The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-09
LOOKS LIKE A MURDER.
jesiah Wasson's Body Found In
Hampton Piyer, N. H.
MISSED SINCE LAST TUESDAY.
wounds ON the BODY Indicated Foul Play
--wasson's Brothsr-in-Law Is suspect
cd Of Knowing Something About the
Crime = was 10 Case of saicfae?

PoRTsMoUTH, N. H.. July 9.-The IN
habltants of the town OF Hampton are
ersasIy excited over the finding of body
IN Hampton River shout six o'clock last
night. For the past 90 years Josiah Was
son has lived at the house OF Mrs. Doro-
thy Ward, which 10 situated on the main
road about half mile from the centre Of
che village. On Tuesday morning Was
SON left the house shortly after breakfast
and sincs that time was not seen until
his body was found lying on the river
bank.
His absence caused parties to scour the
adjacent woodlands and the search only
ended with the finding Of the body on
the fats near the draw bridge, quarter
OF : milo from Mrs. Wards house. The
selectmen were at once notified. The
body was conveyed TO the house and
Coroner Rider and Sheriff Coffin OF this
city were notified.
Both these gentlemen went to Hamp-
ton and, accompanied by the selectmen
ofthe town and DIR. M. Il. Smith, viewed
she remains. A bad wound near the left
eye and q large bruise Just above the
right ear caused Coroner Rider to order
an inquest without any hesitation. The
party present were of the unanimous
opinion that both wounds were made by
some blunt instrumsn snt, and that Wasson
had met HIS death by foul play.
Another strange circumstance was the
uppeArnrce OF the corpse. III IL had been
IA the water since last Tuesday IL would
be badly diecolored, while on the con-
trary it did not look as IL it had been in
the water more than few hours.
Anothe thing thst bears out the gen.
efai belief that Wasson was foully dealt
with, ~ the fact that a brothe OF Mrs.
Wards named Joseph Garland, who has
resided ut the homestead for the past six
months, hes not been on friendly terms
with Wasson, and who has since his ar
rival done his utmost to annoy Wasson-
On Tuesday morning previous to Was
sons disappearance he had been angry
with the latter.
Garland was formerly q Congrega-
tionalist preacher, but for some reason
several years ago was expelled from tho
church. About the same time he quar-
relied with his sister, who had previously
made q will in which she bequeathed
him $50 900, but after the quarrel she had
. new one made and willed the amount
20 Wasson. Garland, who left his Sis
ter's home soon after the quarrel, IN some
manner recently heard Of the change In
his sisters will and lately came TO her
house to reside.
His principal occupation seems TO have
been that Of making things as unpleas-
ant as possible for Wasson, who was Of q
very nervous temperament, and he ac-
cused him OF many vile things. Some OF
the villagers are inclined to think that
WATSON became weary of the continued
insults and committed suicide in order to
free himself from his prosecutor, but
this 10 generally disbelieved. Wasson,
who was lame, In order to reach the
river would have to 60 along the railroad
track TO the bridge, and the gsss-tender
says that Wasson did not pass over the
road at any time on Tuesday, which
stgongthsns the theory that the body
was foully dealt with and carried to the
river very recently.
WATSON was about 70 years old, is well
opolen OF by every one and IL said to have
6oen sober and Industrious. DIR. Smith,
who made q brief examination OF the
body, said that the lungs seemed to be
we'll filled with air, and that he did not
.tsnssk Ssssh was caused by drowning.
Coroner Rider will empanel jury today
and m autopsy will be made by Drs.
emith Of Hampton and Hefferger OF
Rorkamoufb.