Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-02

WAS 1T A MURDER Under this caption
a correspondent tells the story of the mys-
FERROUS affair at Norwich, in this State, al
ready alluded to in our telegraphic columns,
as follows For years there had lived On
pleasant farm, near Norwich, left him ty
his ancestors, John Bartlett, a bachelor,
who at the time he became Of interest to the
public had reached the age of 20 His farm
was situated in the pleasant valley Of tie
PompanOosic river. near the station OF the
same name, and besides the two dwellings
he owned he was supposed to possess quite
an amount OF hard cash. One of these
dwelling be rented to good tenants, the
other he occupied himself Some time in
1869, one Rufus Murdoch rented. after some
interces sion. this house, and Bartlett be-
became member of his family. On the 9Th
of March, 1870. Bartlett disappeared. but
as he was very eccentric man. and noted
Tor his many peeullarlties. his absence was
not at first noted. Murdoch, worthless.
dissolate fellow, leaving the place IN Sep
TENDER and Bartlett not returning. suspi-
eion OF foul play was felt and, some even
limited that Murdoek knew something of the
unexplained absence OF the oil: man, as he
was seen wearing openly the clothes OF the
missing man. and on several occasions cir
eulatIng silver coin that he said he found
under the doorstep of the house after Bart
lett left. lt was also noticed that on leav
ing the premises Murdoek took away all of
the furniture Of value, remarkine that
BARTLETT would never trouble him again.
/ he property, now without keeper. was
placed IN the hands OF an administrator.
Mr.. John Loyeland, and sold, and every eff
Tort used by that gentleman 10 discover the
iormer proprietor proved of no avail.
About year later the badly decayed body
oil an old man was found in the Connecticut
river, near " indsor. AMI Mr.. Loveland |
thinks it possibly may have been the body |
OF the lost man, although he cannot account |
Tor his being in that vicinity lie is conf |
dent that Bartlett had ut least SO 600 abont /
the house. and 1t is certain that in his man. |
ner OF living he could nos have used il lint
rather would have boarded it. probably /
keeping 1t IN his house. After the family
Di Murdoch lett the house the strietest
search OF the premises was made, but no
races OF 1t could be found Since Murdoch
eft the place on the March following the
disappearance of its owner, it has been de-
'ertea. and Is to-day in u dilapiiated and
condition. and perbaps
would never have been the subject of curl
'sity had not some person, either full of the
pirit oil iun or ardent spirit. set up a shin
,ie near the house on which was written,
Dig Tor Johns body here," and here the
redulous people digged but to no purpose.
ne only living representative of MIR. Bart
et'' his nephew, Noah Bartlett, of Royal
on. w.. when asked to aid in measures
aiculated TO clear up the mystery, it is
AID. refused. replying that he had already
1penced seventy-fve cents in that way and
honid do no more. Murdoch is now LIVING
: Cornish. VI. on a farm which be hires
nd there IS but little probability that he
MI be called to answer for the disappear
nee OF his former landlord, and although
thorough investigation might bring some
aing important to light. yet time with its
naeing fingers has done 80 muchto destroy
'ldence Of crime that satisfactory resnls
ouid be hardly probable; meanvhile the
'ystery remains unsolved.