Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-12-01
MUTILATED BODY ON RAILROAD TRACK
Whether James Reagan Was Murdered Met Accidental Death
Probably Never Will Be Known
His Four Companions Sent to House Of Correction for Furnishing
Liquor Testimony at Inquest

The grewsome find Of a human body
horribly mutilated, at point a few rods
south of the rocky cut on the Boston &
Maine railroad n half mile north of the
West river bride, north of Brattleboro
village brought to light Monday morning
what some believe was a case of homicide,
but what may have been a case of ac-
cidental death. The victim was John
Reagan of Brattleboro, who was one of a
gang of five men who were seen near the
fatal spot Sunday night at $50 o'clock,
and whether he was killed by accidental
or foul means 1t is reasonably well es-
tablished that his death was the result of
drunkenness. The finding Of the body, the
inquest which followed and the assertion
of Health officer Henry Tucker and I'm
dertaker NJ. j. Moran that they believe
Reagan was dead and was mangled by a
train some hours after death aroused
mush interest in the case. John Donovan,
James Shea, Cornelius Donovan and Pat
rick Mcguire are In the house of cor
rection in Rutland as result of testi-
mony in the case, although not for any
alleged act OF violence.
The body of Regan was found on the
track soon after 6 o'clock by L. NJ. AL
len, who lives on the Moses Chickering
farm in Chesterfield and who was on his
way to work at the Brattleboro Cabinet
company's factory, The circumstances
are given in the report of Mr.. Aliens tes-
timony at the inquest. Mr.. Allen notified
Night Clerk Bartholomew Riley at the
freight depot and MIR. Riley informed Sta
ton Agent Burke by telephone Mr..
Burke called Selectman James +. Hooker
and got authority from him to have the
crew of freight train No. Il. soon to start
north move the body enough to allow the
train to pass.
After the 9O7 train arrived Health Of
ficer Tucker, Undertaken Moran and as
sistants were taken on n handcar to the
in a frightful condition. as will be seen
by DIR. fuckers testimony at the inquest.
DR.. Tucker and Mr.. Moran made a care
full examination Of the surroundings and
found that there was practically no bleed
ing, which indicated that the hearts ac-
ton had stopped some time before mutt
lation took place. A hat and cap were
found nearby and there were marks in
the sand that looked as though a body
had been dragged toward the track. The
body was taken to Moran & Co.'S under
taking rooms and the selectmen immedi-
ately placed the case in Sheriff Frank w.
McClures hands for investigation.
Sheriff Mcclure found several who iden-
titled the body as that of John Reagan.
He found that Reagan came to Brattle-
boro about three years ago and worked
at different times in the corn canning fac
tory and on the Central Vermont rail-
road. Two years ago he was sent to
Newfane jail from Brattleboro for in
toXication. On Nov. he was sent from
Bellows Falls to Newfane Jail for 20
days for a similar offense. On his re-
lease he came to Brattleboro and worked
| two days on section under Martin
| Dunn and worked Friday and Saturday
under Section Foreman Fitzgerald He
was somewhat more than 30 years old,
would weigh about 40 pounds. was five
| feet and seven inches tall had a smooth
| face and wore dark clothes.
In Reagan's pockets were found pro-
| gram of the Gay Matinee Girl" which
was given in the Auditorium Saturday.
and a bottle of discus which DIR. Tucker
| gave him Sunday morning. Reagan called
| on DIR. Tucker Sunday morning and was
! in pain with rheumatism and had bad
| cold. He made a good appearance and
| the doctor gave him the medicine and
granted his request for a prescription for
a pint of whiskey, which was filled at F.
| II. Holden's & Co.'S drug store. Early in
| the afternoon Reagan and other members
| of the gang were seen on Main street.
| They were sober then. Later. according
| to testimony they got four quarts of
! liquor at John ConnelIs in Chesterfield,
which they said they got drunk on.
| Sheriff Mcclure learned the names OF
| two men whom Reagan had associated
with, located them and had them sum-
moned to testify at an inquest. They
were John Donovan and James Shea, who
had worked with Reagan on the section
| 1t was so late when the prosecuting at
torneys were ready to have them testify
that the inquest was continued to Tues
day morning. Meanwhile, as a result OF
descriptions given by Donovan and Shea
to the officers. 1t was learned that Pat
rick Mcclure, who has at times driven
coupe and Cornelius Donovan, a men,
Der of a telephone gang. were with Rea-
gan, John Donovan and Shea Sunday
night. and they were summoned as wit
nesses Tuesday morning
At the conclusion of their testimony
Sheriff Mcclure arrested the four men on
complaints entered by Attorney General
c. c. Fits charging them with furnish
ing liquor contrary to law, which all ad-
mitted doing in their testimony. All