The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-05-05
MATTERS in MAINE.
NEW HAMPSHl RE.
The RuzzeIr Murder.


OssIpEE. Nav The trial of Joseph b.
Buzzell of Brookfleld, for the alleged murder
of Miss Susan A. Hanson in that town on the
evening of November I'd, 1874, opened mere Inis
afternoon before the circuit court. Attorney
General Clark, solicitor Wentworth and FRANK
Hobbs of Dover, appeared for the state, and
Messrs. Sanborn of Rochester, and Copeland
of Great Falls, for the prisoner. Inc MAN
circums tances connected with the MURDER,
which occasioned great excitement IN tnis
community, will be remembered by the public.
The victim, Miss Hanson, lady some 30 years
of age, who had always maintained good
character aud was highly esteemed IN the COM
munity. She lived at home with her mother, a
brother and his family. On the night OF tne
murder she was sitting in the kitchen with sew
eral members Of the family quietly at work
A little after seven O clock there was deafen'
ing report without from the discharge OF "a a
heavily loaded gun, and Miss Hanson Tell
senseless upon the floor, shot in the face, mead
and neck She died almost Immediately. Sus'
picion Immediately pointed towards Buzzeil as
the probable author of the deed. He had paid
his addresses to Miss Hanson for a number OF
wears, and for long time she had been eX-
pecting to marry him. He had married anoth-
er girl and Miss Hanson had Instituted pro-
ceedings against him for breach of promise,
which suit was to have been tried before
referee during the week on which the murder
was committed. BuZzell is man about 80
years Of age, farmer and stone cutter. lie
had always main lalleu u ldlT III eiio
community. On that day, Monday, Novem-
Der 3D. he left Wolfboro to return home at halt
mast five o'clock taking what Is known as the
Mountain road, rough andiuntravelled route
somewhat shorter than the ordinary hlgnWay.
The marder occurred soon after seven O'CLOCK,
and il is claimed by the defence that it would
have been utterly impossible for any man to
have driven over such dangerous route, dis
lance of or miles: much OF the way in the
dark, in that time.
The day was spent empaneling the jury.
Contested Legislative Seats-Kepubl icau us
Determined not TO be Cheated.
CONCORD, May A meeting of the Repub-
Iican State Committee was held at the Eagle
Hotel this evening, which was quite fully at
tended by members from different parts of the
state and prominent politicians. The delIbera-
tons were not public, but it is understood that
the meeting was held for consultation in rea-
ton to the legislative questions that are at
present causing considerable excitement. In
the sixth senatorial district the Democrats dis
pute the election of Gen. Head of Hooksett,
claiming that his name is Nathaniel and that
on the ballots cast it was printed NAT" and
that under the law all such ballots must
be thrown out, as abbreviated names cannot be
counted. In the fourth district they claim that
the temperance candidate. Deerng, for wh nm
votes enough had been cast to defeat CHOICE
enough to be eligible as a candidate, and there
fore all votes cast for him should be thrown OUT
and that the certificate of election should be
given to Proctor, the Democratic candidate,
according to law.
The Republicans claim that Gen. Head was
legally elected in his district; that he had
adopted the name of Matt and there can be no
question as to whom the the votes bearing that
name were cast for. The unanimous sense of
the meeting is said to have been that the voice
of the people cannot be disregarded by refusing
a certifca and that their rights in the mat
ter shall be insisted upon,as well as in the case
of district No. a. where they say it will be con-
trary to all precedent and law to declare Proc
tor elected. They state that the most eminent
counsel in the state have been consulted and
this position is sustained fully. The certlfi-
Gates of election are given by the Governor and
Council and they argue that no votes returned
can be thrown out by them.
The next meeting of this body will be held
on the 18th of May, when the matter Will
probably be voted upon, but what action will
be taken is at present uncertain. The Repub..
Iicans claim that they shall have majority OF
10 at least in the House of Representatives.