The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-15
BRUTAL CRIME.
Little Alice SterIing's Head
Smashed With an Ak.
A Friend OF the Victims Parents
Charged With the Murder

BOSTON, April 1b.-The most revolving
crime that has been known in Boston for
years was unearthed by the police OF the
Dorchester district late Saturday after
noon. when the body Of Alice Sterling.
the S.year-old daughter OF George w.
Sterling, was found buried in the manure
pit of an old stable. The little girls skull
had been crushed in by heavy blow from
an ak, and there were unquestionable In
dications that she had previously been out
ragged.
Angus ID Gilbert, night station agent
at the Savin Hill depot of the Old Colony
division Of the New York, New Haven
and Hartford railroad, Is under arrest,
charged with the crime.
George Sterling barber, reported to
the police at midnight on "Wednesday
last that his little daughter had disap-
peared some time during the afternoon
while Mrs. Sterling and other members
of his large family were away from home.
Searching parties looked all day Thurs
day. but could find no trace Of her.
Officers Perkins and Smith were given
charge Of the case, and on Saturday the
latter was informed by Miss Edith Reid
that she has seen from her residence
man with a red mustaoho and light over
coat leading the little Sterling girl by the
hand They were going down the rail-
road track toward the beach which bor-
ders that section of Dorchester.
Miss Reid's Evidence.
From tho description, the officers de-
cided that the man they wanted was
Angus ID. Gilbert, the night agent at the
depot. In the daytime he worked for q.
W. Emmons on Denny street, near Savin
Hill avenue. He slept In the top OF an old
stable on the Denny estate near by, and as
Miss Reid stated that she was positive the
man went in this direction after leaving
the railroad tracks, the officers Saturday
afternoon instituted thorough search of
the premises surrounding both the Denny
estate and the Emmons place Miss Reid
was sure the two followed the top OF an
old sewer. a distance OF probably 200
yards. but lost sight Of them soon after
they left the track. This was an unusual
route, and indicated that the man wished
to avoid public streets.
During the search Gilbert was found at
work at tho Emmons place. He was i'm
mediately placed under arrest This was
about 30 p. IN. The old stable on the
Denny place was then searched. Two old
towels and pieces Of old rags with blood on
vnem were Iounu In OilDerb Toon. w hou
tho manure pit was searched Officer Per-
kins struck human foot. A body was
pulled out. and was soon identified as
Alice Sterling. Her skull was crushed,
and tho cause of death was only too ap-
parent. Her clothing was disarranged,
showing too plainly tho motive Of the hor-
rible crime A bloody ak was found
near by, concealed under beam. Medi-
cal Examiner Draper was then given
charge. and an autopsy will be held.
Gilbert would not admit the crime, but
when brought down handcuffed to view
the body he trembled like an aspen leaf.
Gilbert is rather stout man, 8 IT, 8 in.
in height, % years old, fair complexion,
with a reddish mustache. He came
from Musquodoboit Nova Scotia, over q
year ago, and was always considered
good man by the railroad people.
Miss Reid, who furnished the clew, and
another woman living near named Mrs.
William Allen, called at station IL and
positively identified the prisoner as the
man they saw with the little girl on
Wednesday.
Mrs. Sterling is Frustrated over the af
fair and Is in precarious condition.
Gilbert was an acquaintance OF Mr.
Sterlings, and consequently was not un.
known to tho l'ttle GIRL