Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-11-14

4CIl1d1114C4 Vi SAAOA1 -
auietude, and where she oon after
died.
On this glorious Sabbath morning
when all nature seemed vested with a
goodness that would render such a
crime impossible, Mr.. Beckford was
found in his bed lifeless, a crushed
skull Indicating that his death was
by violence.
The news Of the crime spread ike
wildfre. and the most intense excite :
ment prevailed for miles around.
Men were employed, others volun-
teered, to scour the country in every
direction, and a detective Of wide re
nown was summoned by telegraph.
At the inquest the following day
Mr.. Beckford's servant girl testified:
Saturday evening I went to care
for my sister, who is very III, and,
having permission to remain with her
as long as [ thought necessary, I did
not return till nearly twelve yester-
day. I was greatly surprised at find
ing all the doors locked, and more as
tonished on entering the house, as my
night-k Key enabled me to do, at seeing
nothing of Mr.. Beckford. Though as
we'll as usual the preceding evening,
I did not know but he might have
been taken suddenly i'll, SO went to
his sleeping-room, to discover his
lifeless body. Immediately gave the
alarm.''
The sleeping-room, whose contents
had not been disturbed save so far as
preparing the body for burial, was
carefully examined by the detective,
as were the premises generally; he
also asked innumerable questions,
answered by various persons among
those crowding the house. Then
"No stranger has been seen in the
place." he observed, ''to whom any
suspicion a attach, and yet a man
whom all in this vicinity esteemed
and loved has been brutally murder
ed. Hatred or a desire for plumber
are usually the only two incentives to
such a crime, but no one is known to
have been at enmity with this man,
and that the deed was not instigated
by a desire for spoils is evident from
the fact that his valuable watch and
chain, diamond ring and pin and the
contents of his pocketbook were un-
touched.
"The window Of this room was open
probably left SO by the miscreant to
the supposition that he made
his exit from the room through it.
But there are no tracks beneath it as
there would be had he SO escaped. as
there was a heavy shower Saturday
evening, leaving the earth easily i'm
pressed by the feet of one who jump
ed upon it from a height that this
window has above the earth-not
grass-beneath it. Every outer door
was locked, but to pick any door
lock is a comparatively easy matter.
"With what kind of an instrument
the deadly blows were dealt, the
marks upon the victims head plainly
Indicate. It was a small hammer with
a large face, and the first blow was
fatal, else the dead mans counte-
nance would not wear the placid ex-
preston visible upon it. For the as
sassin to creep near him while asleep,
without waking him, was rendered
especially easy by reason of his par
tial deafness.n
After a pause, he suddenly inquired:
"Who will inherit his property"
For o moment there was a terrible
silence, as if the answer to this cues
ton would solve the mystery; then
some one said:
IT do not think there is any legal
heir to his property"
"Nor l." remarked second person,
''as l have frequently heard him say
that neither he nor his wife had any
relative"
"I once heard him mention a son
who, long ago, ran away from home
and might be living, though probably
was not, as all endeavors to find him
had failed" observed the Reverend
Searles.
The clergyman's tone riveted all
eyes upon him, SO full of an indescrib-
able agony was it. And everyone
felt the deepest sympathy for him,
that he and Mr.. Beckford had
the warmest Of friends, and that
the untimely death had nearly crazed
the minister.
"Can you tell me anything concern
ing this son?" the detective asked of
Mr.. Searles.
II cannot,D was the reply. stMr.
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