Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-02-21
A New England Crime.

One of the bloodiest and at the same
time most interesting crimes ever COM
mitted in New England is what is
known as the Sawtelle murder, now
being investigated in Massachusetts,.
In December last Isaac b. Sawtelle
was pardoned from the Massachusetts,
State prison, where he had served a
long sentence. Since that time he has
boarded with his brother Hiram in
Roxbury. The latter kept fruit
store on Washington street, which,
together with his residence, bad been
owned bv their father. and was held
i'm their mothers name. Isaac had
deceived his mother, and induced her
to transfer the property to him, but
Hiram put an Injunction upon it so
that Isaac could not sell it. The prop
erty is said to be worth from S15, 900
to $4,000. These transactions had
caused hard feeling between the broth
ers, and it is believed that to remove
every obstacle from his path and to
give him possession OF the property,
Isaac plotted to remove his brother
and the latter's entire family, consist
ing of his wife, a daughter aged 8, a
son aged 5, and an infant.
A couple of weeks ago Isaac asked
Mrs neutrality-suspicious. to take one
of the children to Lowell. Being sus-
picious of him, she refused. On Sat
urday, February l, he went 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 allowed her to go with
him. When the father got home at
night he denied having given his con
sent for her to go with her uncle.
From Boston Isaac and the little girl
went to Lowell, staying until Monday,
when they went to Rochester, n. II.
The little girl says that while at the
latter place her uncle attempted to
poison her with medicine and pills,
but only with the effect of making her
sick. Then he telegraphed to his
brother Hiram in Boston that the lit
tie girl was sick with the grip, asking
him to come immediately. This was
February 4th. The next morning a
second telegram came TO the mother,
urging her to come to Rochester, the
inference being that had she respon
ded in person she, too, would have
been disposed Of. 1t was finally set
tied that Hiram, the father, should
go alone, and he left Boston on Wed
nesdsy at p. III. From this moment
his movements became shrouded in
mystery, and he was never again
seen alive by his friends. The follow
ing day, Thursday, Feb. 6, Isaac and
the little girl arrived home, and Isaac
denied 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.
Isaac remained in Boston until the
following Sunday, when he disap-
peared. Hiram's absence was re-
ported to the police on Saturday, and
on Monday, Feb. 10, Special Officer
Shields started for Rochester. From
the Investigations made by the police
it is learned that on Monday, Feb.
10, Isaac Sawtelle hired team at
Rochester livery stable, and met a
man at the depot (Hiram without
doubt, with whom he drove away.
Within half an hour he returned
alone with the team. 1t is believed
by some that he delivered Hiram
into the keeping of his confederates
at this time. Later in the afternoon
at about o'clock, he purchased a
hatchet, pickaxe and spade at a hard
ware store, also a canvas bag in which
to carry them. Then again hiring
the team, he drove off in the direc-
ton taken in the morning, not re-
turning until at night To inquiries
as to his purchase of spade he re-
piled that he intended to buy farm
in the vicinity and wished to test the
soil
The detectives worked hard on the
case, and succeeded in weaving a web
of circumstantial evidence pretty
tightly around Isaac. The axe which
he had bought was found in the
woods covered with blood. Witnesses
were found who had seen Isaac driv
ing along the road IN a buggy in
company with what seemed to be an
unconscious man. A searching party
was organized to hunt for the body of
Hiram, which so far had not been
found or heard from. The searchers
soon made CHASTITY discovery. In a
shallow grave in the woods they
found the remains of Hiram. The
head had been cut from the body and
carried away, and the limbs had been
hacked from the trunk. 1t was fully
recognized as the body of Hiram Saw
telle.
Isaac, who had already been ar
rested, has been conclusively proven
guilty, and it is said will make a con-
fession. He will offer as defence
the plea of insanity.