Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-13
MANY WERE MOVED.
Great Numbers Present at Flu
neral of Brookfeld Victims.
Officers on the Trail of Miller So Far
Without Apparent success-su Suspicious
Characters Held at WhitinsvilIe
and Providence.


held Wednesday at o'clock p. M
from their late residence in the Rice's
| Corner district. Friends and relatives
began to arrive as early as II o'clock,
| and at 1 o'clock the spacious farmyard
| was crowded with hacks, omnibuses and
vehicles of every description. Those ar
irving after that hour were obliged to
| place their teams in the adjacent fields.
AT 2 o'clock every room in the lower
part of the house was thronged with
people from the surrounding towns;
| even the stairs leading to the upper
rooms being occupied.
| In the front room leading to the right
of the hallway were placed the three
caskets containing the remains of the
unfortunate victims. The white casket
of little Elsie, occupying the north side,
was covered with white brocaded satin,
with silver handles, and a silver plate
with the Inscription: Elsie A. Newton.
Died Jan. Z, aged IL years" On the
easket rested two beautiful bouquets of
Gala lilies and pinks tied with white rib
bon, and a wreath. On the east side of
the room was placed the casket of Mrs.
| Newton. covered with black broad
| CLOTH with silver handles and silver
Newton. Died Jan. T. aged Al years"
On stand close by rested a floral pill
low of pinks and carnations, with the
floral inscription, Our sister," On the
west side of the room was placed the
casket of Mr.. Newton. 1t was also of
black broadcloth, with silver handles
and plate inscribed, FRANCIS D. New
ton. Died Jan. T. aged 40 years." A
floral pillow rested upon the casket.
At 2 o'clock Rev. E. B. Blanchard,
pastor of the Congregational Church of
Brookfield of which the deceased were
attendants, began the religious services,
taking up a position in the hall to ena-
bic all in the crowded rooms to par
ticipate. After reading appropriate Sc
lections from scripture and prayer, he
delivered a touching address,, which
moved many in the audience to tears,
and added words of hope and consola-
ton to the bereaved relatives.
The proceedings at this time were sol
emn in the extreme. A drearier day
could not well be imagined. Outside
the constant drip of the rain as it fell
monotonously from the caves appeared
to make a weird and solemn aecompanl-
ment to the impressive words of the
minister; and it seemed as though ma
ture herself was rendering tribute to
the occasion and weeping for the weak
ness of humanity and the great sorrow
which came upon the family.
At the conclusion of the religious SER
vices about 800 people filed through the
room and viewed the baskets, which
were not opened, owing to the condl-
ton of the remains, and at 3 o'clock
they were borne reVerently to the three
hearses drawn up to receive them. The
North Brookfield hearse was in charge
Of Jonathan Bush; the East Broo&held,
of Warren r. Upham, and the Brook
field, of Walter B. Mellen.
Undertaken Livermore had charge of
the funeral arrangements. the pail
bearers were William Eaton, e. F..
Pike, Charles Mitchell, Charles Gay,
Arthur H Rice, Charles A. Rice.
At 3.15 o'clock the mournful cortege,
headed by the three hearses, was under
way, followed by long line of mourn
ers in carriages, to the Brookfield GEM
etery, where, after prayer by the Rev.
e. B. Blanchard, the remains We're
placed in the receiving tomb, where
they win remain until spring, when
they will be inferred in the family lot
at New Braintree.
The mourners were: Mrs. Jennie Ben
son of South birmingham, mother Of
the murdered girl; Mr.. and Mrs. j. L..
Walker. Mr. and Mrs. H. o. Walker,
Mr.. and Mrs C. E. Rice, Mr. and Mrs.
Sumner Holmes, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
s. Walker, Mrs. Hannah Walker, Harry
H Walker W. E. Giffin, j. B. Vince
lock, Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Vince
lock, Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Eaton of
North Brookfield; Mr.. and Mrs. Lawson
Prouty, Miss Emma Prouty, Mr.. and
Mrs. Stephen Kemp, Miss Alice and
Jennie Kemp of Spencer; Mr.. and Mrs.
Albert Prouty of West Rutland Francis
Tucker of West Brookfield; Mr.. and
Mrs. John M. Howe of Warren; r. Up
ham and Wilson T. Howe of East
Brookf1eld.
M Eaton is taking care of the stock
on the Newton farm for the present.
Deputy Sheriff w. E. Tarbell will take
charge of the property until an admin
court; and has appointed Officer Fran
quer of Brookfield to look after the
place. Deputy Sheriff Tarbell told Spy
reporter today, that, while he has not
yet received any communications from
the New York police, he is confident
that the arrest of Miller is only ques-
ton of few days or perhaps hours,
as the whole detective force of New
York city are on the alert, and there is
no doubt he is headed for that city.
Probably the last man who saw Mr..
Newton alive is John A. UInam Of
Brimfield, to whom he paid 81, in his
yard on that fatal Friday evening on
his return from Brookfield about 5
O'clock p m. 1t is known that Miller
was in the barn close by at the time,
may have seen the passing of the
money, and may have thought that Mr..
Newton had drawn a large sum from
the bank and that it still remained in
his possession, as he made no pur-
chase.
However this may be, some of his
neighbors think that the crime may
have occurred through motives of re-
venge for some fancied injury; as it is
known that Mr. Newton reprimanded
him a short time ago in the barn for ne
glect of the cattle, and told him then
if he did not attend to his duties bet
ter, he would employ some one else.
1t is also stated that the murdered
girl Elsie was always afraid Of him, and
that this was the reason she occupied
the chamber with her mother down
stairs George H. Allen, well-known
farmer, says he knew Miller well, con-
firms the reports of his repulsive looks
and sullen, gloomy disposition, and
says he woul6S sit for hours with bowed
head and downcast eyes, making no at
tempt to speak to any one; and if
spoken to, only answering il monosyl-
tables.
Among those present at the funeral
was Mrs Jennie Benson, mother of Ell
sic, who was adopted by the Newtons
1t is said she will become heir to the
Newton property. Just on this point,
however there is legal question in
volved If Elsie survived her adopted
parents, she would be their heir-at-law;
and now that she is dead, the legal re-
lations of her own mother to her prop
erty rights is a matter of speculation.
MILLER NOT AT NEW RAVEN.
New Haven, Jan. Estate Detect
ives w. H. Proctor of Boston and P. F..
Murray Of Worcester are in this city,