The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-02
HAS MURPHY MURDEREDl
Police 0llcors Search His Brothers
House In WPontham.
FULL OF ROqTING HORSE FLESH,
strong Circumstantiai Evidence Said to
Have Been Secured Against Dan MUIR
phy. the Hermit-The People Greatly
Excited Over the Developments.

NORTH ATTLEBoRo Mass, May 2-In a
small, old fashioned house, 1-2 stories
high, on the lake road in the town of
Wrentham, lives q man commonly spoken
of around town as ''Dan Murphy, the her
NIT" For more than dozen years Muir
ply has occupied his present quarters and
had very little intercourse with the out
aide world
The house sits back about 90 feet from
the road and has most forbidding appear
ance. Within the past two months stories
have been circulated around the town of
Wrentham that a brother Of Murphy's,
who suddenly disappeared about four years
ago.
Was Buried There.
At the time it occurred the disappear
ance of Murphy's brother created great
sensation, and he was searched for all
around town. No connection with his
brothers disappearance was laid to Muir
ply, as he appeared as anxious as any to
find him. About a month ago Murphy
was questioned by Constable Cook of
Wrentham about the matter, and his
answers were so evasive that the officers
suspicious were aroused Deputy Sheriff
Carlisle Brown of North Attleboro was
notified about the case and he arranged
with State Detective George Seaver Of
Taunton to make
A Search Of the Hermit's House.
A party consisting of the above named
officers went to Murphy's hermitage yes
terday afternoon. The place was found
deserted. An entrance was made by the
backdoor. Everything was found In the
widest disorder.
The room was strewn with old half de-
cayed carcasses Of horses, etc, from which
. terrible stencil arose. A similar state Of
affairs was found In each room. One room,
however, apparently Murphy's sleeping
apartment, bore evidences Of refinement.
Some fine paintings adorned the walls.
1t was In the cellar that the remains of
the man were supposed to be buried. No
lamp was found In the house, 30 the off,
GERS were Obliged to light brand. The
smell was something horrible. Bones of
dead animals were piled up
To = Depth Of Two Feet
In some places With some picks and
shovels that had been brought along the
officers began to dig up the cellar Bones
of animals were, however, so numerous
that It would have been difficult to recog-
nize human ones
The officers dug the earth up to con-
siderable depth all over the cellar, but
were unsuccessful in their attempt. The
party returned to North Attleboro late in
the afternoon.
Constable Cook said the officers did not
have enough evidence to warrant an ar
rest, but the matter will not be allowed to
drop. Perhaps, he said, the body may
have been buried In an clubhouse. There
is some
Strong Circumstantial Evidence
against Murphy. Deputy Sheriff Brown
said that the officers would not make any
statement yet.
I The little town of Wrentham is greatly
excited over the developments, and moth
ing else is talked Of Murphy's peculiar
habits are known to the residents, who
think him crazy. A man who lives on the
rosd near Murphy's hut says that at the
iull Of the moon Murphy appears worse,
and he wanders around all night.
t Dam Murphy is man of medium height
and weighs about 100 pounds. His beard
Is fiery red and Is matted together, ap-
parently not having been com bed for years.
His hair is also in this uncared for condi-
tion. His eyes have wild appearance.
His whereabouts Is not known now.