The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-08
THE CRIME OF A HIRED MAN
SHOCKING MURDER or VERMONT
FARMERS YOUNG WIFE.
The Murderer Running Naked TO the Houses
Of Neigbbors-Tbe Terrible spectacle In
Charles ButIsr's Home-A Confession.


Charles Buffers Home-A Confession.
ST. ALBANs, Vt, June 8.-About ten
miles from this town, in the vicinity OF the vii
iaee Of Higbgite Centre, there stands a small
frame dwelling. not far from the main road, but
distant some nftv rods from any other house,
which has been the scene OF most shocking
murder Both tho house and the farm on which
IL stands are owned by Charles Butler, an indus
trious and respected man about 25 years old,
and there he has lived happily with his young
wife Alice. whom he married three years ago.
she being then an orphan. little under the are
OF 1s. with them lived Buffers father, man
OF advanced age. but no other relative. They
had no children, and the household was COM
pleted by q hired man named EDWARD Tatro, q
young Frenchman OF 21 years, who assisted 10
the work about the farm.
On Friday, the I'd Of this month. the elder
Butler left the house on visit to neiRhbor.
About nichtfall young Butler also wet aw.y,
driving to the village on business. His wife
went to their nedrOUm, saving she felt tired and
NOT quite well, end y down upon the bed
Butter asked fatro whether he wished to 90
tong, but tue latter said ne preferred to remain
Butler returned from the village at about ten
prised % to ono it entirely Ozark; n not Sllmmer Of
light frum any wlnoow. lie opened the door,
aud as he entered, stumbled IN the dark against
Its sh Al ., as near as he could make IL out, he
supposed to he the body Of Tatro. lyin1 there
asleep. He called him by name, but received 10
reply He pushed the object with his foot,
but there was no responsive movement. With
an undenned dread he felt about the room
for match. Finding the match box. he struck
hght. 1t nlckered ana went out, but by the
uncertain and momentary fash he saw blood on
the floor and caught u fearful glimpse Of dis
figured corpse. The next match burned and
revealed the Deeoing body Of his wife. the
| coth hing almost all torn OF, and extended there
At that terrible spectacle he rushed aehast
IN n hnF ia
Wildly to get assistance from the height bors A.
| he reached the gate the sounds OF hurrying
ear, ana on the street ne met group Of excited
men coming toward the house. led by 1atro.
VINO had not a shred OF clothing on his person
| except a torn and bloody sb,rt. He WIS soboine
| and bowling alternately as though he was crazy.
| They all went to the house together. The muir
dered woman la, on the floor, near the b cK
door, her head crushed ana the brain protrul-
lug through It. Her hands were beaten black,
| and bruises and scratches disngured the neck
| aLd shoulders. An old musket which had long
been IA the house, three pieces ~ stove wood,
stained With blood. On the fiOor, near tho stove,
| y 1atros trousers. Up stairs a char was found
| whiJh had stood near the heau OF the bed In the
| room occupied by Butler and his wife. 1t had
| been broken to pieces, ana one Of the legs bad
been used upon the murdered woman to terri
| bic purpose.
1t old not take long to convince everybody
crimson with blood, and bis bare arms and Ie.s
and his torl shirt were blotched and spattered
| with 1t. Nearly naked as he was, he bad cume
/
that Alice Is being murdered" ana shouting
for assistance: He said two men were In the
the party whom he bad assem- olsd, and
who were armed with hoes, tIes, aud what
| ever they could lay hands on, he tore stakes
| from the fences to arm himself and Others IN
| the crowd lie was nearly crazy with excite
| ment, giving vent TO 1t In sous and yels. He
was closely watched until a police oficer could
| be Drought from the village, and was then "a,
| Into custody The general theory Is that he
| took on his pants IN the kitchen ana went up to
| the bedroom where Alice butler was lying. to
force her TO Yield TO bis wishes, and tnat upon
| her resisting, he assaulted ner with a chair. fol-
| lowed her aown into the kitchen, and there, In
madness and desperation. completed his bloouy
| work.
Atthe Coroner's inquest Tstro, being himself
| placed on the witness stand, told the following
| story:
Mr. Butl-r left me here with his wife last night. We
twY weGe the only persons in tue house About $50
| "a, except NY shirt hsd !urned the quilts dowu.
her So cSsy for God ts axe ccms susk
arS goins 10 put oH ny pAn.ss ma heard ner come
me py H nee 9sas dGessG M Gnasr ne the
uoNr i.s S.H Of = me
sAr. against Ine s,oye Thtn started a-d OF
lnAn came stars he turned upon me. saw Alice
"a sner she 60. up stairs bg. Gd no. zee hun strike
tue man s-y something dorn st-iTs sDou. money Dut
say The man had on rubber ooo,s He might have oeon
Ia Of. soekng feet He aid not have AnI !9ng ~ his
fen from the stairs.
Ibis story is not believed by any body. Tatro
still PERSISTS ia II, but he Is q owing less post
two, and shows such sisns Of weakness that q
iull confession 10 expec ed soon.
Iaro 10 small anu Of isht build, but why and
strODg for bis siz lie nAs All aged widowed
mother, who iiyes In tue neisnoornOod. anu a
sister. He did not nave a reputation, but
was considered somewhat OF n dare devil. No
| ooubt wDstever Is entertained by anybody IN
this vicinity tDat this shocking murder was
| committed by him, precisely as was surinised
| iIom tue very first.
ST. ALBAss, w.. June Edward Tatro. In
| IL here tor numbering Mrs. Bu lsr of High
| gaze made Il full confession Of guilt this of ers
| noon. but the oe,Aiis are withheld by the oherif
| for the present.