The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-21
THE MURDER OF MISS HANSON.
A New Hampshire TFaRedy--A RarHasF Etn'
piay~ Hia tiired MAn so Murder NOuna
LADY.

y New Hampshire TFANgdS~-A Farmer Eta
pias" Hia hired MAa 60 Murder a HsunG
Lady.
New England u recent years has been
fruitful IN terrible crimes, but no tragedy
has equAled IN deliberate kavagery the
killing Of Mss Susan J. Hanson, oi
Brooktield. n. H., ia November, 1874.
as It's revolving details are now develop
eI 10y the confession Of Charles W. Cook,
Of Pennington. He did the killing on
the promise Of $500 reward from Joseph
b. Buz1ell, farmer Of means and re-
puted rrspectability, former ault0F u
Miss Hanson'a, aud defendant at the
time ia a breach of promise suit brought
by her.
Susan j. Hanson was a native and life
long resident Of Brookfield. thirty-iour
years old, attractive, amiable and cul-
tured above most country girls. She had
known Farmer Bu2Eell intimately always;
they had grown up near neighbors, were
engaged before the girl had reached her
twentieth year, aud several times he had
appointed and postponed the wedding
day. A few months before the tragedy
the lover, 10 eycrybDdy's surprise, mar
ed another woman. The friends Of
Hiss Hanson were naturally indignant
aud outraged, and al their earnest solici-
tations the deserted girl consented 70
bring breach Of promise suit against
Bu2zen.
The legal papers had been served, but
the night before the first hearing ~ the
ease the plaintiff was killed. She was
sitting in the early evening with her
mother. brother aud "A little nephew in
their COSY New England kitchen, when
a binding explosion occurred, the lamp
went out aud Miss Hanson fell dead. A
hole in the window and seventeen shot
and tlugs IN tie wuman's body disclosed
the horrible work OF an assassin.
BuEzel was naturally arrested and
tried. The imprint Of a gunstock near
the window through which the shot had
been fired corrrsponded 10 a gun he had
formerly owned bat which could not be
found; wagon track from which man
was followed through piece Of piowed
land near the Hansun's = corresponded 10
hIs, the waddiHg Of the gun had been
from a newspaper he WAS known 20 take
bat after week. trial the evidence
against Farmer Buzzell was held 10 be
not conyicting. The Hanson house was
soon after deserted by It's occupants be-
cause oi its terrible associations, and the
local public gave over expecting that the
murderer of Susan Hanson would be
brought 10 justice in this world
Public excitement because of the muir
Der WAS somewhat revived, however, in
the spring Of 1876 by the burning Of the
fine farm buildings Of one Of the wit
uesses against BuxEell In the murder
trial, and again in the fall aud last WIN
ter 10y the iucendiary firing oi buildings
belonging 20 tWo more men who had
given evidence uniAYurable 20 the de-
iendant Reward Of 81 900 was offered
for the arrest ot the incendlAIy, and Bos-
ton detectives began b. shadow Chas
W. Cook, who had been Buzzell's hired
man for years
The officers became vorkmen in the
shoe factory al Pennington, whittier
Cook had removed, and a few days ago
arrested hin a. Blzzell's accomplice in
the murder and iucenttiArisnls. Over
come az finding agents of the law In his
new friends, the young man has made
voluntary confession of the means en-
ployei bv Buzzell 20 revenge himself
on Miss Hanson and his neighbors. He
SAYS.
We went mp across the hills and pas
turcs leading q Il. Hanson house Ia a
little knoll where the barn used 10 stand,
about three rods from the house. /
think Buzzrll then asked me il / would
kin her, and ] told him 70, that had
rather be killed myself lie said he
would give me $500. and that be had
witnesses who would swear we were not
ou Tie road. We went 90 the front side
0f the house and looked into the win
dows and saw Susan, her brother and
mother and little hoy. Buzzell wanted
me to shoot. and said had got 10 do il
or he would blow nv head of. was
afraid he would. lie leveled the gun
and told me Ia fire it, took il and fired
al Susan Hanson. and went back of Solt-
ridges barn. Buzzell went directly for
his huusc
The wrctched lad was made 10 testify
to an alibi in Buzzell's favor at the pre-
vious trial, and WAS then sent ont Uf
town hy the farmer. who subsequently
recalled him 10 burn the property Of
those who had sought 20 Justly fasten
upon him the killing OF Miss Hanson.