Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-10-25
MURDER THE CHARGE.
Milo Gray Arrested at West
mOreland, n. II.


H., last week Thursday. A Frenchmsn,
George Brill, occupying an old house which
had been deserted for the greater part of
the time for several years, wishing to make
a potato bin in the cellar, began work in
one corner by removing a pile of rubbish,
and soon brought to light the bones of a
woman Neighbors were called in and the
selectmen summoned.
The bones were brought to Woodsville,
and when placed in position by DR.. Gibson
of that place, showed a fracture of the
skull that must have produced instant
DEATH The blow was inflicted by some
blunt instrument, and it is DIR. Gibson
opinion that the body has been in the cellar
at least two years. All the circumstantial
evidence thus far developed points strong
ly to Milo Gray as perpetrator of the
deed.
The story of a woman who disappeared
from this vicinity was naturally brought
up and sifted down. 1t runs as follows:
About four years ago one Milo Gray was
working for Jerry lie Blair at East Haver-
hill, 10 miles from Landau. He had mar
ried some years before a Mrs. Drew, but
their married life was not agreeable, an
other woman being the cause of the
trouble. They did not live together, Mrs.
Gray being employed at The Weirs. She
came to East Haverhill to decide what
should be done with their child. In the
afternoon Gray secured team from Mr..
lie Blair to drive her, as he said, to Bath,
to take the train for California. He was
well acquainted with all this territory, hav-
ing worked around Landau, while his wife
was almost a stranger TO that locality. In
going from East Haverhill to Bath his
shortest route would take him by this
house. 1t is known that he started in that
direction. At Bath station no ticket for
California has been sold in years. Mrs.
Gray's relatives have never obtained a
trace of her although they have tried often.
Gray at once went to keeping house with
the woman who was the cause of the
trouble.
Mrs. Gray was a little woman, weighing
not over 100 pounds, and the size of the
bones and the height of the skeleton shows
a woman of these proportions. A bit of
circumstantial evidence is shown in the
fact that Mrs, Gray ran her shoes over in
peculiar manner, corresponding exactly
with those found.
Gray was arrested Saturday at West
moreland, y. H., by Deputy Sheriff Brown
of Plymouth, \, H., after a long search.
Deputy Brown was accompanied by Coun-
ty Solicitor Adams. They first visited
Coebrook, y. H., Canaan, VT, and other
places. They arrived in Bellows Falls
Saturday and Chief of Police Thompson
accompanied them to Westminster West,
where Gray and his present wife had been
living, and thence toWestmoreland, n. H.,
their present home.
Gray was not at home when the officials
first arrived, so the highway was followed
for about a mile and Gray and his wife
were seen approaching. Gray was arrest
ed. He made no objection to being taken
to Woodsville. Mrs. Gray sobbed bitterly
and told her husband she was willing TO
follow him TO the end of the world The
afternoon train was taken and Sheriff
Brown arrived at Woodsville Sunday morn
ing with his prisoner.
When first placed under arrest Gray was
apparently much affected, but soon regain
ed his composure and took the journey in
a seemingly pleasant mood. He had but
little to say to his captors, although he
made an attampt to explain the disappear
ance of his first wife.
Gray was arraigned before Judge West
gate of the Woodsville police court Mon
day. He pleaded not guilty. The hear
ing was postponed until next Tuesday In
an interview Gray declared that he was in
nocent, that his former wife was living and
that he would present her at the proper
time.
County Solicitor Adams has returned
from Chester Depot, where he secured the
deposition of the daughter, Mrs. Marion
Farnsworth, and it is the most important
piece of evidence yet discovered. She
talked freely regarding the disappearance
of her mother, and gave a history of the
family as she knewit. She was shown the
ring found upon finger of the skeleton
discovered in the cellar at Landau, and as
she took it into her hands she became much
affected and gave vent to her feelings in
sobs. She recognized the ring as her
mothers, and one that she herself had
been allowed to wear when a mere child.
She also quickly recognized the grape
shaped buttons found upon the garment
around the remains as similar to those up
on a short jacket that had belonged to her
parent.
After the disappearance of his first wife
Gray went TO Colebrook, and in a short
time to Canaan, this state, where he took
logging contract. He remained there
during the winter months and was Joined
by the present Mrs. Gray in April. After
her arrival they remained only few days,
when they decamped in the night, leaving
all personal property, unpaid bills and log
ging utensils.
The couple evidently came direct to Bel
lows Falls, where Gray began work in the
Vermont Farm Machine company's shop,
he and his wife boarding at the Fall Noun
tain House. In the summer of 1892 they
moved to w. P. Cassidy's farm at West
minister West. They had gained reputa-
ton for dishonesty when they left there in
1894, moving to the Hutchins homestead
in Westmoreland, n. H., two miles from
Park Hill on the West Chesterfield road.
The farm is owned by Willard Bill, ir.,
and Gray worked il on shares. The form
er tenant had stored considerable corn in
one of the barns, and, coming after it some
time later found some missing, and, it is
said, caught Gray in the act of stealing it.
This incident, so soon after his arrival
there, tended to destroy confidence in him,
although but little was known of his pre-
yous life.
Gray is a medum-sized man, has light |
ayes and brown mustache, dark hair, and, |
IN the whole, is good looking. He is |
about AZ years of age, weighs in the yicin- |
ty of 40 pounds and is about 5 feet 10 |
inches tall. He has three brothers living |
1t Colebrook, n. H., two at Holland, this |
state, one at Lunenburg, and a sister at |
Concord 1t happens, curiously, that |
Ioung Ellis, the leader of the gang who |
committed the felonious assault at East |
Putney recently, stayed with Gray at |
Nestmoreland after fleeing across the river. |
Gray has son who is now employed by
Mr.. Shaw of Putney Meadows.