The Portland daily press., 1885-10-28
BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
saco's Murder Trial of Forty Years
Ago,
Clearing the Memories Of Suspected
Persons.
TBiddeford Times.J
Among the Associated Press kilograms TO-
day appears the following:

Biddef0rd T1meSJ
Among the Associated Press kilograms to-
day appears the following:
MANCHESTER, N. H.. Oct. %.
Forty years ago resident Of this city, named
| Parker was mysteriousy murdered. The affair
| created a sensation Of years duration, but was
| never cleared up, and is remembered only by the
| oldest residents. Gen. Butler has revived inter-
est In the case by relating to two Manchester gen
| tlemen. secret which he has kept for years. He
| hung for wife murder, previous to his execution,
| confessed to him that he had killed Mr.. Parker
because the latter had refused to return e Nun nm
hands for safe keeping or to get II out OF reach OF
Persons creditors Pierson, after falling to get
his money, drove to Manchester frsm Lowell,
called Parker out on some pretext or other, and
when the two were on the way TO GAINESVILLE killed
him with shoe knife Gen Butler was va g. counsel Ts
ker murder.
The publication of the despatch has awak-
ened a renewed interest in a case, which in
1S49, was the all-absorbing topic of discus
sion in the two cities, as well as throughout
the county and State. Dr.. James Fl. Smith
and Henry T. Wentworth of Saco, were ac-
cused of being principals in the Parker muir
der, and Asa Wentworth father of Arthur
F. Wentworth of Saco), who then resided in
Manchester N. H., was indicted as being an
accessory in the crime. They were tried
and acquitted.
On the night of March 20, 1S45, Jonas l..
Parker, a middle-aged man, holding the office
of tax collector in Manchester, was mysteri-
ously murdered. He had spent the evening
in bowling alley adjoining his house. While
there man called at his house. rang the
bell, and inquired for Parker, who responded
in person, borrowing lantern from the pro-
prietor of the bowling alley, Some conver-
sation ensued, and nothing more was seen Of
Parker until his lifeless body was discovered
in the edge of the woods in the outskirts Of
the town. coroner was called and made
an examination of the body and premises.
The snow was considerably trampled in the
immediate vicinity, the body lay upon its
side, with the throat cut from ear to ear, and
deep cash in the hip. Beside the corpse
Law knife and a razor, their handles stained
with blood Marks of blood were also found
in each pocket, except that upon the left side
of the pantaloons, and there the coroner
found q small wallet, containing three $500
bills, thirteen tens and one five. A watch
was also found in the same pocket. The
wounds, so the medical examination at the
time indicated, were made with double-
edged knife or other similar instrument.
Previous to the murder Parker had visited
several places with view of purchasing
tavern. He came to Saco, met John I.
Wentworth, with whom he was acquainted,
and made known his errand, at the same
time exhibiting large sum Of money with
which purchase was to be made. Parker
then returned home and his murder occurred
few days afterward No clue could be OBJ
tanned of the guilty party and for four years
the subject dropped without any apparent
suspicion resting upon any one. Finally, In
February, 1S49, Parker's relatives learned OF
his visit to Saco, his meeting with Henry L.
Wentworth and DR.. Smith, and legal pro.
ceedingS were at once commenced. JUST
prior to this date Asa Wentworth had moved
to Saco and it was believed by the residents
of Manchester that his change of residence
was from fear of suspicion resting upon him;
so both he and his wife were included in the
Indictment and the counsel were as follows;
For the government j. w. Leland of Saco.
Samuel Ell. Aver, Solicitor for Hillsboro
county, New Hampshire, and George w.
Morrison of Manchester; Samuel Bradley
and Philip Eastman OF Saco, for the defend. .
Henry T. Wentworth had been heard to
make threats against certain parties in Man
chester, while one woman testified tnat she
thought she saw him in Manchester on the
brought out by the prosecution was simply
circumstantial
Mr. Eastman opened the defence of the
case in an extended argument Quite.
number of witnesses were examined, VINO
testified that both Henry L. Wentworth and
DIR. Smith were at ball in Saco on the night
of the Parker murder. The defence occu-
pied several days, when proceedings were
stopped by the magistrate. He said that
upon him rested the responsibility OF saying
whether or not these prisoners were guilty;
that he had carefully examined the evidence
brought out by the prosecution; that many
witnesses for the defence had testified to the
prisoners presence at ball in Saeo on the
night of the murder; and that, falling TO see
sufficient evidence to warrant their convic
ton, he should order them discharged with
out day.
cumstances of the trial have since been re-
peatedly discussed by the older citizens Of
the two places. Arthur F. Wentworth, SON
reading the despatch published in the morn
ing papers, at once sent kilograms to b. +.
Butler and the City Marshal Of Manchester.
He intends visiting Massachusetts to make
personal investigation of the facts.