The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-01-24
MURDER STORY FROM NORWICH
Two Sorwicht Men Suspected OF Doing
Away with a Preacher Five Years Ago

4 special 10 the Boston Journal from
Hanover. \. H.. a Y Hanover and
vicinity are excited over recent start.
ling developments to solve what has
for FIVE years been a deep mystery,
and which may implicate two Norwich
(Vt. citizens in a case of murder.
Five years ago there resided in Nor.
wich a preacher, John Harrison, who
held services in schooI-houses when
ever he could gain an audience. His
peculiarities engendered the hatred of
one Will Eastman and his companion,
and frequent rows resulted between
Harrison and these enemies. The
summer Of 1890. It's said that Eastman
and a chum went to Harrison's home
anil proceeded to lido up the old
man, who defended himself with a
dirk knife, and as ii result of the
struggle Eastman nov carries an eight
inch scar and numerous other marks.
They overpowered HARRISON and having
beaten out his brains with an iron
kettle. as they supposed. left him for
dead. while they boosted to n~eighbors
of their deed. Harrison, however.
rallied. and it is stated that Eastman
vowed he would finish him. \ few
weeks later the preacher disappeared,
and knowledge of his whereabouts was
never cleaned. Last night il was given
out by a former intimate friend of
Eastman that he has confessed to the
killing Of Harrison. that the body vas
buried in the cellar OF the hut. and
that all traces were obliterated by fire.
Eastman Implicated IN the deed
Smith rorttnactar ~ Wact
Norwich. The latter disowns all
know ledge of the crime, but asserts
that he has no doubt that Eastman
knows much about the disappearance
of Harrison. Eastman has a very IN
savory reputation, and is now awaiting
trial by the supreme court on a charge
of burglary, and is under suspicion for
other cases. He is now suffer
ing from a wound received at the hands
Of Postmaster Smith, who shot him a
few weeks ago in sclf.defcnse. Anti
death is supposed 10 be the
cause of the confession and q desire 10
even matters with his enemy Smith.
The selectmen of Norwich will i%nvesti-
gate.
Pursued to Boston
Jesse f. Belfast, a Vermonter, was ar.
rested in Boston Friday where he is
leld for a deputy sheriff. The Ease dates
back nearly a year. Belfast at that time
vas living with his relatives in st
Johnsbury. There also lived in the same
Mrs. Hattie Richardson and her
laughter Della Richardson, IL years of
ige. One night n ~fclouous assault vas
upon the person of the
,oung girl. and a case was brought
Belfast. When his council Sc
"a continuance. When the case
again came up for trial no government
witnesses appeared. Belfast's counsel
moved for a dismissal of the case, and
he presiding justice had no other al
ernative than that of allowing the de-
endant TO go upon a bond of 500. AL
hough the government was temporarily
in the matter il was not put to
leep." A deputy sheriff was put to
york, and it said that ne made the dis
overy that Mrs. Richardson and her
laughter had been spirited away TO
Vest Concord. n. III.
Suspicious Death at Rutland.
The sudden death of George c.
own at the mouse OF y. N. BrOWD on
line street, Rutland last week We'd
esday morning was considered suspic-
Gus enough to warrant au autopsy
avs the Herald. Town was a Poult-
ey man, and had recently come into
ossession of some property. He was
0 years of age, and had been a patient
t the Kelley institute. An autopsy
,as performed by DIR. Caverly assisted
v Drs. Gale, Grain. Hammond and
The result still leaves some
oubt as to the cause of the mans
cath. There were found some NOR
bund conditions of the kidneys, liver.
cart and brain. but none of these
s seems sufficient, taken in con-
JUNCTION with the symptoms we OBJ
eryed and was able to learn from those
Tho had seen him previous to our visit.
D explain his sudden death. 1t seems
ute likely that be may have dieu
-om an overdose of opium or some Of
Is alkaloids. u