The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-05-04
FEAR HE
IS DEAD.
Murder Theory Latest in the
Braley Case.
KIDNAPPING DISCREDlIED.
Drowning and Wild Beast Theories
improbable Boy Thought to Be
Killed and Body
Hidden.

Danbury, n. H., May 4-six days
ago Edwin Braley, 2 years and months
old, was seen by his mother playing in
the yard adjoining his fathers house,
in Grafton, between and 8 o'clock IN
the morning. A few minutes later bis
mother saws she looked again for the
child and he had disappeared.
Up to / o'clock yesterday afternoon
absolutely no trace, hint or suggestion
of his whereabouts had been found, de
spite the fact that the residents OF both
Danbmy and Grafton had been assidu-
ously at work on the case, and the Graf
ton selectmen have offered a reward
of $500 for the discovery Of the boy
dead or alive.
Yesterday ugly rmors were aiioat,
rumors that the boy was struck in the
heat Of passion so severely BY certain
person that death ensued, and then in
order to hide all evidence the body was
hidden away.
That may be logical deduction from
the meagre facts secured at present
and it may not At any rate, Of three
suggestions, it seems, under the circum-
stances, the most reasonable The kid
mapping theory has been practically
thrust aside as being untenable
The wild animal suggestion will hard
" hold water, in view of the fact that
nothing more ferocious than a fright.
ened deer has been seen in this vicinity
for many months That the boy wan,
dered away by himself and met death is
considered improbable, because he was
too young to stray very far under any
circumstances, and every loot Of ground,
every tree, shrub, well or any possible
hidingplaee, within radius of one mile
Of the residence has been carefully gone
over.
So the ugly rumors have spread
throughout the towns OF Danburg and
Grafton, and the finger oil suspicion Is
being pointed at the only persons who
lit is thought can satisfactorily solve
the mystery. There have been hints for
a day or two that murder might solve
the strange case but not until Yesterday
have many Of the residents Of the two
towns openly avowed their belief in
such an explanation.
Now, ON all sides, is heard the opinion
that the little boy was killed. and IT IA
argued that in no other wav can the
disappearance be satisfactorily account.
ed for
The Braley farm is located in Graf.
ton, just over the line from Danbnrv
in a section of the town locally desia.
mated as Wild Meadows. Ii is an nm
freuqented part of the country. but
there are two other small farms within
mile Of the place. The nearest body
Of water Is over mile away. The tan.
gled underbrush about the farm IS too
thick to allow the passage Of SO small
a boy as Edwin Braley and it seems i'm.
possible that so small child could
travel SO great distance as TO reach
the pond.
Despite these facts thorough and
consistent search has been made for
any hint which might help: the result
more strongly eonvinces the townspeople
that not by accidental means did the
little fellow disappear. So the matter
SINNERS down to the disposal of the
boys body by some person responsible
for his death.
Kidnapping has been hardly consid.
cred, principally for lack Of d motive.
There could be no hope Of ransom
under any circumstances, because not
only Mr. and Mrs. Braley, but their
relatives as well would be totally mn
able TO raise a sum sufficient to make
it worth while to run the risk of being
discovered in the commission of so ser.
ious crime.
If not kidnapped, there il no other
conclusion than that the 2 year old
child is dead, and every accidental cause
being eliminated only murder remains
as the solution.
Deputy Sheriff Murray has been in
vestigating the case for Grafton coun.
ty, but is now in Plymouth on business
and is not expected to return for two
Or three days. 1t is stated, however.
that he is convinced of the need for
further investigation.