when
she went out. 1t was by appointment
evidently. Then who was her murderer
Latin had kept her company and had
promised to marry her; she would have
become mother in two months. He had
promised and put her of, and promised
again. Finally he agreed to go to New
Haven with her and be married-the pre-
liminaries were to be settled on the night
of the murder. But it was found he had
another girl to. whom he wanted to be
married. Here was motive. Latin was
arrested. His movements were traced
that evening, and it was shown that he
met Ellen Lucas soon after she left her
home, and that later in the evening he was
seen alone, his movements being unusual.
Thoroughly did Mr.. Olmstead trace
every circumstance he found the panta-
looms which Latin wore on the fatal night
in his trunk. They were still damp about
the legs. He had them analysed, and the
water was salt, precisely as salt as that in
the brook where the tide sets in. The torn
necktie and collar found near the brook
were proved to have belonged to Latin.
A wooden fibre was found upon Lattin's
hat. A magnifying- glass showed it to be
precisely like the fibre of Miss Lucas S
SLaWl. 10ese were Oellcdle JUT6duS OI eVI-
dence, but with others Mr.. Olmstead made
a chain of them that was complete and
strong enough to convict him.
Under an act of the Legislature, the
prisoner set aside the jury and submitted
his case from the start to the cOurt-Judges
Beardsley and Sanford. They found him
guilty, but under the statute, if there be a
doubt, the finding may be murder in the
second degree. The evidence being cir
cumstantial. the Judges found murder in
the second degree, and sentenced him to
the State Prison for life though if he took
the life of that girl at all-and no doubt
he did-it was premeditated murder. But
the Judges, we presume, took advantage
of the semblance of doubt rather than
cut off his life, and sent him to prison,
there to remain so long as he lives. twas
horrible murder without mitigating cir
cumstances and well may Mr.. Olmstead
be congratulated on his skill in handling
the evidence, so slight and delicate at sew
eral points, and the able argument at the
close by which he so handsomely and con-
clusiyely sustained it.