The Republican journal., 1875-01-28
Horrible Murder in New Hampshire.

n H., on FRIDAY morning. MIS-. JOnn
Emerson was found about ten o'clock sit
ing in the kitchen Of her house with her
lead literally blown from her body. Her |
husband was at the barn and heard the |
report Of ag un, and found his wife as !
above. with knitting work in her hands. |
A double barrelled shot gun (discharged) |
was on the floor. The greatest excite |
ment prevails in the community Mrs. |
Emerson had been married but a few
months, was twenty years Old. and was
not known to have an enemy. The whole
affair IS shrouded in mystery
The place is about Two miles from Pier
mont village, and nearly the same distance
from Bradford, Vt. The building is an
old fashioned. two story house John b.
Emerson, the husband Of the murdered
woman, moved on to the farm some eight
weeks ago, taking with him his wife,
whom he had married only a month before
He IS % years old. most worthy, indus
trious and upright man, and his family
connections are most respectable. He
worked some years III Lowell, where his
marriage took place
The victim OF the murder was before
marriage, Miss Amla Merrill, and belonged
to one OF the best families in town. She
was born III Oxford, but had spent the
greater part OF her life in Piermont where
She had good educational advantages.
For the past six years she had been EN-
pl0Yed on the Boot Corporation in Low
ell. She is described by all who knew
her, as Il woman OF prcpossessing appear
ance and of many good qualities of mind
and character She was Il little below
medium height, with light eyes and clear
complexion. In figure she was slender
and very graceful She was in the goth
year OF age. The family consisted Of Mr.
Emerson and wife, and Moses b. SAWYER
The history OF the latter is very import
ant, rs he is now under arrest. CHARGED
with the crime He is native of New
buryport, Mass and ~ years Old He is
unmarried, and his parents are not living
He has two brothers in Lowell, who keep
a carriage repository. He has brothers
and sisters in AmesbulV. Mass, and Il
hrothcr-in-law III New York city He is a
blacksmith ny trade and worked many
Years on carriages in Allesbury During
the past four Wears he has been in Lowell
a portion oil the time, in the employ OF
DR. Welmau Jennes- While in that city
he became intimately acquainted with Mr.
Emerson and the murdered woman He
came to New Hampshire to visit them and
To find employment Tor the winter lie is
Of medium height. stout hIilt, ilorid com
pleNion, and gray hair and beard He
dresses with ncatness, appears quite intel
ligent and has not a criminal appearance
The murder occurred Friday forenoon
The weather was stormy. and neither
Emerson nor Sawyer went far away from
home. After breakfast Emerson made a
pleasant remark to his wife. and kissed
her, and then went ont to look alter his
cattle 1t IS moi supposed that he ever saw
her alive again. Sawyer, at the same
time, went into the door-yard to cut wood
In the meantime Mrs. Emerson performed
her ordinary household duties OF the NOM
ing, aud then sat down by the fire, in her
cosy kitchen, TO Go some sewing At a
little past ten. a terrible explosion took
place in the house Mr. Emerson heard it
1t the barn distinctly. and started at once
for his dwelling. Mi Emerson went
through his looryard, where he saw Mr.
Sawyer at work. TO the house He opened
the door leading to the kitchen. and for a
moment stood almost paralyzed by the
sight. Then he raised his arms and gave
shrek OF anguish. and rushed to the
street, crying my wife, "my wifel' and
appearing almost like a maniac. SAWYER
exclaimed, lis she dead?" and went quick
lY into the house The scene presented
was enough to sckcn and appall the stout
est heart Words cannot adequately de
scribe It, In chair by the stove was the
headless body OF Mrs. Emerson About
three feet from her, and lying on the floor
was a heavy double-barrel shot gun. the
muzzle pointing toward the chair Almost
the entire head and neck was blown from
The body, and all that remained was a
small portion OF the lower law, which
hung upon her breast, and small portion
OF the neck, near the backbone, not over
an inch in width. From this headless
body. blood was squirting in copous
streams, and gathering IN pools on the
floor, The head was almost wholly blown
to atoms and scattered on the ceiling and
west and south walls Of the rooms The
largest portion OF the head found. was q
piece OF Skull about three inches in length,
by two in width, which had passed through
window, breaking place Of its exact
size in the glass, and lodging in the door
yard, some ten feet from the house, and
within about that distance from where
Sawyer was at work.
On the stove, ceiling, walls and floor,
Were scattered blood, flesh and hair, form
ing scene ghastly and revolving to all
who witnessed it. The body rested in the
chair as natural as if in life The feet
were on the fender of the stove, one hand
held a piece of cloth. while The other
grasped Il needle and thread, as if to take
another stitch in the work The position
OF the body showed unmiStakablv that not
q movement occurred after the weapon
was fired
Sawyer appeared wonderfully calm and
collected, lie said Chat Emerson went in
to the house little while before the ex-
pl0sIon occurred and that he was the last
to enter the house before the murder oc-
Cured Sawyer talked freely about the
matter hut showed great Indifference.
lii the afternoon Deputy Sheriff Newell |
Went to Piermont and arrested SAWYER |
He manifested no SURPRISE and said he |
expected it," and was willing to 90 |
When the officer put the hand-cufl's upon |
MN, the prisoner said there was no need |
Of 1t, Tor he should not run away. The |
crime was no sooner discovered than s3s- /
picion fastened upon Sawyer The excit- |
cd thron!@ at The house freely expressed
the opinion that he was guilty.
Emerson, who was almost insane yestcr-
day, was lalhrn to his fathers last evening. |
llis reason is almost dethroned and he
%an give no intelligent account of the af-
lar lie has the full sympathy of the |
community
Sawyer and Emerson, and the murdered
woman We're All three Intimately acquaint- |
ed tor some time in Lowell. SAWYER ad- |
mls that She was very fine woman, and
4 |, p, L.