The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-03-20
A CHASTITY FIND.
CORPSE OF A HALF.NAKED WOMAN
FOUND IN A LANE.

She HID I,een on a Spree with Her
Husband, Who IL Arrested Near the
Spot In a BsfuddIed Condition Says
HE Can't Remember" Anything. "a
MEDFoRD, Mass, March 18.-The body
of woman was found In wild, rocky
and lonely retreat on Winter hill. near the
Medford and Somerville line. gc4.s;
A street known as Gypsy lane runs from
Main street, Medford. near the foot Of
Winter hill, up and around the brow Of
the hill to the old Medford turnpike.
Upon the highest part of this road and
just under the brow of the hill Samuel
McGrath of Danville, N. H., was passing
" sterday hen he came upon the body.
Mr.. McGrath had visited Boston, and
had concluded to visie his brother-in-law,
Mr.. Sawyer, who lives on Edward street,
which terminated on the top Of the hill
Just above where the body lay and on
lane for the one he wanted, which ac-
counted for his presence there.
Mr.. McGrath, on seeing the corpse, went
to new house being built close by and
notified the men at work of his ghastly
find. Word was Immediately sent to the
Medford police station, and Officer Ewell
responded. An investiga ton was made
by the officer, who found blood on the
woman's hands, her breast bare and ex-
posed, end one leg bare, the foot
Resting on Mans Hat.
A short distance up the hill were found
a woman's shawl, cloak, hat, one shoe and
pair of wooden drawers; also pair Of
mems buckskh' gloves stained with NOR
tar. A botcle partially filed with liquor
was found close by the other articles.
There were marks OF struggle in the
bushes and under tree on the side of the
hill. and the ground presented the appear.
ance Of having had body dragged over
1t from q tree near which the articles of
clothing were found.
The body and face had every indication
Of having been frozen for several hours
and was perfectly hard. the face present-
ing blush appearance.
The carpenters reponeed thu Nay hid
seen q DARE E.1sddsd man t6s, ~ s3fk. ;.
ing around in an aimless rasnnsr.1
The information caused Oficer Ewell to
institute u search, and on Main street,
near the head Of the lane. the officer took
into custody man who seemed to be in
dazed condition.
The hat and buckskin gloves were
shown to the man, and he claimed them
as his. He was then shown the body and
asked If he knew whose it was, and replied
that it was his wife.
He was questioned by Chief of Police
Holmes, who elected the information that
his name Is Patrick O'Neil, and that he
boarded with Daniel Shea, on Henry
place, off Medford street, in Sonerville.
The woman's name was..Rebecca O'Neil.
They were married six years ago. but he
had not seen her for over a year up to
Monday, when she came to cellar in
SOmerville, where he was working at
his trade rs q stonemason. She was under
the infunce Of liquor at the time, he says,
and was interfering considerable with his
work, which forced his employer to tell
him to take her away and not to let her
bother the work of the men. He then
went off with his wife and they proceeded
TO Charlestown, where according to his
story, they
Purchased and Drank Liquor.
They started for Somerville along to-
ward evening, and tried to get on to u |
horse car, but were refused ride by the |
conductor on account of their condition. |
They kept on walking, and he didn't re-
member much about what happened after
ward, except the fact that he was sitting
with his wife under tree, aud got up to
walk away, and afterward could not find
Ter, although he tried to.
The body of Mrs. O'Neil was turned
'ver to Undertaken Nichols, and now lies
n his rooms. The face bears several
cratches and there is a mark on the neck.
The clothing when found consisted only
# one stocking and shoe and dress of
hin material, with knit undervest.
81 ood was found upon O'Neil's hands.
1t is supposed that he stayed over night
n the new house in pr ocess of construc-
ion on the hill. Medical Examiner Durell
Sometville was notified nd examined
he body, and ordered an autopsy.
Investigation by Officer Ewell at Somer-
lille disclosed the fact that O'Nell was
7ell known in Somerville He is about So
ears of age, and short, stout and thick
et. The woman was about AZ years old.
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