Connecticut western news., 1878-09-26
THE STANNARD MURDER.
CORRESPONDENT ON THE SPOT WRITES AN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF THE LATE AND MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

The murder, says a correspondent writing from Madison, Conn.,, was con- mitted on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 3rd of September, the place selected by the assassin being @ secluded road path that leads from the main turnpike about half mile from the young girls house. Clumps of bushes, of shady trees, and in the near distance stately oaks, made the place one we'll screened from view except to those who happened in the inn mediate neighborhood. The road itself was seldom used, its loneliness making it undesirable for travellers. On the after noon in question Mary B. Stannard told her father that she was going berrying, as she wanted to have some berry pies for dinner. She left the house shortly after one o'clock. At five o'clock the same afternoon her father, wondering at Ter long stay, started out in search of her. A ten minutes walk brought him to the middle of the lonely road. He called aloud for his daughter, but only the echo of his voice came back in re- sponse. Then he pushed his way for ward. At the foot of little knoll, a dozen feet away, he saw an object stretched upon the ground partly con- cealed from view by the foliage of 8 large birch tree. He hurried toward it. There, before his eyes, lay his daughter, dead. A ghastly cut in the neck, from which the blood was still flowing, told the horrible tale. The horror-str1cken father uttered cry of anguish and rushed from the spot. On his way to call assistance, he met two COW boys, who, on hearing of the shocking discovery, hastened to call the neighbors. The father then re- turned to his dead child. She lay on her back, with her hands folded across her breast. One knee was slightly elevated. Her clothing was but 8 little disturbed. It was evident that the struggle, If one there had been, was short. Her sunbon- net had fallen off, and lay partly crushed under her shoulder.
 A half-dozen or more neighbors were soon on the spot. Among their number was Herbert H. Hayden, the Methodist minister of Madison, who stands charged with the erin Like the others, he was quick to console with the sorrow stricken father, and with two of the number he lifted the body and placed it on board for removal to the farmers house. Those present at the time saw nothing Tn h1s appearance that would in the least indicate guilt. He set about the sad task with coolness mingled only with sorrow. Then while some made search for a knife the minister and five others placed three strong branches under the board on which the body lay and slowly marched down the road followed by MT. Stannard
 Some of the jury expressed an opinion that the deceased had taken her own life, but an examination of the wound soon satisfied all that it was not self-inhicted. This point settled, the next was as to who was the murderer. To get light on this mystery the various members of the family were examined. Their testimony, however, only made the mystery darker. All they knew was that Mary had left the house at one o'clock, ostensibly to gather berries, after asking her father where berries were thick, and receiving from him the reply that the vicinity of Black Rock was 8 good place. So the jury returned verdict that Mary Stan nard came to her death from wound in the throat inflicted by some sharp 1nstru. ment in the hands of person or persons to the jury unknown. This ended the first investigation.
 The first suspicion directed against the minister was by Susan Hawley, the half-sister of the deceased. After the first agony of the shock had passed away she told her father and some of their friends that Mary had told her some- thing that would throw light on the mystery. They listened and Susan nar- rated how Mary, at one o'clock on the afternoon of the murder, just before she left to go to the berry field, said to her :: Susan, I have an appointment at Black Rock with MT. Hayden at two o'clock, but don't tell father. Let him think I have gone berrying." Susan promised confidence. The appointment, Mary further explained, was made by MT. Hayden for the purpose of giving her some medicine to prevent her again be- coming mother, as she was then within four months of confinement, MT. Hayden being the father of her unborn child. Susan further stated how she had known for long time past that her sister was enceinte, and had often heard her state that MT. Hayden was the father.
 The story of the girl Susan, however, received quite contradiction the follow ing day when the, physicians made 8 post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased. They found that she was not enceinte, and they further found evidence that tended to show that the deceased knew that she was not in that condition. The belief, therefore, that had been gaining ground that Hayden murdered her to hide his guilt received strong check.
 The accused clergyman is young man of twenty eight years of age, of a mild and quiet demeanor. He was born in Boston and educated in Rhode Island. He came to Madison two years ago, and during that time has been noted as an earnest and upright man and preacher. In appearance he is of middle stature, with auburn hair, inclined to curl blue eyes of mild expression, and reddish goatee. He takes the terrible accusa-