Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-02-15
WAS NATIVE OF BETHEL.
Charles A. Marsh Killed by a Fellow
Patient in Westboro Asylum.


The daily press OF last week contained
accounts of the death under peculiar cir
! ,umstanees OF Charles AlmerOn Marsh, 3
native OF Bethel, son Of Almeron Marsh
and grandson of Jonathan Marsh. The
deceased was cousin Of the late William X.
Adams and was more dstantly connected
with the other branches OF the Marsh
family now living in Bethel. The main
facts in the case are as follows:-
An inquest into the death OF Charles A.
I Marsh of Needhsm at the Westboro In
sane hospital on Jan. IL was held 10 the
district court at WestbOrO, Mass, before
] Judge Fowler, Feb. 5.
/ The inquest developed that which has
not been known to the public in general,
Y that he was murdered Tuis fact was
known to Mrs. Clara j. Marsh, his wife,
I tnf she asked for an investigation and Will
/ in all liability commence suit to recov-
er damages for her husbands death. Mr.
Marsh was a veteran Of the Civil war and
in receipt OF pension OF 80 a month.
This Is now of course lost to his widow,
the largest amount that soldiers widow
can receive under our pension laws being
- a month.
The inquest developed the fact that a
man may be brutally murdered in an IN
sane hospital and the facts kept from the
public. Probably had airs. Marsh not de-
handed an investigation, the facts OF her
husbands death would never have been
brought TO light. Neither the police nor
the selectmen OF NestbOro were notified OF
Mr.. Marsh's death, and the police authori-
ties do not hesitate to express their belief
that the asylum authorizes were trying to
hide the matter from the public.
"Shock, caused by external violence, ~
was the way the death certificate turned
over to Undertaken Alger r.. Eaton OF
Needham read, and Mr.. Eaton was unabl
to elicit any further information as to Mr.
Marsh's death when he went to Westboro
for the body.
The facts of Mr.. Marsh's death as devel-
oped at the inquest are that he was brutal
~ beaten to death on the night OF Jan. II
by Robert NARROW OF South birmingham
a fellow patient; that NARROW left his bed
in ward 4, went 10 Marsh's bed in ward 5,
jumped on the bed and struck and beat
Marsh so badly with his fists that the
Needham man died within an hour. All
this happened while Thomas +. Scott, an
attendant, was In the ward.
Attendant Scott discovered NARROW in
the act, and, with the assistance OF At
tendant Stanley, captured NARROW and
placed him in a padded cell. Mr.. Clapp
was then called, and on examining Marsh
found his face a mass Of bruises and cuts.
Marsh died within hour.
NARROW, when questioned, showed a
black and blue spot on his right leg, said
that Marsh had caused II and that he was
getting even with him.
NARROW was admitted to the hospital
Oct. 10, 1903, from South birmingham.
IL is the duty OF At endaut Scott to
spend ten minutes in ward 4 and then ten
minutes in ward 5 throughout the night
from 8 O'Clock in the afternoon TO 8
o'clock in the morning. He had been in
ward but a few minutes when the assault
occurred.
Mr.. Marsh was a native OF Bethel. VT,
and was aged 81 years, months and
days when he met hIs tragic end He
lived in Needham for many years and was
the husband OF Mrs. Clara j. Marsh, in
struetor in music in tine Needham public
schools. He was formerly prominent ar
ehitect in New \ ork city, but a stroke OF
paralysis incapacitated him for work sew
eral years ago. He had been confined at
Westboro for about two years. Mr.
Marsh had highly honorable record in
The Civil war and was member OF Galen
Orr Post.