Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-02-20
A BOSTON FRATRICIDE.
The Body Of Hiram Sawtele Found
Near Lebanon, Me.
A Chain of Convincing Circumstances
Points to Isaac Sawtelie, Brother
of the Victim, as the Perpe-
traitor of the Deed.

The body of Hiram Sawtelle, was found
at ll:14 o. m. in the woods near Leb-
anon Me. 1t had been decapitated and
the head has not yet been discovered.
When found the body was projecting
from a poorlymade grave and had
bullet in the heart. Il was three yards
from where officer Shields found the
paper that was wrapped around the
axe. The body was entirely naked with
the exception of the feet which had on
a 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 posses
sion the empty shell from which the
bullet came that killed Hiram Sawtelle.
The bullet itself was also found, and a
gold collar button, bent and twisted.
The conductor of the noon train says
that last Monday Isaac Sawtelle left his
train at East Rochester and went down
the track toward East Lebanon.
An old farmer living mile from the
before house on the way to
the East Lebanon depot, says man
tallying with the description of Isaac
walked past his house at p. M, Mon
day, toward the depot. It has also been
learned that number of persons saw
Sawtelle walking toward East Lebanon
on Monday.
Isaac 3. Sawtelle, suspected of the muir
der, passed restless night in his cell.
In an interview yesterday morning, he as
serted that his brother would be found
all right. ''He will RETURN said he,
when the proper time arrives, and
then l will make an explanation"
The question was asked: DO you au-
thorize the statement that he will re-
turn, and that your prediction is based
upon knowledge in your possession"
To this, after a moments hesita ton,
he replied in the affirmative.
Sawtelle was arraigned this afternoon
charged with the murder of his brother
Hiram. His counsel waived the read
ing of the complaint and pleaded not
guilty, and the case was continued to
March p. Sawtelle was taken to Dover
jail, where he will be confined until
that date.
BosToN, Feb. 1.-THE finding of the
body of Hiram Sawtelle yesterday aft
ernoon shows conclusively that horri
BILE murder has been committed, and
the outlook for the accused prisoner is
bad. The case is one of the most inter-
esting in the criminal history of New
England, and although it has apparent
ly been shrouded in mystery from the
beginning, the work of the detectives
has been SO thorough that a complete
chain of evidence against the prisoner,
from the time of his leaving his
brother Hiram's house to the finding of
the latter's body, is laid bare, and
SHOWS so little attempt on Isaac's part
to cover his tracks that it seems strange
that any one could hav been mystitied
as to his intentions or actions.
In December last, Isaac Sawtelle was
pardoned from the State prison, where
he had served long sentence on three
indictments for rape; since that time he
has boarded with his brother Hiram in
Roxbury. Hiram kept fruit store on
Washington street, which had been
owned by their father, as residence
and was in 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 property
is said to be worth SIS, 900 to $50, 900.
These transactions have caused hard
1eellnp DtbWten SUb DEOtDeES, anu IL
is believed that in order 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
family, consisting of his wife,
daughter-a girl of eight, n son
aged five years, and an in
FAINT. Week before last Isaac asked
Mrs. Sawtelle's permission to take one
of the children to Lowell. Being sus-
piciouS of him she refused. On Satur-
day, February l, 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 allowed her to go with
him. When the father came home at
night he denied having given his con-
sent to the girls going. From Boston
Isaac and the little girl went to Lowell,
staying until Monday, when they went
to Rochester, n H. While at the latter
place, the little girl claims, her uncle
attemDted to poison her with medicine
and pills. but the only effect was to
make her sick. Then Isaac autographed
to Hiram to come at once. 1t was final
ly settled that Hiram should go alone,
and he left Boston Wednesday, Febru-
airy 5, at p. m.
From this moment his movements are
shrouded in mystery. He was never
seen alive again by his friends. The
following day, February 6, Isaac and the
little girl arrived home, and the former
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 this city until the
following Sunday, when he disappeared.
Hirams absence was accredited to the
police on Saturday, and on Monday,
February 10, Special Officer Shields
started for Rochester, while search was
also begun in this city. From the in
vestigation made by the police, it is
learned that on Wednesday, February
). Isaac Sawtelle hired a cab at Roch-
ester livery stable and met a man at
the depot Uiiram without a doubt,
with whom he drove away. Within
half an hour he returned alone with
the team 1t is believed that he dellv-
cred Hiram into the keeping of his con-
federates at this time. Later in the
afternoon he purchased a Ratchet, pick
axe and spade at hardware store, also
a canvas bag in which to carry them.
Then. again hiring the team, be drove
off in the direction taken in the morn
ING. not returning until nine o'clock at
night. He again went to Rochester,
where on Monday he bought two tickets
for Portland. His companion may have
cone there directly, but Sawtelle did