Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-10-27


a young man named John Potnode
Saturday forenoon they were all taken
to Perkipsyille where hearing was
held before justice.
Gravelin's motive was probably re-
venge for Whites turning states evi
dence in criminal case about year
ago, On May 10, 1874, Gravelin and
White broke in three windows of Yves
tons house after the family had retired
for the night and fired a gun. Gravelin
was sued for DAMAGES, and the case was
tried at the May term Of the Windsor
county court, 1876. White here testi
| fed against Gravelin, and judgment was
rendered for the plaintiff for $92,57 and
the costs. Gravelin is a large land
holder, owning some six hundred acres
around his house, and was man whom
nearly every one feared, being of a very
revengeful irritable disposition, as well
as large and very powerful physically.
He can neither read nor write That
there was mischief brewing is evident
from the fact that hevery recently made
over all his property, some twelve thou
sand dollars to his daughter
Nothing Of the kind has occurred in
this vicinity since the Gowing horror
some years ago, and the excitement is
intense. People have visited the house
and premises of Gravelin in large num-
bers from all the surrounding towns, and
Saturday morning an enterprising pho
tographer was on the ground taking
views of the locality. One very
suspicious thing against Gravelin is,
that since then, all Of hisworking clothes
have been washed, but they are now in
the hands of the sheriff Gravelin is
nearly fifty years old; White was thirty
two, and leaves a widow with two chill
dren. Something of the influence of
Gravelin over that community may be
seen from the remark of Mrs White,
(wife of the murdered MANI, who went
to Springfield on Wednesday or Thurs
day to get legal advice. She said no
one dared do anything for fear Gravelin
would get out of Jail and punish them
for it. His past record has been hard
one, indeed he was strongly suspected of
having committed a murder at Clare
mont some years ago, but the evidence
was not strong enough 70 convict him.
In addition to the above we learn that
it is reported that about two years ago,
two Frenchmen arrived at Gravelin's
from Canada, each supposed to have
about $500, and that they were in
search of farms, since which no tidings
have ever been heard of them, their
friends in Canada having vainly tried
to trace them beyond his place, and the
suspicion now very naturally arises that
Gravelin made way with them for their
money. Altogether the circumstances
appear DARK against him.
HENRY CARPENTER ARRESTED.
Additional evidence was discovered in
the case which has led to the arrest OF
Henry Carpenter, the nearest neighbor
of Gravelin. He occupies q house only
a short distance from the we'll where the
body was found. At the inquest he
stoutly declared that he knew nothing of
the murder, but it was determined Mon
day to search his premises. On their
arrival at the house the officers found it
securely fastened. On breaking in a ter
rible sight was witnessed. Spots which
proved to be blood and hair were found.
This led to a further search. In the
room where the blood was found door
was discovered leading to front hall.
This door was closed and large guam.
tity of apples were piled up before it
After removing these and opening the
door a bad stencil filed the room, and il
was evident that it was here the fearful
crime was committed. This front hall
is a room five feet by ten. On this floor
were more apples and pears, and on re
moving them hay was found, and on re
moving this the spot where White lay
before being thrown into the well wa!
evidently in view. AS White entered
the door into the front hall he was evi
IDENTIFY struck down, as spots which
proved to be brains and blood were
found on the door, and scattered all ovel
the floor and plastering, and efforts haC
been made to erase them by scrubbing
Pieces of withered flesh were also founC
adhering to the door, and an ak was
found hidden under pile of rubbish in
hog pen, upon which was a large piect
of flesh. This was undoubtedly th'
weapon with which the deed was com
mitted. The house in which the murder
was committed is rickety old shanty
and was occupied by Carpenter alone
Carpenter bears bad name, has twice
been in prison, and fed from the Yves
to escape punishment for beating his wifi
to death Gravelin is As years old, ant
is believed to have poisoned his wife
who died mysteriously several years ago
He went to Weathersfeld Is years ag,
poor man, and now owns $4,000
worth of property.