The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-18
A PLAINFIELD TRAGEDY.
BUELL. ARRAIGNED FOR THE MURDER OF
cArHARINE RICHARDs-A REMARKABLE CASE
ALLEGED OUTRAGE

BUELL. ARRA1GNED FOR THE MURDER OF
cArHARINE RIcHARDs-A REMARKABLE CASE
ALLEGED OUTRAGE.
CoopEnsrows, Otsego County. Feb II. 1879.
In the town of Painheld. Otsego county. there
lives a Welsh family by the name Of Richards
Prior to June 25. 1878, it consisted of William q.
Richards. q well to do farmer. his wife. two
daughters. one and two hired men-Myron A.
Buell. and Daniel G. Bowen. aged. respectively.
twenty and twenty OF the daughters Catharine
nearly fifteen years of age remarkably well
developed and quite beautiful. Maggie. the other
daughter was but nine years DID, the thirteen.
For week before the day in question Mr.. Richards.
in delicate health. had been visiting in Oneida
county leaving the farm in charge of the hired men,
At noon that day Miss Hannah JONES' dressmaker.
ate dinner with the family The meal over. Mrs.
Richards ordered her horse for o ride to West VIM
field taking the son with her. After her departure
Miss Jones resumed her sewing. Maggie went to
school, Catharine busted herself with the Homework
and the hired men went to work in the hopheld not
far from the house. This about two O'Clock
One hour later Mr.. Davis, neighbor, called on ON
errand and found Catherine washing dishes. About
this time Buell. complained to Bowen that the rubber
boots which he uncomfortable for his feet
II will go to the cheese house, said he "and get my
leather ones" He gone about three-quarters of
an hour. and his prolonged stay excited the wonder
Of Bowen During hts absence Davis. the neighbor.
approached Bowen and. after short converse
ton, went to the house and found Catharine
engaged with the dinner dishes before
stated. Miss Jones was sewing. Passing out he
met Buell. at the cheese house. and together they
paired to the barn where Buell. showed him some
calves and young bull in stanchion. Davis departed
and Buell. at length joined Bowen. Said Bowen:-
"Why. my son, what kept you SO lons9" Buell. re-
Piled
al was talking with Davis, and when he left saw
the old and colt in the meadow beoW the road.
So drove them out and fixed the fence" This APP
parently satisfied Bowen. and for some time they
worked together in silence.
cATHARINE FOUND DEAD.
At Ave O'Clock blast from the supper horn, blown
by Maggie, who had returned from school and pre-
pared the evening meal. summoned them to the
house. Arrived at the barn. Buell.. a short distance
in advance. remarked that the bull. usually confined
in stanchion, was out Together they drove the ami
NAL in. Bowen entering the barn saw Catharine
lying by the bulls stanchion, close that he
in his place she would have been trampled upon.
..Myron. what has happened? The girl is dead,
surelyl" exclaimed Bowen. Buell. behind him. now
came forward and said, "Oh. my stars. my stars!''
then ran to the house to get the girls. They came
and after the first commissions of grief had passed
the hired men carried the dead girl into the cheese
house and laid her upon bench Buell. hastily put
horse wagon and went for Mrs. Richards and her
son. Neighbors locked in. for the girl, on
count of her beauty of form and face and
many endearing traits, widely known and
admired. When the mother and were
brought into the presence OF the dead
the may be imagined. The exciteIh emit was in
and the mothers grief ptiful to behold. The
cause of death was attributed to the bull and
into facts and attending the discovery
of the body revealed much of perplexing chsrac-
ter. The body. instead of being in unnatural
position, with disordered clothing, lying as
orderly, with Limbs straight and clothes smooth.
as If placed ready for interment by the
hand of This, every reasoned,
would not have been SO had the girl been
tossed on the horns Of an infuristed animal. The
bull, when driven into the barn. passed the body
with indifference and betrayed signs Of anger.
He stood quietly in the yard when found. Again.
the bull was known to be confined when last by
Buell. he admits; also by Davis when he left the
barn. When the body WAS examined the marks
found strengthened suspicious of foul play. On
Of an inch long. cheek much injured, and
wound the shoulder resembling q mark
of thumb nail. bruise on left groin: and elbow
discolored mark nearly encircling the neck and
almost meeting at the back as If strap cord had
drawn tightly. One cut partially split
open. Physicians declared it as their opinion that
examination of the body made by then, before
burial TO find traces OF violation. and not until
them. when the BODY was exhumed and THOROUGH
examination made. Enough evidence was discovered
to convince them that the girl had been outraged.
and will testify at the trial OF young Buell. who IL
sunrI.'s ARREST AND INDIFFERENT
The unusual personal attractions of the victim. the
passion which the accused evinced for her, thu
parents dsapproval ana her rejection OF his adj
vances form q groundwork which rests much OF u
eliminating nature and from which is anticipated q
network of circumstances of abs rbing interest The
prisoner arrested on the strength Of the verdict
of the Coroners jury, and in September last in
dicted by the Grand Jury for murder in the first de-
gree.
years o. age. his demeanor under the trying circum
stances incident to the sad affair is remarkable.
From the outset he has been stolid and sell pos
sessed an Indian. There is nothing of the bravo
in him, but he appears exasperatngly cool al time
when friends and relatives trembling with appre
tension he lifts up his bronzed face and looks at
steadfastly in way that impresses you with the
truth of his statements and firmly assertS his
innocence At an early age he began the
battle of life his account and at the
time of his arrest by rigid economy had accumulated
nearly $1,000. which will soon disappear in writs
aud fees. iic says that he a circus or
other show, used liquor, tobacco bad Ian
guage and had read the Bible through twice. His
character and industry are indorsed by the dead
girls father, who comrnends him as faithful em-
ploye. He was serving his second season with MIR.
against him, IL is understood that new evidence
has been gathered by the prosecution of very dam
aging character.
Ii seems that Buell. had been enamored Of Cstha-
rire for long time previous to the tragedy but she
rcpulsed him. declaring preference for another.
This to ono of his deep and se-contaning nature,
the OF much brooding. which at length
engcndered the deepest hate. One evening while
Catharine assisting at milking. us was her
tom, against the orders of her father. Buell.
aloft aud tumbled upon her . post pieeo of
timber. which injured her severely. ehdan-
gcring her life. The girl bee me possessed
OF the idea that Baeil wished her death.
and told her parents. Her father lectured Buell.
his conduct and dismissed him. but finally
allowed him to remain, as II was then difficult to
place him. Some time before her death Catharinc
informed aunt Of improper liberties with her pcr-
attempted by Buell. aud OF her fear Of him doing
her some deep injury, saying she thought he meant
to kill her. The aunt acquainted her parents and
urged them to get rid OF Buell., but
taken by them to do There is this much and
more against him. but nearly everything which
points to his guilt Is weakened somewhat by the
dcnce in his favor which. coupled with his remark
able composure forms strong defence.