The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-27
THE TRAGEDY AT KEENE.
Statement of the Arrested Man.

There Is no abatement in the excitement
absence of any deflnite Information various
rumors and theories arc ahoat regarding
tho perpetrators of the deed. A report
that the deceased came to his death by his
own hand has been in circulation, and has
gained some credcnce among people who
are familiar with the circumstances. This
report is based principally on the fact tina,
a sponge found in Fosters house, and for
merly used by him in washing horses, had
pieces cut from 1t aud was in general APP
pearance like the sponge with which Foster
was gagged.
Both the pieces of sponge are somewhat
filled with hair and dirt, but do not fit each
other and were evidently never united t.
each other, but may have been cut from
the same sponge, Those who entertain
this view find it strengthened by the belief
that it would have been impossible for a
man Of Fosters size and strength 20 have
been ovcrpowered and gagged without his
| having made an outcry that would have
alarmed the neighb0rhood There is, how
ever no motive that seems to make the
theory of suicide plausible. Fosters fam
| nv TtlotlODo NtlC DiIdSOD auN HIS DlislItHs
affairs, SO far 40 known, were prosperous.
His wife ridicules the idea that he could
have done the deed and gays ho had never
seemed happier than lately.
THE EVIDENCE OF MURDER ACCUMULATIN0.
A young man who stood al gate fol-
several minutes talking about quarter
past 9,neariy opposite the school-house saw
man on the opposite side of the street
| lettering about as though waiting for some
one. lie was afterwards Joined by another
party and the two remained standing 90.
gether, but no conversation passed between
them. The young man soou passed down
the street and when opposite the pail
stopped. Thinking their movements were
suspicious, he watched them for time.
They moved slowly up the street anC
stopped again, when the young man passeC
along, leaving them near where the bodj
was found.
Policeman Gale, who was on The groun(
early in the morning, saw tracks on liz
ground and evidences OF ecuils near the
watering trough, q short distance from
where the body was found lie FOLLOWED
these tracks quite distance, which wa
readily done as they were made in the mid
die Of the road, and one of the psrlie
wore rubbers. They were finally lost sigh
of, but the direction in which they led ma,
yet prove an important clue to the muir
derers.
Parties living on Court street heard {
team driven down the street in crest hast
some time before midnight, ard Officer
Cressey and Gay in following up this lrai
| l. T.. !
sons who were awakened between and
o'clock by some one driving at n furiou
rate past their houses. At the toll bridg,
at Bellows Falls the keeper reported that
man drove up in great haste about o'clocl
on the morning of the murder having hi
fee In his hand, and went on with unusua
speed
WHEN FOSTER WAS LAST SEEN
Foster was last seen alive by City Mar
shall Babcock and Night Watch Crosse,
about 10 o'clock on Tuesday evening
Cressey inquired if he was not out rattle
late, to which Foster replied he had bee
out collecting. "Got any money T" in
quired Cressey. Eyes, lois of it," repliet
Foster, showing handful of coppers II
his hand. He then started up Washing
ton street, saying"I must 90 home.
STATEMENT OF HEWLETT TIE ARRESTED MAN
At an interview Thursday evening at tn
Jail with VIM. Hewlett, the suspected par
ty under arrest, in presence of Sheriff Rice
Hewlett makes the following statement a
to his whereabouts during the night of III
murder:
81 started from the American hous
about half-past eight to a house on the OH
Jilsum road to see a lady. ! did not &c
any one there or go into the house. Ate
waiting there few moments, went direct
ly down town. Think it was about hall
past nine o'clock when reached the Eagl
hotel. was alone, going and coming
aad spoke to no one. ! did not go ava
from the hotel after hali-past nine O'Clock
| sat in the Office near the stove, and wen
once into the reading room. There wer
three or four gentlemen sitting in the roor
talking while was there. Mr. Mason wa
in the office. He went to bed about eleve
o'clock | went soon after. 1t was abou
quarter to eleven when the gentlemen
spoke of went out. slept In the attic.
: left the street the next morning abOu
IL o'clock to 60 up to the scene OF the mui
der, and from there went up TO the wood
where / was arrested Have been up ther
) | sSNSn tiiiitb uuilhB tho iGSb iVihhissht.
am thirty-three years old and was neve
married. Have father, mother, tw
brothers and sister living in Chester, VI
Have worked in Peterboro' and Bosto
during the past winter. Tended bar for
! man named O'Niel on Pleasant stree
Was never arrested before in my life"
COMMENTS UPON HIS STORY.
AT the close OF the conversation he il
quired what was thought of his case. O
being told il the gentleman he bad meI
toned corroborated his statement he wa
all right, he seemed deeply affected and il
: dicatcd by his manner that he was fearfl
his story would not be substantiated. Nj
Mason of the Eagle hotel states that he ws
IN the Office from half past nine until abot
eleven O'Clock, when he retired first.
As he was going up stairs he saw Hev
lett In the reading room, and had not see
him in the house before since eight o'cloel
He Is confident he did not come in unit
0 about eleven. He had bordeo at the Cir
hotel, but told Mason he was short {
money and wanted a cheap bed. Soon a
ter he retired. His story destroys Hev
let's statement that he came in at halfpa
. nine o'clock, and he has not satsfactoril
accounted for his whereabouts from hal
past nine O'Clock to nearly eleven. Thu
from his own statement he was during thu
interval In the vicinity where the fat,
: deed was done.