The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-14
REVOLVING CRIME UnEARlHED.
A Little Girl Outraged and
Murdered.
The Body of Alice Sterling, Daughter of
George steriinE, of Boston. Found in
Manure Pile With Her Skull Crushed
and Evidence That she Had Been
Criminally Manufacturers Gilbert
Arrested.

BosToN, April 13.-The most revolt.
ing crime known in Boston in MANY
years was unearthed by the police of
dorchester district late this afternoon
when the body OF Alice Sterling, the
daughter of George Sterling, was found
buried In the manure pile OF the old
stable on the Denny estate. The little
girls skull has been crushed In BY
heavy blow from an axe and there were
unquestionable indications that she had
been outraged. Angus D. Gilbert.
night station agent at the Savin Hill
station of the Old Colony division of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford. ia
under arrest charged with the crime.
Geo. Sterling, who Ia hair dresser,
reported to the police st midnight Wed.
nesday that his little daughter had dis.
appeared some time during the after
noon while Mrs. Sterling and other
members OF his family were away from
home: Searching parties looked all
day Thursday, but could find no trace of
her. Officers Perkins and Smith were
given charge of the case and yesterday
the latter was informed by Miss Edith
Reid that she had seen from her resi-,
dencs, at the corner OF Spring street
ana Savin Hill avenue, a man with a.
red mustaohe and light overcoat lead
Ing the little. girl by the hand down
the railroad track toward beach.
From the description the officers de-
oided that the man they wanted WAS
Angus ID. Gilbert the night station
agent at the depot. He slept in al old
Stable on the Denny estate near by and
Miss Reid said that she was positive
the man went in this direc ton after
leaving the railroad track. The officers
this afternoon instituted q search of
the premises around both the DENNY
estate and the Emmons place. Miss
Reid was sure the two followed the ton
of an old sewer for probably two hun
dred yards. but lost sight of Them after
they left the track. This was an un-
usual route and indicated that the man
wished to avoid public streets,
During the search Gilbert was found
at work st the Emmons place He was
Immediately placed under arrest by
Officer Perkins. This was then about
$40 o'clock. The old stable on the
Denny place was then searched. Two
old towles and bloody rags were found in
Gilbert's room. The manure pile waa
then searched and Officer Perkins saw a.
human foot. A body WAS soon revealed
and was identified as Alice Sterling.
her SKULL was crushed and tho cause of
death was apparent. Her clothing was
torn, showing too plainly tho motive of
the horrible crime. A bloody axe was
found nesr by concealed under a beam.
An autopsy will be held Monday. Gil
bert would not admit the crime, but
when brought handcuffed to view the
body, he trem bled like leaf
Gllbertcame from Niue quodoboit, Hal
flax county, Nova Scotia, over year
ago and was always considered q good
business man by the railroad people.
Miss Reid, who furnished the clue, and
another woman living near. named Mrs.
VIM. Allen, called at the station house
late tonight and positively identified
the prisoner. Mrs. terling is PROS
trated and to night Is in precarlous
condition. Gilbert was an acquaintance
OF MRS. Sterling and consequently was
not unknown to the child.