Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-01-15
SIRANGLED TO DEATH.
Mrs. Hattie McClOud Murdered
Near Shelburne Falls.
The BODY Was Found Frozen on Sat
urday---JOhn O'NeiII, jr., Under Ar
rest, Charged with the Crime.

urday---John O'NeiII, Jr., Under Ar
rest, Charged with the Crime.
The body of Mrs Hattie E. McCloud, 81,
was found in a clump of woods short dis
lance from the road leading over Critten-
den hill, i'm the town of auckland, near
Shelburne Falls, about Q o'clock Sunday
morning. She had been murdered by
strangulation. Mrs. McCloud was the
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. George d. Crit
tenden and the widow of the late w. L..
McCloud of New Haven, CT. Since the
death OF her husband six years ago, she
had lived with her nine-years-Old daugh-
ter, Alberta, in a cottage short distance
from her parents home on Crittenden hill,
three-fourlhs of a mile from Sheburne
Falls village.
Mrs. McCloud went to the village Friday
afternoon to make some purchases, the
child remaining with her grandparents.
| Mrs. McCloud started to return home
about o'clock, and carried several bun
dies. Her parents did not feel greatly
alarmed at her failure to return, as it was
thought that she had decided to spend the
night in Shelburne Falls village at the
home of her sister, Mrs. w. S. Ball. AS
she did not return in the morning, Mr..
| Crittenden started to drive to the village,
and while descending the hill one-fourth
mile from his house saw the body in hol-
low about three rods from the roadside,
1t was frozen and had evidently laid out
| all night. Her hat was found a short dis
lance away, while her veil was clinging to
the branch of a saping nearer the road,
Several packages containing articles which
she had bought were by her side.
The body was taken to Mr.. Crltenden' S
home and Medical Examiner Francis j.
Canedy was summoned, while a watch was
set at the place of the finding Of the body
to see that nothing was disturbed The
medical examiner applied by telephone To-
District Attorney John c. Hammond OF
Northampton for leave to hold an autopsy
at l o'clock, which was granted and De-
tective Benson Munyon was detailed to be
present The autopsy was conducted by
Medical Examiner Canedy and DR.. f. II.
Iabriskie of Greenfield. 1t resulted in a
verdict of murder by strangulation. The
body was found lying on the back in a
natural position, with the cloak collar
turned up around the neck, and when the
collar was turned down discolored marks
were discovered
Mrs. McCloud had given music lessons
for veral years and Frank Turton, boy
of II, went to her house about 7 Friday
evening for instruction. He passed the
scene of the murder but heard nothing I'M
usual. As Mrs. McCloud did not return,
he, in company with the daughter, Alber-
ia, started down the road to meet her. At
about 7:30 they passed the spot where the
body was found to a point several rods
further down the road and waited a few
minutes occasionally shouting. As moth
ing was seen of Mrs. McCloud they re-
traced their steps to the Crittenden home,
where young Turton remained until 10
o'clock, when he went home, passing the
scene of the murder for the fourth time.
Mr.. McCloud, who was a business man
in New Haven, Conn, was killed six
years ago while on his way to take the
train for Shelburne Falls, the little girl,
Alberta, being i'll there. Nj. McCloud
jumped from his carriage as he thought it
would be hit by an approaching train. He
was killed and the man who remained in
the carriage escaped.
1t is believed that Mrs. McCloud was
seized from the rear and dragged down the
embankment. Her money, about ST., was
taken, and bags of cookies and waters are
also missing. 1t is claimed that Mrs Nc
Cloud was outraged, and the theory is adj
vanced that she recognized her assailant,
and he, therefore, strangled her. Four
detectives have been at work upon the
case, and the town of auckland has of
fered reward of $500 for the arrest and
conviction of the murderer. The funeral
was held Monday and attracted much at
tention.
John O'Neill jr., 90, was arrested at
the home of his father in Buckland early
Tuesday morning by State Detective Mum
yon, Deputy Sheriff Smead and Police Off.
Ger Woodland. O'Neill had been suspected
as the murderer and officers had watched
his home at night When the officers en-
tered the house he was in bed. He claimed
that he was innocent, but his mother told
him the law must take its course, and
O'Neill had an interview at the Shelburne
Falls railroad station with his father who
is night track walker. He again asserted
his innocence. At the hearing in Green
field before Associate Justice Dana in the
district court he pleaded not guilty. A
hearing was set for Jan. 21, and he was
held without bail and lodged in the Frank
lin county Jail.
O'Neill has not been at work for some
time, and has spent money freely since the
tragedy. just how conclusive the evidence
of the government is cannot now be stated
1t is held, however, that O'Neill saw Mrs.
McCloud on her way home. He was under
the influence of liquor, followed her and
committed the crime. The home of his
father is only l25 rods from the scene of
the tragedy. 1t is thought that if he is the
guilty man, he did not know his victim
was dead when he left her, and it is not be-
lieved he intended to commit murder. His
family is respectable, but he has long been
known as local tough and has been en-
gagged in numerous fights, 1t may be that
he had a companion, and it is among the
probabilities that another arrest will follow.