Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-06-01
BOSTON HORROR.
Murder of a Little Girl in q
ChurCh-1'he Sexton Accused
of the Deed.

even more horrible III its details than
that of Mrs. Bingham. few weeks
since, was perpetrated in this city
this afternoon A bright little girl.
FIVE years of age, was murdered in
church and her bruised and mutilated
body carried up into the tower and
trOwn upon the floor of the loft. The
victim of this cruel tragedy was
Mabel II. Young, who with her
widowed mother, resided with her
grandfather at so East Chester Park
The latter. Mr.. Jatnes Hobbs, is
well known and highly respected
merchant, seniorof the firm of Hobbs,
Pope & Co. This afternoon, little
Mabel, in company with an aunt,
attended the day-school anniversary
exercises Of Warren Avenue Baptist
Church; and, on coming out Of the
church. at half past O'Clock the
aunt remained in the vestibule about
ten minutes conversing with soihe
friends, and as she was starting home
she missed the child, who few
minutes before was at her side. First
it was supposed she had gone back
into the church. but when she was not
found inside, and outsiders declared
that she had not come out, her aunt
became alarmed. and scarce CONS
menced in every direction,
DISCOVERED.
About 4 o'clock some ladies at an
open window across the street heard
faint cries of child apprrestly from
the church tower, and noticed Az
unusual COmmotiOn among the doves
that swarmed in and out of the win
dow. Some going men who nad join
ed in the search Started at once tC
ascend the tower. They found The
door leading up from the organ to the
loft locked, and on forcing it open
were startled to see fresh blood upon
floor and steps leading Up to the next
landing, They also found strip of
board covered with blood at one end
and heard low meanings fror above
Ascending a long. steep flight of
stars and raising the .scuttle, which
resisted the str8ngth Of a strong man,
they found the mangIed body Of the
child, lying near The edge Of the scn.-
tie, as though it had beer carried up
the steps and hastily thrdwn down
there Carefully they cartied her
d5wu int5 the church where q large
number of persons had cOngregatcd
and into the presen e Of her agunized
friends. From the top of her head,
which was broken in, the blood and
brains were slowly ooz:ng. Hhilc the
nose was crushed in, and the face
terribly maneIed. She was carried to
her grandla,her'S Ftsilence aid sur
geons al once summoned who pre-
nounced the case hopeless aud her
death question but Il few hours at
fArthcst: THOMAS Piper, who has
been sexton al the chtsrch about a
year was soon after arrested and is
now coniiued at the chief Office.
lie was engaged at work about the
church, but his Suspicious manner
and his denial that he lad the keys
when the two kegs fitting tie doors to
the tower taken from his person points
strongly 10 him as the party. He is
dark, heavy set man, about 2G years
old, and has once before been under
suspicion Of murder. but was discharg>
ed from want of sufficient evidence,
Many of the police still believe him
guilty of the murder Of young girl
in Dorchester District about fifteen
months since. This last affair has
caused a profound sensation in the
community, and intense excitement
prevails. The very boldness of the
affair lends additional horror to it.
Scurcely three-quarters of an honr
elapsed from the TIME the child came
out of the vestibule OF the church
until she was found in a diving condi-
ton. How she was enticed away,
and for what motive, has not tran
spired.
BosToN, May 24.-Mabel II.
Young, victim of the atroci6tis out
rage in the Warren Avende Church
yesterday, is still alive, bu: uncon-
sciuus. Physicians think that if in
famation does not ensue her life may
be saved. Cumulative evidence
among other things, blood stains on
his collar. handkerchief and cloth
ing, strengthens the belief in the
guilt of Sexton Pepper.