Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-16
MURDER SUSPECTED.
FURTHER PARTICULARS CONCERN
ING THE DEATH OF JAMES MORRIS.
Mr.. Mears OF Milton Identified tho Body
and Says the Man Had Considerable
Money This Was Missing When
the Body Was Found.

Essex Junction, Jan. 1.-THE body of
James Morris, about 2S years of age, was
found with both legs badly crushed
below the knees and skull badly
crushed, by the gang of freight
train going south Sunday morning
one-half mile north of this place. Select
man Anterior ordered the remains to he
removed to the engine house in the village
and placed in charge of Undertaken Saw
yer, where they now lie awaiting, the ar
rival Of his friends or instructions for
burial. The contents Of the dead mans
pockets revealed something of his iden-
tity and former residence. He appears to
have been employed until last Wednesday.
at White River Junction, as coal shoveler
and to have boarded with a family by the
name of OBrien in West Lebanon. His
papers consisted of recommen from
Locomotive Fireman William j. Kill. at
White River Junction to c. +. Fuller, W..
perintendent of motive power at st Al"
bans, VT, ticket from Milton to ST. AL
bans, two time bills of the sum of $40
due from the railroad company and half
sheet Of note paper upon which he had
written few words which would indicate
that his death was not wholly accidental.
In his pocket book was a $40 bill and some
change 1t has been learned that he has
q sister living in Boston and every et-
fort possible Is being made to locate her.
The O'Brien family say that he always
bore a good reputation, was industrious
and temperate.
Essex Junction, Jan. Awhile the body
of James Morris has been held here await
ing directions from friends or relatives
regarding the disposition of the remains,
the mans whereabouts since he left
White River Junction have been traced
and the circumstances attending his wan
derings and death have given rise to
suspicion that he was either murdered or
that he committed suicide.
Tuesday morning, at the request of Sc
lectman Anterior, Mrs Asa Mears of Mill
ton came to this place and fully identi-
fled the body, by the features, which are
very life-like, and by the clothing; also
the contents of the pockets.
To the Free Press correspondent Mr..
Mears gave the following account
THE man came to my house in Milton
Wednesday morning between and 7
o'clock. and requested refreshments and
rest, saying that he had walked all night
from st. Adams and that his feet were
frozen. After | had admitted him he be-
gan to talk in an incoherent manner and
said that he had been followed from st.
Adams by two men who prevented him
from seeking shelter at any of the houses
along the road.
DR.. Sanderson being called, examined
his feet and found them chilled but not
frozen and advised him to remain with
me until he recovered. Thursday he APP
peared rational and during the day called
for paper and pencil and wrote n few
lines, the substance of which he seemed
anxious not to reveal. He showed two
bills, the recommendation from the round
house>foreman, King, and when he paid
DR.. Sanderson, large roll Of bills.
Mr. Blake, the selectman, called to see
him and learned of his whereabouts while
in st. Adams When he arrived there he
In To Nv ~ MILL or'c OH nn
to get him to countersign his paper so
that he could draw the amount due him.
but the office was closed at 6 p. M, and he
was told that he must call in the MORN
ing to see Mr.. Fuller. He then went to
a house for lodging, but not liking the ap-
pearance of the inmates and hearing a
brawl, started toward Milton.
Mr.. Blake advised him to remain at my
house end he would investigate for him,
but he refused, saying that he had two
friends with him and he did not want to
expose them. Friday he became anxious
to continue his journey and I brought him
to Milton station when he parted from
me he paid me for my trouble and insist
ed upon my taking larger sum, exhibit
ing at the sam. time a large roll of bills
of various denominations"
Mr.. Mears saw nor head no more of
him until he heard that he was killed and
saw the body here
IL appears tndl MOTIFS, after buying MS
ticket, started south, walking on the
track.
Engineer George Allen of the stock train
who discovered the body Sunday morning,
says that it was lying beside the track,
face partly downward. He stopped the
train and with the trainment went back
and brushed the dirt and ice from the
face in order, possibly to identify him.
Failing in this they proceeded 20 the pas
senger station and notified Operator
Burke.
That the body had been moved after
death Is plainly shown from the fact that
It had been taken up by some unknown
person or persons and placed directly OPP
posite on the outside of the right hand
rail-
When the body was brought to the en-
CINE house and the clothing removed, no
roll of bills was found. nothing but the
500 bill rolled up and put in the bottom
of one of the upper vest pockets, where
1t would be quite likely to be overlooked
by person taking the larger roll out of
the pants pocket.
The note written at Mr. Myers house
and found among the dead mans papers,
would strengthen the suicide theory. 1t
read thus:
first time that partook of the sacrament
/ did so unworthily. This Is the cause of
my downfall. Let others be warned by
me-"
There was no doate nor signature. but
-