The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-08-06
AHARTFORD MURDER
Ex- Commissioner Shot
by Negro Body Servant.
4 BIG MOB SHOUTS, LYNCH HIM.
Wildly Excited Crowd Spectacle
Never Before Seen There-Nill-
ing Was In Revenge For Dis
charge of Assassin.

HARTFORD. Conn, Aug. 6.-Henry
Ind one of the Leading business men Of
this city, was murdered by his former
negro body servant, Joseph Watson.
nst night. The negro was found in
aiding under bed in the basement OF
the Osborne home after a close search
for him had been made in all sections
Of the city. Outside the house at The
time the murderer was found were
gathered fully "A thousand persons, ana
as Watson, heavily manacled, was con
Quoted down the steps to the police
patrol wagon the air resounded with
cries of xiii him. and Lynch him.
from the crowd, which surged in to-
ward the officers as if it desired to
take the prisoner
AS the wagon started toward the po-
ice station the crowd which was rap
idly Increasing ip size, swarmed after
It, a wildly demonstrative mass of hui
manity presenting Il spectacle the like
If which has never been seen here be
fore and has hardly been duplicated
lnder like circumstances in New Eng
land At the police station. which is
located at the junction of three streets,
he scene was even more striking, for
people almost fought among them
selves TO get glimpse of Watson. and
it was only by the greatest effort on
the part of many officers that the
crowd was kept from forcing its way
into the guardro6m itself
Watson Is only eighteen years of age
and is very unprepossessng in appear
ance He did not quail even when
face to face with the crowd which
seemed so anxious TO ayenge the muir
der. When brought into the police
station lac was asked several questions
and without hesitancy answered them.
He said he killed Mr. Osborne. Il had
1t in for him, and | killed him." said
Watson. 81 am not afraid to die, and
[ am satisfied now that | killed him"
He then described in detail the kill
ing, after which he was locked up
and police officer placed as "A guard
over him.
Mr.. Osborne was deliberately killed
by Watson out of revenge for being
discharged as valet. He went to the
Osborne house TO commit the murder
and not to rob, as it was first sup
posed. Mr. Osborne's family were at
their summer cottage ut Crescent
Beach near New London, but Mr. Os-
borne slept at home each night. Wat
son said that he got into the house by
key.
As Watson went upstairs he heard
Mr.. Osborne stirring about and met
him at the bathroom door, firing one
shot. Mr.. Osborne, who was in his
night robe, ran into his bedroom, leav-
ing a trail of blood ON the floor. The
negro followed and twice more shot
Mr. Osborne, both bullets taking eff
feet.
The wounded man must have under
gone terrible mental agony, as powder
marks on his face and body Indicate
that the negro stood right over him as
he fired the second ana third shots. Ii
was Just at this point that the first ink
ling of the tragedy reached the neigh
bors. for with the pistol shots were
heard the words Save me-" The sound
of the shots and the dying words Of
the victim were heard by several per
sons on the street, and some one ran
for an officer
Sergeant Dietrich was on the street
with several officers and on being in
formed of the suspicious noise rushed
to the house and forced an entrance.
Mr.. Osborne was found stretched full
length on the floor of the hall on the
second story, pool of blood being ut
his side. He was faint, but managed
to say to the officer that Joe. the negro,
had shot him and that there was no
cause for it. Dr. Il. c. King a neigh
Dor, had arrived, and he ordered the
removal of the wounded man to the
hospital, but Mr.. Osborne died just
after reaching that institution.
The, family Of Henry Osborne is
among the well known families in this
city. where Mr.. Osborne had been
prominent in social and municipal life.
His death is considered Il great loss
to the city He is survived by widow,
Il son and daughter, the son being
employed in the office of the Durham
Hosiery company of which Mr.. Os-
borne was secretary.
Mr.. Osbornes family have reached
Hartford from Crescent Beach, where
they were summering.