The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-05-12
STRA NGE CASES

Rutland MAY 1t was learned
today on good authority that some
startling information has been given
TO the sherif1's department of Rutland
county as the result of which an in
vestigation is in progress, which will
probably lead to a solution OF three
my sterious deaths which have &C.
Cured il the outskirts of Rutland
during the past year and half.
1t is well known that the local Off =
GERS have always doubted that those
three men met their deaths in the
manner which was most Apparently
being struck by trains of cars on the
Rutland Rsilroad-bur until recently
they have been unable to find any sat
istactory solution. 1t is now be-
lieved that the men were killed with
clubs or some other blunt instrument
at a disorderly house which is situa-
ted near the place where the bodies
were found. for the purpose of robbery,
and that their bodies were then placed
beside the tracks to divert suspicion.
All three of these men were little
known in this vicinity, they being
worthless characters, so less interest
was taken in their deaths than had
they been of a different stamp.
The last death was June IS, 1908,
and the victim was Joseph Murray of
Rutland, the body being found close
to the tracks of the Rutland road and
the head having the appearance of
having been struck with heavy club.
Beside the body was a note purporting
to have been written by the victim
just before his death on which were
the words Ezekiel Eddy hit me with
club. Mr.. Eddy is we'll known
business man of Rutland, and is chair
man of the board of selectmen of the
town of Rutland. No attention was
paid to the note as it was very evil
IDENTIFY written by the real murderers
TO divert suspicion from themselves.
No pencil was found beside the note
as would have been the case had it
been written by Murray. Mr.. Eddy
has for some time done all that he
could to break up the disorderly house
upon which suspicion now tails, and it
is believed that the writer of the note
was actuated also by a spirit of re-
venge.
1t has been learned also that several
local men have been obliged TO give
up good sized sums of money in this
house but for obvious reasons none of
them can be induced to testify against
the house or it's inmates. The local
officers will give out no information
on the subject but it is understood
that arrests may be expected within a
few days.
Mr.. Eddy, when seen this morning
stated that Murray, the last of the
victims, WIS employed by him at the
ice houses of the firm of Eddy
Brothers, of which he is member,
and that Murray worked there all day
June II, the day before he was killed.
Mr.. Eddy knew nothing against Muir
ray and rever knew that Murray had
been in the habit of visiting the house
of i'll fame in question, but supposes
now that he must have done so. Mr.
Eddy states that he had tried per-
sistently for many years past in his
capacity as selectman of the town to
have the house closed but has never
been able to do So and the place is
running at the present time. About
six months before the murder of Muir
ray Mr.. Eddy succeeded in having the
keeper of the house and several of the
inmates indicted by the grand jury,
but when the time came for the trial
Of the cases they were mol pressed by
the States attorney because of in
sutficiency OF evidence. Mr.. Eddy
admits that he has known the keeper
of this house was sore" on him be.
cause of his efforts to have the place
closed, but he would give no opinion
regaI ding the identity OF the murder