Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-08
The Inquest Shows that Knife
and Pistol We're Used.

CLAEENCEVILLE, T. O., June t. - The
people in this vicinity are wrought up by
Que of tn most otrocious crimes ever known
in This section. Owen Edy, wife and daugh-
ter Of tbs town were murdered sometime
during Eridoy night, and after killing the
family the murderer or murderers act fire
10 the house.
Smoke was seen issuing from tho house
by Jean Gilbert who carries on the farm
upon shares as lie was leaving the barns,
about o'clock Yesterday morning. He ran
pround to the front door, which no kick i
in, at the same time shouting fire as loud
Is he could. The smoke was so thick that
he could not eee anything IN the front
room, so knowing where Mr.. and Mrs. Edy
slept he rushed around TO tho win
uow OF TIER bedroom, broke it
and the bed being up next 20 the wall on the
EIe Of tde window, he reached in to see If
he could .;et hold of either MIR. Edy or Mrs.
Ely. lie wGs Mortified to discover that
reltter .! them were there. In an instant
he Yves back to the front this time going
into the house. lie had hardly taken two
Steps inside the buildins before stumbling
pver "a dead body. lie srapplcd ho.d Of it
bud drew il cut, and when near the door he
saw the body was that OF Miss Emma the
daughter Chilis CT sorrow, fear and sur
prise came ever him. and he became faint,
but bein- man OF strong nerve, ne quick
ly regaiueu control OK himself. Going into
the house again, he found the body OF Mrs.
Edy lying Only a few feet from where her
daughters was. lie brought Mrs. Edy out.
On returning, then, the form of Mr.. Edy
was visible in the glare of tho fire which
was rapidly gaming Roadway. Mr.. Gilbert
PASSED through into the kitchen, finding
Dir. Edy i'll g sitting posture, he apparent
y having been killed instantly, while stand
ing, dropping into a chair.
After dragging the body to the yard near
those OF Mrs. and Miss Edy, Gilbert aroused
tho nearest neighhors, and they IN turn
awakened Others, and in short time all
the people in the vicinity were at the scene
Df the triple tragedy.
1t was, thcn too late to save tho house or
rny O; its coutsnts, there being no fire de-
partment, and the period when the pail
brigade would possibly have been effective
toward extinguishing the flames having
pass ed. Ali that remained for them to do
then was 10 remove the bodies which were
taken to the house of o. Edy, nephew CT
the murdered man, half mile distant
Life Struggle
Circumstances seem to indicate that they
we're all preparing for bed when the assss
sins made tner appearance. MIR. Edy had
on his slippers and Mrs. Edy was in her
stocking fent. 1t is practically certain that
they wero murdered between s and s
O'Clock Friday evening. And that etrug
gle WAS had there is but little doubt. Tue
heads OF Mr. and Miss Edy lay towards the
Mr. 1N irbt hny hot
hrst, and they met death while attempting
TO flee from the house.
We're the Assnssins Burglars?
II the murderers committed the horrible
tragedy so as to get what booty Mr.. Edy
had they took queer way TO do It,
The right pants pocket Of Mr.. Ely wal
turned inside out but his wallet containing
72 cents and soIno papers was in his lei
pocket, which was uudisturbed II. O.
Edy, son Of the murdered man, told TIT
FREE Press rsprssen that his father
always carried large jeckknife in hi
right pocket, and inasmuch as it Yves no
there, he presumed, in the excitement OF th'
struggle his father took out his knife; il
doing 80 he may have got hold OF the bot
tom Of his pocket and pulled that out, aiso
However, Mr.. Edy firmly believes that thu
robbery. IN support Of this theory it me-,
be stated that when tine dead bodies wer,
removed, around Mrs. Edy's hand was
rubber band which the neighbors say wa
similar to one which she carried on he
purse; the position of the hand indica tel
that it had been slipped from Off the purs
in response to the robbers demand To-
money.
other Theories
Others contend that 1t is foolish to main
tain the murders wero psrpetrated for tn
purpose of burglary because tho house coul
in all probability have been burglarized ei
ter the murdered people had gone to Size
without even waking any Of them, so tina
It was unnecessary for the murderers t
have killed them in order TO get what boodl
they bad.
HethueI Ford or Picard Suspected. n
In this connection 1t may be added ths
fellow who goes by several names, tn
most common OF which are Bsthuel For
and BetEuel Picard, was at first suspecte
as tue murderer lie used TO work for MI
Edy, and with his family occupied Mr.. Edy'
tenant. Dir. EIy had to apply to the court
TO get possession of his house, Ford refusiu
10 vacate IL. This made Ford mad to VII
liam Finlay, co-laborer, he often express