The Portland daily press., 1875-05-24
ANOTHER BOSTON HORROR.
A CHILD MURDERED IN A
CHURCH.
THE DEED COMMITTED IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT.
The Sexton Arrested on
Suspicion.

Boston, May 23-Another murder, even
more horrible 10 its details than that of Mrs
Bingham, which so shocked and startled the
entire community few weeks since, was per-
petrated in this city this afternoon. A bright
little girl, five years of age was murdered in a
church aid the bruised and mut:lated body
carried up into the tower and thrown upon the
floor of the loft, for years the abode OF nun.
dreds of doves and pigeons. The Vlctlm OF
this cruel tragedy was Mabel I'll. Young. who
grandfather at so East Chester Park. The
latter, Mr.. Jas. w. Hobbs,is well known and
highly respected merchant, senior OF the hrm
of Hobbs, Pope & Co., the family being OF the
highest responsibility. This afternoon little
Mabel in company with an aunt, attehaea the
Sunday school anniversary exercises OF the
Warren Avenue Baptist church. On coming
out of the church at half past three o'clock the
aunt remained in the vestibule about ten MIN
utes conversing with some kfrends, and on
starting to 90 home missed the child, who
few minutes before was at her side. At first it
was supposed she had gone back into the
church, but when she was not found within ana
persons outside declared she had not come out,
the aunt became alarmed and search was made
in every direction.
About four D. NJ some ladies at an open
window across the street heard faint cries OF
child apparently from the church tower and
noticed an unusual commotl0n among the
doves that swarmed in and out the windows
Some young men who had joined in the search
started at once to ascend the tower. They
found the door leading up from the organ loft
locked and on forcing it open were startled at
seeing fresh blood upon the landing. They
also found strip of board covered with blood
at one end and soon heard low means from
above. Ascending long steep flight OF stars
and raising tine scuttle which required the
strength of strong man, they found the man
gled body of the child lying near the edge OF
the scutte as though it had been carried up
the steps and hastily thrown down there.
Carefully they carried her down into the
church where large number of persons had
congregated and into the presence of her ago
nized friends From the top of her head which
was broken in, flood and brain was slowly ooz
ing, while the nose was broken in and face
terribly mutilated. She was carried to her
grandfather's residence and surgeons at once
Summoned. They pronounced the case hope
less and her death is question OF but few
hours at the farthest.
Thos. Piper, who has been sexton of the
church for about year, was soon after arrest
ed and is now confined at the CHIEFS office.
He was engaged at work about the church, but
his suspicious manner and denying that he had
keys, when the two keys fitting the doors to
| the toWer were taken from his person, points
strongly to him as the party. He is dark,
| heavy set man about 26 years old, and has once
| before been under arrest on suspicion OF muir
! der, but was discharged for want of sufficient
evidence. Many of the police still believe MIN
| guilty of the murder of young girl in Dor
| chester district about fifteen months since.
| This last affair has caused a profound sensa,
ton in the community, and intense excitement
prevails.
The very boldness of the affair lends addi'
tional horror. Scarcely three quarters OF an
hour elapsed from the time the child came out
into the vestbule of the church till she was
found in dying condition. How she was en-
ticed away and for what motive has not ye
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