The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-11-09
THE PARKER MURDER.
Gen. Butler Clears From Suspicion
the Wentworth Family Of Saco.

II will be remembered that the PRESS some
time ago re printed the details of the Parker
murder in Portsmouth, N. H., about forty
years ago, for which members of the Went
worth family in Saco were arrested ON sus-
picion, tried and acquitted. Gen. Butler was
counsel for the Wentworths.
The matter had, since then, been almost
lost sight of by all until the publication of
the despatch in October last AT once letters
and kilograms began pouring in upon Gen.
Butler, asking for veriication and full par
ticulars of the confession alleged to have
been made to him. A few days ago, DR..
Horace Wentworth, 219A fremont street,
Boston, who is related to the accused Went
worths, wrote a letter to the Geaeral, re-
questing information, and in reply the fol-
lowing letter was sent:
Boston, Nov 5, 1885.
was Known from the wear is45 to the year 1880
as the Parker murder, and as to who committed
that murder. Upon the trial was OF counsel for
completely in the murder, but wholly without any
proof. Asa Wentworth and his brotner, whose
name forget, were defended ,srso py Gen. FRANKLIN
/ had been of counsel prior TO and after tnat
trial for maH who was convicted OF the murder
mngtOn. in this State. That murder was commit
ted In very singular manner and with singular
weapon, to wit shoemaker's KNIFE ground 70
point; and razor was left on table by the
womans bedside, and means taken TO have the
murder appear alsuicide. That murder was not
committed until some years aiter tne @ fask9s tS h
murder, as that was not tried until some nye years
after the deed was committed. Upon the trial OF
was committed with exactly such knife, and a
razor was left by the dead body. was struck
with the coincidence, as had ground for suspl-
cion against relative of my Wilmington client,
and the fact was known that on the night OF the
murder of Parker, which took place between
White horse. with two men in it. passed through
Lowell in the direction Of Wilmington and the
marks of the wheels of such a wagon were found
in the mud near the murdered man, which wagon
apparently drove off in the direction OF Lowell.
AS my client was about to ne hanged,
assuring him that it should not be used to his pre-
judlce as to whether or not he drove wagon tnat
time down from Manchester to Lowell and
thence to Wilmington: He admitted that ne s; ala;
asked him who was in the wagon, and he sald
he did not want to tell me. L asked MIN win
what instrument it was DONE and he SAID win a
zor had to do with it. "Why," he said, "The man
might have cut his own throat with the razor"
asked h also ws mat wSS " haye S Il his
pocket which never could be traced he Sald
there was no thousand dollar bill taken from
Parker that he hadn't any such bill. And, with
out remembering the circumstances now, / ques-
TONED him until / was convinced that the person
had in my mind was the man with him; But as
the grand Jury found no bill against my Client and
as Pierson was hanged, did not feel called upon
to talk with anybody about it, because | supposed
the Wentworths had anything to do with the muir
der OF Parker | am yours, truly,
BENZ. f. BUTLER.
Horace wentworth, NJ D., 219 A fremont street,
Boston, Mass.
1t is thought very singular by many that
Gen. Butler should have kept such an impor-
tant confession secret for so many. years
instead of making it public and vindicating
innocent parties; but, as in many other eases,
will clear any suspicion from the Went
worths, doubtless it will be hailed even now
with delight by their friends.