The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-02-21
LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY.
Hiram Sawtelle's Body Found
Near Lebanon, Me.
IT WAS HHADLRss AND ARMLEss.

II Isaac II. sswtsils the Cain in This
Yratricide.--A History of One Of New
Engisnd's Most Interesting Murder
Mysteries-A bad Outlook for Isaac.
, BosroN, Feb 15.-Ths body Of Hiram Saw
tslls was found at 1:l5 p m. in the woods
near Lebanon, Me. 1t had been decapitated
and the head has not yet been discovered
When found the body was projecting from
. poorly made grave and had bullet in the
heart. 1t was feet uppermost, not three
yards from where Officer Shields found the
paper that was wrapped around the az.
The body was entirely naked, with the ex-
ception Of the feet, which had on pair Of
socks. Beside it was lot of clotted blood,
where the arms and head had been cut off.
Officer Shields now has in his possession the
empty she'll from which the bullet came that
killed Hiram Sawtelle. The bullet itself
was also found, and a gold collar button,
.bent and twisted.
The Discovery of the Body.
The finding Of the body in the woods shows
,oonclusively thata horrible murder has been
committed, and the outlook for the accused
prisoner, Isaac B. Sawtelle, is darker than
ever before. Yet it is claimed by some that
as Isaac undoubtedly had confederates, the
murder itself may have been committed by
them, although the prisoner himself may be
morally responsible for it.
The body was removed to the Blaisdell
Corner school house, three miles nearer East
Rochester. The head is believed to be some
where in the woods, and the officers are con-
fdent of finding it soon The belief grows
stronger that Hiram came to his death soon
after leaving Rochester on Wednesday, Feb.
b; that he was given to understand that he
was being driven to see his sick daughter,
and when the houses were passed Isaac de-
liberately shot him through the heart.
When their team passed through East Ro-
chester 1t was noticed that one man lay back
In the carriage as though sick or sleeping.
A Plot to XIII n Family.
In December last, Isaac b. Sawtelle was
pardoned from the state prison, where he
had served n long sentence on three indict-
ments for rape. Since that time he has
boarded with his brother Hiram in Rox-
bury. Hiram kept fruit store on Wash
ington street, which, together with his resi-
,dence, had been owned by their father, and
was held in their mothers name. Isaac
had deceived his mother and induced her to
transfer the property to him, but Hiram
pat an injunction upon 1t 30 that Isaac
could not sell it
The property Is said to be worth Oh, 900
to $50, 900. These transactions have caused
hard feeling between the brothers, and 1t Is
believed that In order to remove every OBJ
stAcle from his path and to give him pos
session Of the property, Isaac plotted to re-
move his broter and the latter's entire fam
lily, consisting Of his wife, daughter, aged
o; son aged 5, and an infant. Week before
last Isaac asked Mrs Sawtelle's permission
70 take one Of the children to Lowell.
Being suspicious of him she refused. On
Saturday, Feb. /, Isaac came into the house
and told Mrs. Sawtelle that her husband
had given him permission to take the little
girl to Lowell, and the mother finally al
lowed her to go with him When the father
came home At night he denied having given
his consent to the girls going
He Poisons the Little Girl.
From Boston Isaac and the little girl went
| ito Lowell, staying until Monday, when they
won't to Rochester, N. H. While at the
latter place, the little girl claims, her uncle
attempted to poison her with medicine and
pills, but the only effect was to make her
sick. Then Isaac telegraphed to Hiram that
| the girl was i'll with the grip, and to come
| on at once. This was Feb. 4. The next
morning a second telegram came to the
| mother, urging her to come to Rochester,
the inference being that had she responded
In person she, too, would have been dis
posed Of.
II Hiram Goes to His Death.
1t was finally settled that Hiram should
10 alone, and he left Boston Wednesday,
Feb. 8, at p. m. From this moment his
movements are shrouded in mystery. He
was never ssen alive again by his friends
The following day, Feb 9, Isaac and the
little girl arrived home and the former de
MED having seen Hiram at all.
/ Mrs. Sawtelle was suspicious of foul play
| and accused Isaac of putting his brother out
Of the way, which he strenuously denied
On the following Sunday he disappeared.
Hirams absence was reported to the polict
on Saturday, and on Monday, Feb TO- Spe
cial Officer Shields started for Rochester
while search also begun in this city
From the investigations made by the polics
1t is learned that on Wednesday Feb. 8
Isaac Sawtelle hired a team at Rochester
livery stable and met a man at the depot
Hiram without doubD, with whom ht
drove away. Within half an hour he re
turned alone with the team. 1t is believed by
some that he delivered Hiram into the keep
ing Of his confederates at this time. Later
| In the afternoon he purchased a hatchet
pickax and spade at a hardware store, alsS
q canvas bag in which to carry them.
Then again hiring the team, he drove of
In the direction taken in the morning II,
did not return until o'clock at night