The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-16
Helen May Brown, Aged 7
Years, Dead When Mother
Found Her Body in House
Where She Lived at Ma
pleville With Ernest Pep
sold, Who is Missing--Girl
Was ChOked to Death.

Medical Examiner Wilcox, and was as
sisted by DIR. III. J. Bruce.
The body was covered with bruises
abras;ons and contusions. but bore no evil
dence OF criminal assault.
The physicians opened the child's skull
and found at the anterior of the left side
OF the cerebrum a large blood clot and
from II there had been a hemorrhage ex-
tending back TO the base OF the skull
VIOLENT BLOW ON HEAD.
II was the medical examiners opfns&11
that violent blow on the skull had caus-
ed the clot and consequent hemorrhage
and such a blow, II was stated. might
have been delivered with the hand or fist
The skull did not show that any sharp
instrument had been used.
There was no doubt apparently that the
child had been the victim of foul play.
There were unmistakable evidences, IL
was said that the child was beaten while
alive and there are Impressions. or marks,
as OF thumb and fingers. upon the
throat which with the distorted appear
ance OF the face indicate that the child
was strangled.
Officers who have been searching the
town for any trace OF the missing man
state their belief that he may be in this
city and the police here were searching
high and low for him today in order to
get mis- explanation OF the circumstances
attending the little girls death.
Deputy Sheriff Roscoe s. Wood, who has
charge OF the case. stated today that a,
search is being made for Ernest A. Pet
sold. 20 years old. with whom Mrs. Brown
and her little daughter had been living
for some time past.
Mrs Brown had been In Providence for
several days and yesterday afternoon she
received a letter from Petsold. mailed In
Providence an hour earlier, in which the
young man told her. It is alleged, thar
he found the girl lying dead under an
apple tree near the house Further down
In the letter. II Is said, Petsold stated
that the girl had died at o'clock on
Wednesday morning
Petsold Is said to have intimated In the
letter that he intended to tell Mrs. Brown
OF the death of her child when he visited
her in Providence on Wednesday, but that
his courage failed and he decided to notify
her the next day by letter.
HUSBAND NOTIFIED
Mrs. Brown at once notified her hus-
band. who Is employed as an engineer at
Vanity Fair. and with whom she had not
been living for some time past. She then
found Petsold's mother and the two wo-
men went to Pascoag last evening. They
went to Petsold's house and found the
body of the little girl. fully dressed, lying
on cot In a bedroom, carefully covered
up with bed clothes.
The authorities were notified early today
and Deputy Sheriff Wood took charge OF
the body The deputy stated that the
child had apparently been dead for a day
or two. The body was removed to UNDER
taking rooms at Pascoag and the autopsy
was ordered Previous to the autopsy
Deputy Sheriff Wood stated unofficially
that In his opinion the child had been
choked to death.
Mrs Brown is about 2e years of age.
OTHER CRIMES.
A few days ago three men were held in
the district court at Warren charged with
assaulting a young woman, whose condi-
on the banks of the Kickemult river. and
had to be taken to n hospital
Only this week "a child OF 10 years was
attacked In the city OF Pawtucket while
taking supper to her father. and but for
the timely arrival OF help would have
been maltreated by her assailant. a young
man.
LETTER CAME SPECIAL"
The contents OF the letter sent Mrs.
Brown. as far as could be learned. stated
that Petsold did everything possible for
the child. and that he was sorry for Mrs.
Brown that she had TO bury IT, In con-
clusion, IL stated that he Hetsold) would
also go and that she would have TO bury
him also. From this the police imagine
that the man may be suffering from
deranged mind.
Mrs Brown has been takina her meals
at the Perry House for the past three
weeks. She was not n constant boarder.
wednesday afternoon man answering
the description of Petsold came to the
house In the middle OF the afternoon. went
out TO Roger Williams park with Mrs.
Brown. The couple returned shortly be-
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