Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-18
Horrible Murder In Calais.

One of the most brutal and revolving murders
Of even the present era Of crime which seems to
he sweeping over the country was committed on
Wednesday of last week In the neghborng town
Of Calais rear the Worcester line. The only re-
deeming feature Of the affair ia the prompt arrest
Of the guilty party, his speedy hearing before a
court Of JUSTICE and commitment to the county
Jail, and the almost certainty that he will suffer
the penalty OF his horrid crime. The web Of ev-
idence in which he is entangled is apparently
complete and overwhelming.
The particulars of the affair as brought out on
the trial are as follows; For about one year an
inoffensve and industrious half-breed Indian has
made his residence for portion of the time In
Elmore and vicinity, and gained an honest living
by selling baskets and other small wares of his
manufacture and by laborng for his neghbors.
His name was William Wallace Murcommock,
and his father, Doctor Murcommock, Is said to be
II reputable Indian physician at Putnam, Connec-
ticut. On the 31st of May last William was mar
ried, in Wells River to Hattie Kenney, whose
father is farmer residing in Lyman, N. II. His
wife is eighteen years Of age, although her APP
pearance would hardly indicate that she was more
than sixteen. She Is an exceedingly attractive
woman, bright, vivacious and apparently much
better educated than most people Of her class.
Their married life very happy, and each APP
peared to be very fond of the other.
In the immediate neighborhood OF Murcom-
mock reside several families by the name of Carr.
These Cars all enjoy good reputation, with the
execution of one ROYAL Carr whose character IL
very bad About fifteen wears ago he was ar
rested for complicity in the murder of n woman
in Worcester The proof was not thought to be
conclusive, and he was promised that II he would
enlist in the army his prosecution would be aban-
doned He consented but when his comrades
found out what a desperate character he was
they forced him to leave the service under threats
of killing him il he did not Upon his return to
Worcester his trial took place. and he was sem
fenced to ten wears in the state prison This sem
tepce he served ont. except one wear. which he
gained by good behavior in prison Carr is about
forty years of age dark complexioned, and an
ugly customer to deal with It seems that he
had become acquainted with Mrs Murcommock
was enamored of her, and sought to nut her hus-
band out of existence as an obstacle to his unholy
passion. Indeed lie had declared more than once
that "he could get that Indians wife away from
him."
From the evidence it appears that on Wednesday
after dinner, Royal Carr came to Chester Cars
house. where Murcommock and his wife were
temporarily stopping, and asked the latter to ac-
company him to Ira Cars, to get his axe After
some persuasion Murcommock consented and
from that time was never seen alive by any one
except Royal Carr Mrs Murcommock who was
differing severely from a sore throat, was almost
crazed when her husband did not return during
the night
On Thursday Carr came to Chester's house
Mrs Murcommock was crying His appearance
was wild and constrained He inquired for her
husband, and expressed some surprise that he
had not returned He said that Murcommock
only accompanied him little way and left him
to hunt on his own hook Carr then endeavored
to persuade the half frantic wife that her husband
had deserted her and gone off with some other
woman. This kind of talk he INDUCED in on
Thursday night and Friday. and endeavored To
make advances to her.
Meanwhile suspicon had become aroused
through the efforts of Mrs. Murcommock among
the ueighbors. which was intensified by the sin
gular conduct of Carr. and his partial admissions
of guilt to his cousin Chester Carr to whom he
stated that he had killed three persons. and that
the BODY of the Indian would be found down near
Hawkins ledge. Mrs. Murcommock made an in
effectual search after her husbands BODY. and
got lost herself in the woods.
When Royal Carr had returned home to his
cousin Chester's and by his statements led him to
suppose all was not right the first step taken was
to organize searching party to find the missing
man. The party started late Friday evening, but
accomplished nothing. ROYAL Carr was arrested
upon suspicion and taken to Worcester Corner