Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-01-07
ALLEGED MURDER.
Case CT Mrs. Sarah Lefsvre.


to the sudden death Of Mrs Sarah
Lefevrc, wife of Mr.. John Lefevrc, of
Winfield township, tEis county, who
was found dead in her house on Mon
day, the 18th of December Her hus-
band and herself were all the persons
it seems that were in the house at the
time. His account then given of what
he alleges was an accident Detailing
her, was about as follows:
On the morning of that day after
two children of hers, by former
husband, had gone to school, his
wife had requested him to do
churning in the kitchen, while
she would go up stairs, or on the loft,
to get some beans to prepare for dim
ner. While he was thus churning he
heard her fall down the stairs, and on
going into the adjoining room, in
which the stairs were, he found her
living at the foot of the stairs and life
almost extinct He lifted her from the
position she was in and ran for the
| neighbors. She was dead before any
| arrived. His statement was that she
had fallen down the stairs and he
thought her neck was broken. Neigh
bors came and it was concluded an
inquest should be had, which was held
by Esq. Tolley, of Saxonburg. The
finding of the inquest was, that death
was caused by her accidentally falling
down the stairs. Dr. j. NJ. Scott, OF
Saxonburg, was examined before the
inquest, and who, it seems, made some
examination of the body, previous to
its finding. She was consequently
buried on the following Wednesday.
| Her brothers and sisters not being sat
isGed with this disposition of the mat
ter procured the services of Drs.
Brcdin and Pillow, of this place, to
make another post n,ortem examination
of the body, which they did on the
Sunday following, Dec. 2lst the body
being disintcrred for that purpose. The
result of this second examination was
the arrest of her husband, Mr.. John
Lefevre, the information against him
being made by sister of the deceased,
Miss Susan HARRISON. A hearing was
had before Esq. Kcck, of this place,
commencing on Saturday, the 9th ult.
Before giving the subst nee of the
testimony it might be stated that Mrs.
Lefevre's maiden name was HARRISON,
and that Mr.. Lefevre was her third
husband, the former two husbands
being Mr.. Samuel Cooper and Mr..
Andrew Grade, both of whom were
divorced from her and both of whom
arc still living in the neighborhood.
| She was Mr.. Lefevre's second wife,
his first being a Miss Patton. 1t might
also be stated that Mr. Lefevre hereto
fore has borne a good character as a
very peaceable citizen and quiet kind
| of man.
THE HEARING.
The following is the substance of
the testimony given the first day, not
wishing it to be understood as given
fully or with entire accuracy, but writ
ten from brief notes and memory
The first witness examined was Mr..
William r. HARRISON, brother of the
deceased. His testimony was mainly
as to the wounds he found upon her
person on the day after the death,
stating that there was wound upon
her face near the eye, and two upon
her forehead, which he described, and
also upon her ears and neck. He also
testified as to finding blood upon the
floor at the foot of the stairs and blood
upon the stairs. His testimony left
the impression upon the listener that
violence had been used and was the
cause of her death.
The next witness was Miss Susan
HARRISON, the sister of Mrs. Lefevre.
Her testimony, as to the wounds found,
were in the main about the same as
those detailed by her brother. She
also testified as to finding an apron of
the deceased in the house with blood
upon it, and other matters that seemed
to indicate that violence was the cause
of her death.
Joseph HARRISON, another brother OF
| Mrs. L., corroborated his brother and
sister in his testimony as to the nature
of the wounds.
Mrs. James Duffy also gave similar
testimony as to finding wounds upon
the face and blood upon floor, etc.
Mr.. Daniel Duffy testified more par
ticularly as to the wounds he found
upon the face, ears and neck, saying
there was a black mark all around the
neck, blood and hair on floor and stairs,
blood looked fresh. He also described
/ .bar 10. rf ba O. "a Irc
AS this witness had been one of the
inquest that found the death was
caused by accident, in falling down
stairs, he was closely cross-examned
by the counsel for the defence.
Mr.. and Mrs Spires, who reside near
Delano station, gave some brief testi-
mony as to separation between Mr.
and Mrs. Lefevrc last summer, and his
returning to live with her, and some
| language i'm nature of threats made by
him towards her.
Mrs. Daniel Duffy also testified to
some threats by him.
Mrs. Thomas Greer, near neighbor,
was among the first at Lefcvre's house,
in short time after getting word of
the death; found body lying upon floor
with stockings on but no shoes; teeth,
that it seems were out, were put in
afterwards; wiped the face of the
deceased with an apron she found in
the house; no blood upon the face that
she noticed.
Mrs. Regert was there on Tuesday
and helped dress and lay out Mrs. L. /;
saw bruises and cuts; saw cut and
black spot on back.
DR.. S. Bredin was then called and
sworn. He, with DIR. Pillow, made
the second post mortem examination.
He described the nature and extent of
the wounds upon deceased's face, neck,
ears, etc. Those upon the ears looked
like done with a sharp instrument