The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-31
Fall River Agitated At Another
Tragedy.
A YOUNG GIRL FOUND HACKED
TO PIECES.
A Farm House in the Outskirts of the City
the Scene of the Crime-There is No
Clue to the Assassin, and the Mystery
Battles the Police.

Battles the Police.
FALL RIVER. Mass. May 30-This
city is in a state of intense exciten ent
tonight, due to the discovery of an afro
cious murder, rivalling in many respects
those of Mr.. and Mrs. Borden. The vic
tim, Miss Bertha Manchester, aged %, a
former student in the high school, and
descendant of one of the oldest fami-
lies in this section of New England,
Miss Manchester lived at farm house
four miles from City hall on the new Bos-
ton road very near the Wilson road.
She was last seen alive about 7.3O this
morning. when her father, Stephen Man
chester, left for this city, accompanied
by his son and hired boy to deliver
milk
About 2 this afternoon they arrived
home. Freddy, a 12 year old boy ran
ahead into the house to get something to
eat, opened the kitchen door in the ell
OF the house and saw his murdered sister
lying in pool of blood on the kitchen
told his father. The latter started
for the police station, four miles
distant. 1t was after three when the DO
lice arrived. Medical Examiner Doian
arrived about the same hour. A bloody
axe was found in wood pile near the
back fence. The young Girl was lying
close to the foot of the stove where she
evidently dragged herself through the
pools of blood. Her right leg was
drawn under her body, her clothes par
TALLY drawn from her hips, her head and
face frightfully mutilated, four long,
deep cuts were on the back of the head
and the top of the skull was crushed to
jelly. There were several cuts on the
face and neck Two of the girls teeth
were found on the floor beside her. Her
hair was matted with blood, her arms
and face were covered with it. The
space in which she was found meas
ured 6x8 feet. The sheathing and win
dows all around it were spotted with
blood A few spots of blood were found
leading from the kitchen to the cellar,
There were pools of blood on the floor of
the cellar just beneath where the
body was lying. The girls
bed room had been rified of some of its
contents, including a lady's gold watch
girl by her father. The dressing case
pocketbook was found among some
cheap jewelry. The missing, Swatch,
opened drawers and pocketbook cause
he:police to believe the motive of the
butchery was robbery.
They are all at sea regarding the identi-
ty or whereabouts of the assassin.
Everyone working on the case is eau
toned against talking with reporters.
Mr.. Manchester is 63 years old and
well known throughout this section.
His immediate family consisted of the
murdered girl, second wife who has
not lived with him for sometime,
Freddy, the twelve year old boy,
who discovered the body, a daughter
married to w. w. i Coolidge, the we'll
known halter, and son Harry who ran
away from home about ten years ago.
Mr.. Manchester told reporter that Ber-
tha had no lover that he knew of and she
seldom bothered the neighbors. John
Work, the boy about the farm, has only
been employed since last Friday.
Miss Read, a neighbor who lives across
the road from the Manchester farm, said
this evening she was at home all day.
Neither she nor other members of her
family heard anything unusual about the
place. Her statement dbepens the mys-
eoA SURROUNDING 1ll0 tIdSSuy- MI. Mdu-
chester always Kept dogs on the farm.
Twh of these are bull mastiffs,
the third is Newfoundland. Because
these dogs made no noticeable noise the
police are inclined to believe the deed
was committed by some one familiar
with the premises.
The medical examiner decided the girl
was not outraged before or after death.
1t seems probable felonious attempt
was made, Although the house is with
in the city limits, it is remote from sur
roundings, where strangers would attract
particular attention. 1t is considered
certain that if the murderer is discov-
cred he will be iynched. The house has
been vacated for the present by order of
the police authorities.
Mr.. Manchester says he has not seen
his run away son since he left home, but
he has been told at various times that he
has been seen about the place.