Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-06-10
nIIlc,
BERT DARLINGTON.
A BRUTAL MURDER IN HIGH
GATE.
A Young Wife Beaten to Death

On Friday night, 2nd inst, Highgate,
VT, was the scene of a brutal murder.
The scene of the murder OF Friday night
was about two miles north of Highgate
Centre, where Charles Butler, a young
farmer, resided with his wife and father.
Butler had been married about three
years, his wife being an orphan girl,
Alice Mead, scarcely Is at the time of her
marriage. They had no children, and the
only other person composing the family
was Edward Tatro, q Frenchman, en-
ployed by Butler on his farm. On Fri
day evening Butler went to Highgate
Centre ON. business, leaving his wife, who
was slightly unwell, at home with Tatre,
the old gentleman being absent on visit.
Butler returned at about 10 O'Clock and
went into the house by the kitchen door.
As he approached he noticed that the
house was dark. Opening the door he
advanced a few steps when, by the
light of match he discerned the terrible
picture of his wife lying on the floor in
pool Of blood, her clothing nearly all torn
off, stark and dead. Rushing to the barn,
he mounted his horse to ride to the neigh
borS for assistance. AS he reached the
gate he heard sound of confused voices
and met group of terror-strickcn men
hurrying to the house, led by Tatro, who
had nothing on but the tattered remnant
of shirt, and was crying and bowling
like mailman. The party proceeded to
the house and made an investigation. The
murdered woman lay upon the floor, near
the back kitchen door. Her head was lit
orally crushed in, and the brain protruded
through CHASTITY crevices in the skull Her
hands were beaten black with some blunt
instrument, ard she was bruised about
the shoulder and scratched upon the neck
Close by her on the floor lay three sticks
of stove wood, more or less bloodstained
and an old musket, which usually
stood in the stairway. Leaning against
q stick, close by, was an axe, one side of
on the floor, near the stove, the pants
Tatro had worn through the day. An ex-
animation of the sleeping room of Mr..
} and Mrs. Butler, which adjoined Tatro's,
showed that some one had apparently been
lying upon the bed. The bed, floor and
, walls were covered with blood, as were
? | g 1cn lan md all, 80 Al, Ill
stairs. a stoyepipe in Tatro's room was
) knocked down, and that also was blood.
stained in various places. An old chair
which has stood by the head of the bed in
f Buffers room was found in the hall bro
/ ken to pieces, and one of the legs ap
f pears to have been buried by terrible
blow in the murdered woman's head to &
: depth Of about three inches. The boy
Tatro was examined and was found to be-
: covered with blood, his hands beins
: crimson with it, and blotches and spat
= ters on his bare legs and arms. He was
watched, while Mr.. Butler rode rapidly
) to Highgate and brought back physician
uuo oihCStj WHICH, TIC WAS 1lniHedlaJell
5 taken into custody. He was nearly crazy
with excitement, sobbing and crying, bu
: stoutly denying any guilt.
Tatro was arrested and at hearing be
l fore coroner's jury was fully committed
to ST. Adams Jail to await trial for murder
He subsequently confessed committing
7 the murder, stating that he made improp
r or advances to Mrs. Butler, in her room
which were repealed. A combat ensuet
4 resulting in his striking her blow witt
the axe which caused her death.