Huntsville gazette., 1885-11-14
AN OLD CRIME RECALLED.


Inc Mystery Surrounding the Murder of
Jonas L. Parker. of Manchester, New
Hampshire, Finally Cleared Away - A
Secret Carried by General Eu:ler for
Thirty-Slx Years Finally Divulged.
BosToN, MASS, November 9.-On the
night of March &c, 1916, Jonas L. Parker,
who was Tax Collector in Manchester,
N. H., was mysteriousIy murdered. He
had passed the evening in bowling
alley adjoining his house, and while
there man called at his house, rang the
bell and asked for Mr.. Parker, who re-
sponded in person, borrowing lantern
from the proprietor of the bowling alley.
After some conversation they went
away together, AMI no more was seen of
Parker until his body was found near the
edge OF some woods on the outskirts of
the town. 1t appears that, prior to the
murder, Mr.. Parker had visited sew
eral places with the object of
buying tavern. Among other
places he visited Saco, Me, and there
he met Henry T. Wentworth, with whom
he was acquainted. He explained to
Wentworth the cause of his visit, and
showed large amount of money. Par
ker went home soon afterward and in a
few days he was murdered. 1t was not
until February, 1919, that Parker's
friends gained knowledge of his going
to Saco aud there meeting Wentworth
and DR.. Smith, but as soon as they made
the discovery they went to work upon
that clcw. Shortly before The dis
covery of the clew, Asa Wentworth
had removed to Saco. Suspecting H.
T. Wentworth of the murder, of
course the community closely scrutinizcd
every action Of his relatives, and SO this
removal on the part of Asa was regarded
by the people of Manchester as very
strange, concluding that he had changed
his residence from fear of suspicion rest
ing upon him. For that reason, when an
indictment was obtained, it was made to
embrace Asa Wentworth and his wife, s
well as H. L. Wentworth and DR.. Smith.
] he preliminary trial was commenced in
Saco, February l3, 1S49. Some wit
nesses testified that Henry L. Wentworth
had been heard to utter thTea S against
certain parties in New Hampshire and
one woman swore she thought she saw
him in Manchester on the night of the
murder The prosecution relied wholly
upon circumstantial evidence. For the
defense quite number of Witnesses
swore that both Henry L. Wentworth
and DR.. Smith attended ball in Cor
don's Hall in SacO on the very night
when the murder was committed. Sud-
denly the trial was brought to an end by
the action of the presiding justice, who
said he had carefully examined the evl.
dence; that many witnesses for the de.
tense had sworn positively that the pris-
oners had attended bail in Saco on the
night he murder was committed ia Man.
chester, and hat since he failed to find Suf-
ficient evidence to warrant their convlc-
tion he should order their discharge. This
was after ten days investigation. They
were, however, arraigncd again in May,
1850, when a second preliminary exam
ination, lasting twelve days, was held.
This investigation resulted in the issu-
ance OF an executive warrant Tor their
transfer 10 the New Hampshire author
tiles. They were taken 10 Manchester
and tried in June of the same year. The
trial lasted nearly month, and was one
OF the most celebrated trials of the time.
Benjamin f. Butler appeared as counsel
for Henry Wentworth and General
Franklin Pierce, afterward President OF
The United States, appeared Tor the otner
prisoners. All were acquitted.
A few days ago General Butler hap
pened to remark that he knew who COM
mitted the Parker murder but had not
before been at liberty to tell. DR.. Horace
Wentworth, of Boston, wrote to Butler
and asked for the details OF the case in
order O remove any lingering suspicion
pointing towards The Wentworths. Cen
eral Buffers reply was received by DR..
Wentworth yesterday. 1t said:
"Upon the trial l was of counsel Tor
Horace Wentworth. | had been OF coun-
sci prior to aud after the trial for man
who was convicted of the murder
of his wife and two children, COM
mitted in Wilmington, in this State.
That murder was committed in very
singular manner and with singular
weapon, to-wit, shoe oemaker's knife
ground to point, and razor was lett
on the table by the woman's bedside,
and means taken to have the murder ap-
pear as a suicide. l was struck with the
coincidence, as I had ground for sus-
picion against relative of my Winning
ton client and the fact was known that
on the night of the murder OF Parker a
wagon drawn by white horse with two
men in it passed through Lowell In
the direction of Wilmington. AS
my client was about TO be hanged
and it could do him no harm l
questioned him, assuring him that 1t
should not be used to his prejudice, as to
whether or not ne drove a wagon that
time down from Manchester to Lowell
and thence to Wilmington. He admitted
that he did. / asked him who was In the
wagon, and he said he did not want TO
tell me. l asked him what the razor nad
to do with it, 'Why,' he said, the man
might have cut his own throat with the
razor He said there was no thousand
dollar bill taken from Parker. He finally