The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-01-15
A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.
Murder in Massachusetts,
in Missouri.

Baltimore American, of January, 8, says
The story of daring and atroclous CRIME
reached here yesterday by letter from nan
nibal Mo-, addressed 10 Mr.. W. }. wilson,
an uncle Of the victim. The story reads as
follows:
..On the evening of December 9 negro
called at the house of Mr. Chris Bapst, say
ING that he was very cold, and asked IT he
might come in to warm himself. Mr.. Bapst
cave consent and he was admitted to the
house. and made as comfortable as possible.
After some time had elapsed Mr.. Bapst asked
the negro if he was not warm enough, and 1t
so to please 90 out, as he Mr.. Bapstl had to
feed his stock, and his wife, being delicate,
did not wish to be left with strangers.
MIR Bapst then went to the barn to feed,
and was followed by the negro, asking hmm
for money Mr.. Bapst replied that he did
not have anything to give away, having need
for all he had in his possession. MI. Bapst
then left the negro; got some corn to teed ms
hogs. which were in pen up the road, d, a ut ut
tie way from the barn. The negro still toll
lowed. and finally called to Mr.. Bapst, Halt
and throw up your hands. or will shoot you.
Mr. Bapst was surprised, but did as dl-
rected. The negro marched him back to the
house Mrs. Bapst, seeing the negro with
his revolver pointed at her husbands head,
ran to the door. when she too was menaced
with a pistol. Mr.. Bapst and his wife were
together marched up to the barn. when the
negro secured some binding Irvine, and, com
peing them to return again to the house with
| him, he made Mr.. Bapst lay down.
He then directed Mrs. Bapst to tie her
| husbands hands and feet. After this was
done, he made an insolent proposition to Mrs.
Bapst. He then turned to her husband, say
| ing: What have you to say about 1t: any
! way Mr. Bapst replied, i will be satisfied
/ if YOU will only spare our lives.
..He then turned 10 the wife and com
manded her to get supper, but after the meal
was prepared he would not permit either OF
| the parents or their small children to partake
of any. and only drank some coffee himself.
/ After this he commanded Mrs. Bapst to help
/ him carry her husband into an adjoining room.
! and lay him on bed.
He then ordered Mrs. Bapst TO comply
! wi Ii his wishes. She pleaded for mercy, but
| the negro threatened to kill the entire family
! If she refused.
/ she was then assaulted in the presence of
/ the husband, who, being bound. was Enabled
| 10 render any assistance.
''When day came the negro arose and lett
| the house.
Mrs. Bapst more dead than alive, ran
across the fields to her brother house, where
| she swOoned. Finally she revived sufficiently
/ 10 give the alarm. The brother secured a
Gun and started to assist those of the other
| family. but the negro, seeing him coming, hid
! behind large elm tree, and as the brother
came up rushed upon him with !; revolver and
ordered him to throw up his hands, which he
! did. He was marched back to his own nome,
/ the negro saying. What must | do to You?
What ought | do to You? As they drew
near to the house his wife and the woman who
/ had been assaulted. upon seeing the negro
coming. ran for their lives.
The negro's attention having been called,
he turned to them, and fired three shots, none
( of them taking effect. By this time the
brother had made COED his escape. He ran
/ into the house, secured his gun and fired one
/ load at the negro, some Of the shot taking
effect. striking him in the face. and tearing
one ear nearly off. The negro returned the
! shot. but. missing his mark, tore large hole
/ in the wall The brother then fired again,
this one taken effect, tearing hole in the
negro 5 body, large enough to get ones fist
/ in. aud killing him instantly.
by this time Mr.. Bapst had freed himself
from his bindings. He arose, bOlted the
doors. and. securing gun, started IN pursuit:
| but met his brother, saying, i have got him.
! They returned where the women were, and
| Mr.. Bapst found his wife in very critical
condition, owing to the torture she had mn
dergone at the hands Of the black fend.
Mrs. Lizzie Bapst. the woman who was
assaulted, is the daughter of Mrs. Lizzie
| Woods. form erlv Of this city, who is the
daughter of Mrs Mary H. Wilson, Of Lapi-
dunn this county The assaulted woman is
also the niece of Mr.. w. }. Wilson and Mrs.
K. Johnson, both of this place.
| WORCESTER, Mass. January l0.-Francis
/ ID. Newton, IA prosperous farmer of Brook
field his wife. Sarah, and their ten -year-Old
adopted daughter, Ethel, were found muir
dered in their beds today. The crime was
discovered by neighbors, whose curiosity was
aroused by the lowing of the unfed cattle.
The three had been killed with an axe. \
hired man. who has been employed by New
ton. is missing, and the authorities are max
ING a search for him. He was known only
bv the name of Paul He was last seen Fri,
day night. Just before midnight, by neigh
Dor who was returning from grange meeting.
He was then more than mile from the New
ton house, and was going in the direction of
Br00kiield. From this it is believed that the
murder was committed between ten and
eleven o clock Friday night.
Newton was A. years Of age, and his wife
was three years younger. When the Few
tons house was entered by the neighbors, il
was evident that the premises had been thor,
eughy ransacked. The furnishings were in
disorder. and drawers had been opened, and
their contents thrown about. In a small bed
room at the rear OF the house and on blood
stained bed lay the bodies of Mrs. Newton
and the little girl They were dressed, bat
their clothing was torn and blood stained. In
the abdomen of the child were eal cuts,
and near the bed was blood-stained axe,
which evidently was the weapon used. The
men hurried on through the rest OF the house.
Upstairs in the chamber usually occupied by
Mr.. Newton, which connected with the one
occupied by the hired man, Paul, lay the
body of the farmer on the bed. All about
were evidences that he had been dealt with
as had the other members of his family. He
also was dressed. The coverings of the bed
had been drawn about his head so as to con-
ccal any wounds which might be thereon.
The bed in Paul's room had been occupied,
but there was no other trace of the hired man.
As soon as possible the authorities at
| Brookfeld were notified of the murder. Con-
stables Farquhar and Fenton were soon at
the house, but they refused to touch the bod
les until the coroner had viewed them as they
lay.
The motive for the crime is not known.
Robbery has been referred to as a probable
cause. but that it is thought does not account
for the slaughter of the whole family. More,
over, Mr.. Newton's gold watch was found in
his vest, which hung over a chair back in his
chamber.
An attempt had been made to conceal the
murder of the Newton family by setting FIRE
to the house. Kerosene had been spilled on
the floor of the woodst ed, and a lamp so
placed as to set fire to the wood. One stick
was burned through, but for some unacceunt-
able reason a blaze was averted. Strength
| has been added to the theory that robbery
was the motive of the murders by the discov
cry Of Mr.. Newton's empty purse.
Woods Bros. Planning Mill Co., of Wheel
ing, West Virginia, have assigned. Louis