Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-08-17


into the barn, and while he was sitting
on the milking stool, with his back
toward the door, dealt him a blow. on
The back of the skull with q sledge
hammer, killing him instantly. He
afterward struck TOwne with the ham,
mer twice on the nose and mouth, and
then rified his clothing of money and
valqables. After sending his wife and
children to church he set about
CoNCEALING THE BODY.
De dragged it through the stanchions
to which the cows were attached, and
dropped it through the trap door into
the basement. The basement is open
ON the south side, and enclosed on the
three other sides by the stone founda-
ton, A part of it is used for a hog
pen. and the remainder of it has been
used az times by sheep. In this sium-
hole the murderer supposed the body
could be successfully concealed. he
selected spot. near the foundation
wall, where the earth was dryest, and
at opce set to work with shovel and
pick to dig grave. The excavation
was about seven feet long by Il wide,
and only one foot in depth. Its shall
lowness shows the haste with which
the murderer did his work, After the
burial ToWne's room was searched,
and his wallet, money, silver watch
and chain, and jack-knife were taken,
and it is supposed hidden in the cellar.
Then the murderer returned TO the
barn to clear away all traces of the
crime before his wife's return.
Mrs. Frost. on returning from
church, again inquired for her broth
er, and the husband said that he had
suddenly decided to go to Cali
for3ia, and that he had started on foot
for Worcester. He said Frank was
going to give him bill OF sale for the
COWS lie had on the farm, and that he
was to meet him in Worcester on the
following Tuesday The wife believed
the story, but nevertheless was at a
| loss to understand why her brother
should go away without bidding her
| goodbye. When Tuesday came Mrs.
| Frost reminded her husband of his ap-
pointment with Frank in WOrCerter,
| but he said was not feeling, well, and
| guessed he would not go until Wed
| nesday. On " ednesday the two Rath-
burn boys returned from their Fourth
Of July visit, and early the same day
| Frost started for Worcester. He return
ed home the same night, said he had
met Towne and purchased the stock,
| giving n note in payment and that
| Towne was to start for California that
| same night.
TIE FIRST sUsPICiONs OF MURDER
were entertained by the two Rathburn
boys on the return of Frost from Wor-
cester They did not believe the story
that Towne had gone to California,
and the fact that Frost was wearing
! the missing mans watch and carrying
his knife added to their suspicious that
! he was not telling thetruth. His wife
also began to suspect something wrong,
| but to all her questions she received
ASSURING answers.
Several persons in the towns oi
| Petersham, North Dana, and Hard
wick, who had known TOwne init
maielv, OH learning the boys snspic-
! ions decided to watch Frost. The
| Rathburn boys had the best Opportuni-
ty to do this. and to them belongs the
credit of bringing the murderer to jus,
tice. For the first two weeks after the
tragedy Frost showed but little ner,
vo2sness, although several nights dur
inc that time he got up and wandered
EabOut the house. During the day hC
spant most of his time about the house
and barn. - though to prevent any
nprsOD from examining the cellar
where the body was concealed. HIS
uneasinPss Increased from day to day
until about ten days ago he learned
that one of the Rathhurn boys had
discovered the burial place of his vic
tim 1t seems that John Rathburn OF
passing through the cellar a week age
Sunday saw q spot of earth which h'
thought had lately been disturbed. HI
had previously prObed the soft eartl
with a piece of lath with tie eXpPc;a
ton of finding the body. On sticking
the lath down into the new spot -
noticed that it came up with a sort o
rebound, and be. was. convinced tha
the remains Of the missing man lay
beneath. Frost in some way became
aware of his suspicious and determined
TO remove the body.
EXHUNING THE BODY.
There was no time to be lost, Grd OIL
Monday night Of last week, after as
, suring himself that his wife, and es
pecially the Rathourn boys, wer
asleep, he crept out of bed, and aTmln!
himself with a carving knife, went t.
the stable. There he added to hi
weapons two small hatchets and
, shovel, and descending to the cellar b.
the dim light of a lantern eXhumct
the CHASTITY corpse. Nothing dis
turhed the murderer save the stamp 0
/, the cattle above. He placed the bod
in piece of sacking, covered all Wit
: a horse blanket. Then throwing til
bundle over his shoulder. he carried
: ont INTO the field and placed it on
, rock. Here with his knife and hatch
; ct he severed the head and arm
r from the body, and cut off his legs. =
The BODY al q arms he buried in
corn field, AMI the legs in some othe
: part of the farm.
. THE SUSPICION STRENGTHENED.
I The Rathburn boys visited the gray
5 In the cellar the next day and toun
} that it had been dug up. The shape (
= the excavation confirmed his convi'
i ton that the body had been burie
f there. Frost's frequent visits aftel
e ward to the corn field excited his SUI
5 picion that the body had been cor
e realed there. On the Friday follow
n ing. John Rathburn found Frost dix
. ging in the field, and he marked tn
spOt. The selectmen were at once IL
formed by young Rathburn of whi
he had seen, and they called upO
@ Frost. The latter appeared very mus
( cent. and SAID that it was shame thi
5 such stories as had been rep0rte
n about should receive any credenC
e from officers or respectable people. II
) kent the seiectmen away from katf
t burn during bis visit, and the war
: officers soon after went away, appa
,. entIv satisfied that Frost was all rlgh
0 and the sUspiciOHs were groundless.-
2 Rathburn and the vigilance commit
J, tee however, kept mp their loohou
f over Frost's movements. y colofe
g man Samuel Upton who shared IN
a suspiciOn of the boys, worked on III
g farm haying on Saturday. and on pa'
: sing through the corn deldon his wa
; home. saw a piece of sacking stickln
e out of the ground. He went to tn
t stone wall near by, and marked tn