The Indiana State sentinel., 1875-06-03
THE BELFRY BUTCHERY.
A STRONG CHAIN OF CIRCUMSTAN-
CES.

STILL MORE FATAL EVIDENCE AGAINST PIPER
HIS ARRAIGNMENT-HE Is SHOWN THE RE.
MAINS OF HIS VICTIM AND TAKEN TO THE
CHURCH-WAs he INsANE?-THE sEXTON's
JUMP FROM THE WINDOW OF THE CHURCH
THE MOST IMPORTANT TESTIMONY YET.
The Boston Globe gives the following ad-
ditional particulars OF the beastly butchery
of little girl in Boston church, and the
secreting of her writhing body in the bel
fry: Every new fact brought to light from
day to day regarding the
murder of Mabel Young seems
to implicate Thomas w. Piper, the
sexton, deeper and deeper as the guilty
man. There is no doubt in the public mind
that he is the murderer, and so far as the
| facts already developed are concerned it
| must bs admitted that circumstanGiaI evil
dence not halt so strong has hanged many
men before now. Yesterday, in examining
all portions of the church in the most care
ful manner, some OF the officers made an i'm
portant discovery which would seem to
change the entire theory as to the spot in
| which the foul deed was accomplished.
| Piper's room is at the rear OF the vestry,
separated from the Warren avenue side OF
the building by an old study, which
was formerly used by the
pastor. As the church faces on
Canton street, il is necessary, in order TO
reach the sections quarters, TO enter by a
side door on Warren avenue near the rear OF
the building, and pass through the vestry
and the old study. From the rear end ofthe
vestry a door leads to back staircase rising
| to the gallery from the other end of which
the tower is reached. On this back staircase
spots of blood were found, yesterday. The
supposition, then, is that the murder was
done in PIper's room, where the bat was
known to be. at noon, and that he carried
the victim and the weapon up into the
| tower by way of this staircase and along the
| gallery.
THE POOL OF BLOOD IN THE TOWER
room under the belfry is accounted for by
the theory that he deposited the inanimate
body of the girl on the floor there while he
concealed the bat under plank. and then
carried her up the ladder through the trap.
door. Should this be the true theory, the
murderer must have stunned the child bv
the first blow, then striking her until ne
supposed her dead, he took his dreadful
| burden up the dark, winding back stairs,
| through the whole length OF the church in
the gallery and into the tower. Rsturning,
| he doubtless avoided being seen in the front
of the house, and leaping from the window,
as before described, be sought his own room
/ by skulking along the avenue and entering
the side door. The door leading to the back
/ staircase has been tor long time closed
with a spring catch and the Key OF ths lock
was supposed to be lost. Yesterday, how
ever, the spriDg catch was found to be- fas
tened back, and the door securely locked.
Piper's clothes have been placed in the
| hands of experienced chemists, as there are
| some spots on them which are supposed to
| be blood. He was addicted to the use OF
laudanum. The Rev. DR.. Pentecost visited
Piper, IN his cell in the basement of the
City Hall, yesterday forenoon, and had a
conversation with the wretched man. Mr.
Pentecost found Piper in a restless and ex-
cited frame of mind. As soon as the young
man recognized his visitor he exclaimed,
''do you think it possible, Mr.. Pentecost,
| that could have done this?" 81 am sorry
| to say that l oo," replied Mr.. Pentecost.
"You don't bel eve that could have been
| sane when did il, do your was his next
question. Mr.. PentecOst replied that he did,
| and that if
PIPER DID THE HORRIBLE DEED
he was responsible tor it, although he
thought that, in all such terrible crimes, the
persons who committed them were more or
/ less affected in mind at the time they were
committed. All through the first part of the
interview Piper endeavored to convey the
impression and make Mr.. Pentecost believe
that he was insane, although it was quite
evident that he was merely acting part.
| so, Mr.. Pentecost," 4" he said, "You known
/ very we'll that have not been myself for a
| long WHILE" He endeavored ali through
| the interview to make Mr.. Pentecost be-
\ lieve in his innocence, and kept saying,
How could / have done such thing?" AS
his confidence increased he became
more rational in manner, and stoutly
| protested his innocence of the
horrible charge. Nothing of a confidential
character was communicated, and the un-
fortunate man made no confession. WheE
| the coroner's jury had been empanneled,
Officers Dearborn and Ham brought In
Piper, whom they had conveyed from his
cell in the City Hall in carriage, and the
entire company went up stairs, where the
| remains OF the little gtrl were laid out in a
casket, ready for interment. Here the sex
ton was requested TO step forward, which
he did, and in another momont the muir
| derer looked upon the dead face of his dis
figured victim. While all others In the
| room were more or less affected, Piper was
as cool as though he had been gazing on
a pleasant landscape or a boquet of flowers.
He stood for a moment looking at the body,
Gas he would look at a dead cat" in the
words of one of the spectators. Then Officer
Dearborn addressed him few questions.
First, Officer Dearborn remarked TO him that
he need not answer any question unless he
saw fit. He then asked him directly if he
had ever known this child. Piper again
GLANCED sroLIDLY-AT THE BODY,
ana replied that he did not. The officer
asked him if he would swear that he had
not. He answered, with some hesitation
that ne was not willing to swear that he had
never known her, but that he was pretty
sure he had not. Several other leading
questions we're put and answered with the
same sullen and stolid denials. The jury
having viewed the body. adjourned till this
afternoon, at o'clock. when the re-
suit of an autopsy by Drs. Treadwell ano
Bolles will be announced, and the hearing
! of the testimony will begin. Officers Ham
, and Dearborn tnen conducted the prisoner
to the church, where they were met by sew
eral of the church officers, including the
Rev. Mr.. Pentecost, and Piper was taken al
over the building. even to the belfry. wher'
the girl was found. He preserved the same
su.len aud impassive demeanor and II
] answer to all questions be replied only bl
r the most sweeping denisls OF sll knowledg
of the affair. Fortunately, the tact that h