The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-12-25
SHELTON.
MURDER IN SHELTON.

About 10 Is Monday evening, Judge
Tomlinson was called by Robert Slie to
go to the residence of Mary l.. Munson,
in which SHE stated pistol shots had been
heard and it was feared some crime had
been committed. The judge went and,
finding the doors locked and the windows
fastened, forced an admission, when a
most CHASTITY spectacle met his sight
Stretched on the floor in pool of blood
was the dead body of Mary l.. Munson
and a closer examination showed that
she had been shot twice, once in the left
side near the heart and once in the abdo-
men, and that her head had been split
open in most brutal manner. Medical
Examiner G. A. Shelton and Chief of Po-
lice Tomlinson were at once notified and
soon arrived with Charles Church, Eulie
Tolles and Mr. Hart. Chief of Police No
Ian of Birmingham was also informed
and, in company with Policeman Tom
linson, visited the house of John Haw-
ley, colored man of Birmingham,
whose relations with the deceased have
been such as to throw suspicion upon
him. The deceased had recently given
birth to an illegitimate child, now about
two weeks old and, at the time of her
confinement, Hawley employed phys
ician in her behalf and has provided her
with supplies and provisions. 1t is sug-
gested that some threat on her part to
charge on him the paternity of her child
may have furnished motive for the ter
rible tragedy. One feature that made
the affair doubly sad was the presence of
this little babe, which was found lying
underneath one of its mothers limbs,
wailing piteously in the darkness of the
dreadful place. Mrs Munson is a divorc-
ed woman who came from Woodbury.,
lived for Il while in Birmingham near
Hawley and, few weeks since, NOV
ed to Shelton. Her character was not
enviable, but she was possessed OF form
of physical beauty which gave somewhat
of charm to her appearance. Hawley is
about 35 years of age, is OF mixed blood
and, while he has never been implicated
in crime before, has not sustained the
best of character. He has acted as jani-
tor in the Birmingham post office and, by
his pleasant manner and dizziness, has in
gratated himself with many who were
slow to believe he would do so foul
deed. Coroner Doten is conducting an
inquest. Hawley denies all knowledge
of the affair, except what has been told
him since his arrest. He was seen going
toward the place that evening and, when
arrested, showed great agitation. All
that can be said is that a most dastardly
murder has been committed in com
munty long free from the stain of such
a crime are that public opinion Gotten in
error and quick to condemn, often right
and founded on evidence that arises from
sources hard for the law to find) fastens
its suspicion on Hawley.
Ruth b. Beardsley, daughter of George
w. Beardsley, died, Tuesday morning,
after an illness of only few days. She
was an active member of the M. K. Sun
day school and the Y. 2. s. &. f. of that
church and universally loved and es-
teemed.--W. G. Lee has completed plans
for G. G. Lee of WATERFOWL, to be used
in a fine dwelling in that town.-George
w. Cosgrove is able to be out after a Sc
we're attack of grip which is prevalent in
this locality and numbers hosts of vic
tims.-A meeting of the delegates of the
agricultural societies of Fairfield county
was held in the Town hall, 10Th. G i'd
con M. Wakelee was chosen chairman, s.
Il. Palmer clerk. Frank Brakeman of
Stratford was unanimously elected
member of the board of agriculture for
the ensuing two years.-Foot passengers
pass over the new iron bridge.-Edward
Kneen was the first bicyclist to cross the
new bridge on his wheel.-The Newtown
savinge bank has instituted foreclosure
proceedings against the Rocky Rest prop
erty.-It is rumored that Mat Ward it to
abandon his nefarious business and go
South the suppression of this notorious
house of i'll fame is a thing devoutly to
be desired.