Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-08-18
MURDER OF DORA CUSHMAN.
Fifteen-Year-Old Girl Found Dead.


Dora E. Cushman of Lincoln was found
dead about O'Clock Sunday morning by her
brother, Arthur Z. Cushman, in some bushes
Cushman home. 1t appears that the girl left
her home about O'Clock Saturday afternoon
to pick blackberries, and as she did not
return at night, searching parties were organ
lied with the above result.
States Attorney Fish of Vergennes was
notified, and he arrived at about noon, with
Deputy Sheriffs Middlebrook and Lawrence.
1t was decided by the authorities to have an
autopsy made, and DR.. j. III. Linsley of Bur-
lngton was called by telephone to assist in it.
Miss u>hnan was but 10 years old, the
bright and attractive daughter of DR.. *. j.
employe of the Lincoln Lumber company,
had been paylng attention to the young lady
for about u year, aud as he suddenly disap-
peared Saturday afternoon. suspicion points
TO him as the one crminally responsible for
her death.
The officers placed a young man named
Brttell under arrest as the principal witness
against Davis. He was the mans particular
chum and it is claimed that he notified Davis
Saturday afternoon that the girl had gone
into the woods. Rrittel was taken to Bris-
toi and put in Jail. A II told the state will
| have some 80 witnesses when Davis comes to
t!ial.
1t is reported that Brittell made confess
sion that he was present at the time of the
tragedy, that Davis gave the girl cedar oil to
produces Nh abort and that she died in
three minutes after taking the dose.
Davis has not been found yet. 1t is
reported that he came from the vicinity where
the body was found aud drew $25 from the
Lincoln Lumber compauy-his employer
and then returned to the woods, after which
he came out a second time and started for
Bristol. He stopped at A. w. Danforth's
place, two miles east of Lincoln village, and
| tried to get Mr.. Danforth to hitch up and
drive him to Bristol, but Mr.. Danforth
declined to do it, and soon after Davis met
] William Morgan, who took him in. Davis
came to Lincoln from Montgomery, where
his parents live, two or three years ago, and
was not considered a bad character, although
| he got drunk occasionally.
The grass was found trampled in place
about two rods from where the body was
found as if there had been some sort of
struggle there. The hiding of the body was
very secure, and the searching party went
within four feet Of it without seeing it. A
whole cigar was found beside the body.
| LATER NEWS OF DAVIS.
Davis spent Sunday night at the home of
! his uncle, George w. Butterfield, in Man
chester, N. H., who lives about two miles
from the Manchester city hall, or mile from
West Manchester on the old Mast road At
| first it was understood at Butterfed's that
Smith was merely down for summer visit.
1t was remarked that he had shaved off his
moustache and that his appetite was very
poor. He ate hardly any supper at all and
appeared to be under great mental strain.
He was worried and very much distrait.
He did not take his uncle into his conf
dence, however, until very early Monday
| morning, when he made clean breast OF
everything. He said that he had been init
mate with the young girl, and that one day
not long ago they both became aware that she
was likely to become mother.
Davis said he thought very much of Dora
and was willing to make her his wife. When
she told him of her condition he expressed a
desire to place wedding ring upon hel
finger. Davis says the girl demurred. She
did not wish to marry. She told him that he
was worrying great deal too much abou
what was, after all, very simple matter, ant
talked in very brutal manner about the
. affair. This is Davis's story.
Finally, she told him to procure a certain
, remedy for her, and promised that this woult
be the last he would hear about the matter
Davis acquiesced and got the remedy shs
, wanted. The next he heard from Dora wa
on the day of her death. On Saturday he re
ceived u note from Miss Cushman at th
) hotel, stating that she had the remedy witt
, her and that she was going to a certain berr.
pasture. She wanted him to accompany her
7 and the two set off together.
AT the berry pasture, Davis walked few
= feet away from Dora, about 20 feet, he thought
! She attempted to secure an abortion, and die
1 instantly. There was no groan, no sound
+ she died at once.
Davis told his uncle that he was paralyzc
4 by the turn the affair had taken, and that hi
!, first thought was that of flight. He did nc
touch the body, but at once set about arrang
ing for hasty departure. He shaved off hi
moustache and left Immediately for Mar
chester.
When the young man concluded his recita
! which had been delivered between sobs, Nj
y Butterfeld placed his hand upon the shoulde
4 of his nephew and advised him to return
once to Bristol and face the situation bravel,
II He told him that he could not see that he wa
# directly guilty of the girls death and that b
q had acted very foolishly in running away.
y The fugitive admitted this folly and sal
- that he now saw that the better course woul
y have been to have summoned the authoriti,
10 and to have been governed by their jud,
ment. When Mr.. Butterfield got Dav
around to this way of looking at his predic
= ment he urged him to reconsider his has
step, return to Bristol and give himself up.
Davis said he would do so, and left there
IT an early hour Monday going via Nashua al
q Fitchburg.
N If small bottle of Shaker Digestive CO
1e dial does you no good, don't buy large on
Il prove all things; hold fast that which
III good It's not good for every body, only {
n the thin, pale, sick, weak and weary.
o. those who cannot get fat or strong, becau