Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-08-30

Roy L. Higgins was born in Hinsdale
| but his parents, Mr. and Mrs Fred Hig-
! gins moved West when he was six or
/ seven years old. Three years later Mrs
! higgins and her two children returned
! ior visit which was the last time he
| was IN Ilinsdae His parents separated
! "hen ne was a lad and his mother, who
was Miss Cora Noyes, took the children
| Il son ana daughter with her Mrs
| higgins was a niece of Mrs. Aaron sum
| her with whom she made her home in
| the part OF Hinsdale known as Chestnut
! illl. Roy Higgins was born on Chestnut
! mn ana lived there while in town He
| Is a grandson Of the late Harris Higgins
Ioi many years a prominent business
man IN Iinsdale. His grandmother ,stiIl
HNeS there, also his uncle, o. S. Higgins
ana family, and aunt Mrs. r. L. Met
| can ana FAMILY, all of whom feel keenly
IN regard to the affair. Mrs Cora Hig-
gins the mother, was in Hinsdale several
months last year The father has mar
RED again and has a large family.
Ii'sslhs was recovering from a de-
pauch at the time he killed the Comics
ana evidently did not know just what he
dld as he could only remember firing
three shots. but as a matter Of fact t rs
shot Couple twice in the abdomen and
once IN the head and then shot Nrs
Copple. firing six times in all. He then
pounded the heads of both victims TO n
pup WIN club. He threatened to kill
OHe Oldest child of the family, Blanche.
a sirl of ID, when she attempted TO fol.
low her mother outdoor after her f,+Lar
had been shot. He was employed nv tho
copies as a farm hand and was known
a-' frtd Burke, but the particular oh
Ject In hiding his identity is NOT an
parent He had been arrested a number
b.,, '' mes, usually for drunkenness. but
hau never been charged with q serious
crime until he killed the Copies.
higgins went into the house, threat
ehed the children and told them there
were burglars outside and that their
parents were watching them. Early in
."c morning he went to the barn, saddled
mule and drove away When the chill
dren went outdoor at In the mornino
tHe hoss We're eating away at the pros
trate bodies The children drove the
hogS away and a little later a neiebbor
@ppe"ted' Couple was a prosperous
farmer and II was at first thought the
motive OF the murder was robbery nc
Couple had received a draft for Sq0O fnr
the sale OF cattle and the draft could
not be found. Higgins was reported 10
nave ulsplayed large roll of bills at a
mouse where he stopped before he wa,
arrested but when taken into custody he
mo- less than SO. Two OF the Couple
chlIdren were twins only six months old.
higgins walked a long distance bare
rooted across country before he reached
Hooper, where he was arrested in a sa-
ioon' During his walk he nearly o,,t
OH the big toe of his left foot and ba W.
so helpless when ne reached Hooner that
ne had TO be assisted across n bridge
INTO the village. The murderer IS das-
oilp'd as boyish looking fellow. rather
unuersize. He was a cigarette fiend In
an ms TAX after his arrest he said no
nad absolutely no motive in killing the
copies. When first arrested he was
cool and collected, said his name was
higgins and claimed that he worked ON
farm north of Hooper. After he was
identified he talked freely about his
crime lie said he never had n cross
word with either of the Couples that
they were good to him and he liked
them. lie said he fully realized the
enormity Of his crime, that he ought to
De burned at the stake His only re-
quest was that he might live long enough
10 see his mother, who lives with
married sister in Denver. and that then
ne would be ready to take his medicine.
me coroner's jury which investigated
the case reported that the Copies came
TO death by shooting and clubbing at
the hands of Fred Burke.