New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-04
THE MURDER ATsTRATFoRD, CONN

Chief of Police Marsh of Bridgeport, and
his have been busy for the past three days endeav
oring to ferret out tSe murderer or murderers Of
the mulatto woman, Mrs. Pnebo Brush. who was
found Sunday lying in her home near
siratford with head and neck split open with an
axe The circumstances of the show that the deed
was done with debcraton and brutality. Tho body
found lying in darkened rear room. with shawl
carefully spread 1t. The bloody was standing
against the wall OF the room. letter
which the dead had written to
George freeman, colorod al nirer Of
hers who lived at Meriden, incosng photograph Of
herself was found cut open II 1t had been done wi
penknfe or pair Of scissors II bad been read and
placed within the envelope. Az Freeman had been
pectng to pay visit TO Mrs. Brush ON Saturday even
ing the night that she was killed, the police
W ent 70 Merden and hunted him up. He
was found, but he proved to have been at
ball IN Merden on that night The next clew led to
the womans younger sister Della Gilbert, who lived at
little distance from ner and who was also thought to
intimate with Freeman and it supposed ina she
might have murdered her sister In t oI Jealous rage
When her home was searched the younger slater acted
She confessed that she had been away
house The clothing She wore on Saturday stains
it resembled blood The woman admitted having
looking spots ON tue sleeve examined by DR. God
frey OF bridgeport He Is an expert aud gave as his
upon this opinion, DistrctAttoruey Fesscnden IN
This was done. and the woman was taken custody
and lodged bridgeport jail 10 await chemical
examination OF tne stained clothing
Netwi hstanding tho woman's clothing was stained,
the third theory OF the police OF bridgeport Is that the
actual crime done by a man, and thnt the
murderer is no other than the womnn's husband.
William Brush. She vas married 10 him IN 1879, bat
because his bad character did not live with him. He
made frequent attempts TO return 10 her, but sue re-
fused to have anything 10 do with him. The house
where Mrs. Brush lived is situated on toe "5wsmp
Road" a lonely, unirequented lane just outside OF
stratford. 1t Is surrounded by dense woods. On
Saturday Black Elshs," a negro wno bears good
reputation, cnopping wood not far from Mrs
Brusns house. He states hat st noon he saw negro
he did not know cb piping wood In front OF tue
house lie saw him pass into the house earring an anu
Of wood and He did not the strange
negro any The description he gave OF hun core
spends that OF tue husband Conductor Thompson, OF
lie milk the New-Haycn Railroad states hat
on Saturday, aoout dnsk negro passenger got on his
train At Stratford. His tcket bouSnt from New
Haven bridgeport This circumstance attracted the
notice OF the conductor. lie wa,cned the negro, who
loered about depot and seemed uncertain whether
10 get back on the Train or to stay at
stratiOrd. train finally went away aud
left MIN. Chief Marsh has secured o photograph II
Brush and sent to Newiork 70 have him searched
for as at accounts he living here IN the neigh
borhood Of BiIth-aye. and Twenty-seventhst.