The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-25
FROST, THE PETERSHAM MUIR

ANOTHER MAssA CHUsETTs HIxSD TO BE HUNG
AT WORCESTER ON FRIDAY-oNx or THE
MOST srcxESINa BurcHERIEs EVER HEARD
oY-A HARD STRUGGLE TO ''DR GAME"
WORCESTER, May -, 1874
On the day that Piper gives up his life for the
murder Of Mabel Young in the Boston church belfry,
there will also executed the jail in this city the
perpetraior OF one OF tho most hendish and revolving
human butchores known in civilized COM
munity The murderer Is Samuel J. Frost and the
victim was Franklin B. Towne, his brothcr.in- law,
whom he killed In Petcrsham tho 4th Of July, 1878
The motive OF the murder to property and
money and after the deed committed the body
Was cut up into sections and secreted different parts
or dense wood. the spot where the unfortunate
man was killed II was not until month after tho
murder that any portion OF tho remains found,
and then only the trunk Of tho body minus head and
Iegs negro walking through the woods
afternoon, and just before him up
SWARM FLIRs
which was so dense al to attract his attention Upon
exampation he found under some leaves The headess
and leglcss trunk just Subscribed The alarm
given suspicion at once fastened upon Frost and he
was arrested In . hiding place on tho Same day.
Previous to tho discovery and while Towne miss
ing Frost gave Il out that he had gone California
and the story than half believed Tho head
OF the body WAS found after, but the legs
never discovered and now just he is about to
tuer the death penalty tho murderer refuses give
information which will lead to tho discovery Of the
balance OF the body
now KILLING EXPLAINED.
The defence before the jury prepared to provo
that Frost was not guilty of tho crime the full
extent charged by the Indictment Tho killing OF
Frank p Towne by Samuel J. Frost they should ad-
mit they should dony him guilty Of that degree OF
crime which Is punishable with DEATH The counsellor
called for pity for tho wretchod the jury be-
fore them who with fell blow had destroyed tho
man who had been TO him friend and brother; who
was now deprived Of tho sympathy and support OF
wife, whom the jury had seen strangely enough using
every enort her husbands DEATH Explain
ing tho different degrees of murder the counsel said
the defence would show that
THIS MURDER WAS COMMITTED WITH MALICE
AyoRETHouGHT,
or with unusual atrocity. Tho defence would show
that up to the time OF the murder both men wore
friendly terms with each other that the morning
the murder was committed Frost milking heifer
in tho barn. when Towno up and re-
marked that he did not like Frosts style Of milk
ing; that both became angercd, struggle ensued
and both rolled together the barn floor; that Frost,
in trying to rise, placed his hand upon the kicker
BEAM when II Unexpectedly fell upon piece Of iron
broken of from the top OF tho sledge hammer; that
erasping this ron the of passion. tho prisoner
struck tho fatal blow. Tho defence would show that
the prisoner even after struck the blow did
think Towne fatally injured, bu. that when he found
after his milking done, that his brother-inlaw
dead he filled with utter dismay, and began fol-
lowing the suggestion OF his first thought TO
CONCEAL TIN EVIDENCES or HIS CRIME;
that he first buried the body in tho barn cellar and
i afterward, finding that the burial place had been
visited by some one other than himself, cut the
noid, where it was found buried The defence would
deny that the body buried at all in the swamp and
asked the Jury to separate the events after the murder
the insults the CORPSE from the murder itself Tho
counsel declared tho defence would show that all
Frosts actions after tho murder were those induced by
attempts conceal hts crime, which filed him with
terror unspoakabic, and from which arrest was vel
come release.
Tho prisoner not less than the audience listened al
brcatnlessly the unfolding OF the theory which
defence wished establish and the prisoner at
its conclusion sank back his chair with relieved
look he seemed to have moro sympathy among tho
trial
HINsELp.
Probably there tragic and thrilling
scene witnessed in court room than the occasion
when Frost his story OF the tragedy for which he
be executed. when no entered tho witness stand
reached climax He stood witness for over throe
hours, and his demeanor during that time marked
BY carncstness which was almost painful to observe
rHr SKULL or THE MuRpERrp NAN
placed before him. he showed deep feelings at other
he told his with such OF hesita-
tion and with such avidity his hearers
give but little credcnce 10 It. All his answers
clearly gwen, and he often stepped from the stand
illustrate the positions OF the murderer and his victim
during that fatal struggle In the HIS testimony
seemed to be rather plea in his defence, and,
horrible as the unfoidings charmed MS venom
snake every person In the audience The prisoner
related incidents before and after the murder subsan
TALLY as witnesses for the government had detailed
them. Here Is his story:-
ssThen Mr. Towne came along and stops beside Of me-
andes u Inu1 tEo ofN Wall
the hcifcr does said; ne put his LETT hand the
pail and his right hand on my left shoulder; reached
pail away; held II aud tried to keep It from
him; he pushed me, and fell over and my head struck
on the ssanchion .od HIM 70 lot mo up, and he said
Counsel-Where were you'll
Prisoner-T was down.
Couusel-Where he?
Prisoner-He down, holding ON to me; he could
not get his hand down TO shut or my wind
Here the prisoner nestated and said no would rather
tell the words that followed but counsel in
sisted, and Frost went on:-
~ said. Get oil OF me- damned quickl' he said Not
am forced to- reached for and
GOT HOLD or A STICK.
which In the rack but let 90 because couldn't get
II out; then got hold Of another, which called
the tte boys bat stick, from the boys using IL for
q bat stick; raised my hand up lustrating) and
hit Mr. Towne In the face; then brought up my hand
again and hit him again; then brought IL up again
blood; he kept hold or tho stick and undertook pull
II away from me; as he commenced to pull COM
menced 10 pull, nc WAS Y heavier man tnan me,
although he wasn't quick and didn't understand
handling himself quite so vol; we had II there Tor
some minutes; were nearly side by side;
the side OF tho barn; no got his arm around my
neck got his head down and tried to get hold OF
stick there there held his head down by his
chin whiskers and he held my head down with hs left
arm; tricd TO raise myself up. and
EIGHT HAND rKLL on THIS PiEcR IRON
with II there pointing with his finger to spot
and just back OF the right eye The skull then
produced and Frost pointed out the spot where
the blow fell; should think right this bono here
(pointing); struck him twice. the first time right
ihe back OF his head thcro pointng) he sings BY
g0rryl had his head down then and had my baud
right In his whiskers, like that; the first blow
struck Townc. In The face there (pointngl ana
the last the back Of the head hero (ponting agan
SAID, you're satisfied now, you y This basket
pointing u ou lay right his hand all the hold he
had OF his left right my neck; he was
o. knee. retg mn.