Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-11
ALLEGED MURDER.
A Mysterious Crlme-A ColOred Girl
Murdered ana Her Body Thrown
into the Lake.

INTO tne huhes
We have already given brief account of
wife murder across Ac lake by one De-
Bosnys. There are now rumors of an earlier
and equally horrible crime committed by the
same man. The circumstances as far as
they can be northumberland at best they are
somewhat indcfnitc-are rs follows: Some
time since young colorcd woman named
Prue was sent TO the House Of Correction
from Franklin county. On her release from
that institution she came to this city and
worked at different times in the laundries OF
Mrs Duff and Mrs. Neal. About four
months ago she fell in with Dc Bosnys some
where in this vicinity and went across the
Lake to Essex with him in sailing yacht
that he owned At Essex she is said to have
| lived with him as his wife. No long time
| had elapsed, however. when the couple start
ed across the Lake again to come to this city,
the girl taking her trunk with her. An Essex
man started out in his yacht short time
after them and to his surprise met near Rock
Dundcr, De Bosnys returning to Essex alone,
with the girls trunk still in his yacht. In
answer to questions he stated that he had
been TO Burlington and was now on his re.
turn trip, having left the girl in this city.
The Essex man was absolutely certain
that De Basnys had not had time enough to
get here and reach Rock Dunder on his
way back, and his suspicious were at on &C
aroused, Since that time the girl Prue ha:
ia H.. l.. sI.-R.. ArNr
the Lake; and the Inference 10 that
Dc Dosnys killed her and then threw hel
body into the water. This is, of course
pure conjecture, but the official nvestiga
ton now in progress may throw light OF
the matter.
Dc BOsny's second Murder.
On the Sth OF June last, De Bosnys wa
married to respected widow named Betsel
A. Wells, who, by her own industry, hat
provided for her four daughters, and alst
accumulated some property since her frs
husbands death. Mrs. Wells owned farm
of fifteen acres in the town of Essex, ant
J it is supposed that desire to secure this pro
, perry led to both the marriage and the muir
der. The union occurred after an acquant
ance of but four weeks, and the frequen
quarrels between the couple must have causc'
has.y repentance on the part of the uufor
tunatc woman. The cause of these disputes
7 it is said, was the desire of De Bosnys +
get his wife to assign her property to him
In this unpleasant manner the couple live
until Monday, July 81, when De Bosnys an
his wife drove to Port Henry. While re
turning it is supposed that the couple got Oh
of the wagon to eat their lunch in the wood
. by the roadside that they quarrellcd, and tina
! ! the woman was then murdered. They wcr
seen to drive down an unfrcquented roat
the wagon was afterward observed with n
!; one in it, and De Bosnys drove away alone
! These circumstances aroused suspicion, an
; search was made, which resulted in indin
u the murdered woman's body in little no
Z low, covered with fallen leaves and brusl
!, wood. Two pistol wounds were found, on
= on the crown of the head, which had M
! fractured the skull, and another under IL
y left eye and close to the nose. Neither {
! these wounds was fatal but great gas
= had been made with some dull instrument
g the victims neck under the chin, SEVERN
s. the carotid artery and penetrating to Il
c spine. The wound looked as if 1t had bet
:. caused by dull chiscl. 1t is supposed Il
;, pistol shot caused Inconsistencies, and befo
the victim recovered her senses the stabbir
finished the terrible deed.
An alarm was at once given, and officer
were on track Of the murderer within tv
hours after he lad committed the crime. /
+, fled west three miles to Whallonsburg
IT thence north TO Boquct five miles, then
Il. cast to Essex, covering about eleven miles
10 his devious way. when the direct road W
r but six miles. On his arrival at Essex
was placed under arrest, as the news of /
&c crime had preceded him. When arrested
S. weapons were found upon De Bosnys, but
70 his wagon were two revolvers, one of them
60 a twenty-five calibrc the size Of the hui
. found in the body-with two chambers
5. Gently discharged.
,lr De Bosnys is forty-six years old, spea
s. s. very good English with strong French {
ly cent and appears to be quick-wtted and
telligent. lie speaks French faultlessly, a
j, is undoubtedly an educated man. He sa
~ he was educated for the Priesthood at Hi
nc Henry ". college at Paris, France, where
III spent two years His mother was Por
10 gese and his father was French He "
born in Portugal, and says he can spe
~ French, Italian Latin, Spanish, Portugu,
no and English. He has brother in Nebrasl
II. but no other relatives in America Dc b
81 nys is about five feet six inches tall has bla
70 hair and brown moustache, with high che
es bones. He has high, welldeveloped fol
ne head, Which is disfgured on the left side
~, a scar two inches long, made, he says, by
Oh rebel sabre in 1862.