Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-14

/ barber shop of Edward Willis TO tell him
/ OF the dcsolation of his home and others
ran from sheer fright at tho sight and to
spread the horrible ncws of the tragedy.
chief Of Police Smith was sitting i'm his
! Office when the Briggs boy reached the @
reathless from his run and gasped out an
incoherent story of the murder Mayor
Roberts. who was in the office of Cousta-
BILE Sails, and Mr.. Sails accompanied by
the Grief, went Immediately to the house
A crowd had quickly gathered and the
little party of officials had hard work 10
push their way to the narrow stairway
and enter the rooms. There all was con-
fusion. There was no lack of regular po-
lice and special officers. Officer McEli-
Sott and Officer Dunn cleared the rooms
and Kept the gaping crowd fcom the door,
officer Coon examined the grounds and
buildings surrounding the scene of the ira
gedy and other regular officers were sent
by the chief to different points to watch
for the man Farmer. upon whom suspicion
at once fastened itself. Chief Smith made
an examination of the room and premises
and the entire force was soon on the look
out for the suspected man.
Health Officer II. r. Watkins was sum-
moned by telephone and upon his arrival
he with Mayor Roberts and CHIEF Smith
examined the body of Mrs. VILLAS The
wound which caused her death was about
sin inches in length. 1t was located upon
EXTENDED from point about
three inches below the left car
little over half way aroused to the other
ear, stepping a little beyond Tho trachca.
winch was not opened. 1t had been in
ficted with sharp instrument. probably
razor or very keen knife. = little les,
than half its length it had severed the
muscles of the neck and the jugular vein.
at WI ch poiUt the incision WAS doepcst
Mrs. Carsaw states that when she en-
tered the house at about sis and digcov-
ered her sister she seemed to hn grooming
ana the body was hardly cold when tho
city officials reached the spot When found
the body lay upon the bed as described
ana with the face partially hidden i'm the
blood soaked bed coverings II was turn
ed upon the back for examination, dis
playing the strong physique Of the muir
defed woman. The light waist which she
wore was open al the throat. dlspllyinr
hard muscles while her wide open cyrs
were fastened with almost llfelllc bright
ness upon the picture of her husband
outside the bed room We're gathered
some half dozen women of the neigh,
bornood with shawls over th-i, heads.
talking in awed whispers. The ward below
was filled with people, all atxiou, fo,.
details of the murder but not one *
pressing hope for the catching of tho
criminal other than tnat justice might
take its appointed course.
AZ soon as examination of the body of
Mrs. Willis had been made by Health Oftloer
Watkins and a hurried inspection of The
room and premises made by the police
lhdertaker Corhln was summoned to caro-
Tor the remains. Upon his arrival tho
room was cleared except for Mayor Rob
crts' the hoalth officer. DR.. James w
courtney, who assisted him. Officer p 7
Cosgrove, Constable Sails and the Free
Press reporter. The remains were thon
moved and cared for. The hlood-soallod
garments were cut from the fast stiffeninr
limbs the cold face and upper limbs were
Dathcd and the blood removed and the
body dressed in clean white garments for
burial. The wound was measured by the
health officer and found TO be exactly six
inches in length. Or the body was found
10 cents in change hid in hand
kerchief. When ready the body was
taken in the undertakers wagon to
the home of the deceasods sister, Mrs
tarsaw, and the funeral will be held from
that place.
Edward Willis, the husband of the muir
dered woman, was at his shop when he
received the news of the death of his wife
At first he refused to believe the news and
said II won't believe it until . seq g."
one look was enough and he rushed from
the room to the yard below and remained
there for the greater part of the time dur
ing which the examination and prepare ION
for burial was in progress. Al one time
before the arrival of the undertaken
he came to the door of tho room 10
enter but retired under the solicitation Of
those already there. His grief found little
eATI ession sl words. Once or twice he vt
tered threats and curses upon the head
of Farmer and charged him with having
tried to tempt his wife. hanging on the
wall OF the room in which the murdered
woman lay was their marriage certificate
showing that Edward Willis and Miss AL
freta A. Day Of Bristol were married on|
the Sth day of May in 1852 by Rcv. Martin
l.. Pell in this city The two wltuo aecs
of the ceremony We're Mrs. Angelina Day
and Mrs Eva Briggs.
The sister of the murdered woman, Mrs.