The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-05-13
CONFESSED MURDER
OF COMPANION
Msine Lad Killed Another Because Of
Boyish Difficulty Body Of MUIR
dered Boy Found on Edge
Of Swamp.

Brunswick, Me-, May -Cherishing
resentment over boyish quarrel which
took place two weeks ago. Sydney
frcble, Is years old. shot and killed
Morris WI Heath, aged rs years, In
Rowdoinham Saturday night. The crime
was not discovered until yesterday when
III 81 Heath. father Of the murdered boy
found the body buried under pine spines
and leaves at the edge of swamp.
rreble was arrested end Immediately
confessed.
prebIe said that two weeks ago be
kicked Heath's dog and the boy repri
manded him for II. saying that II Preble
did such q athing again be (Heathl would
XIII him. Saturday evening Preble, &c
eampanied Heath part way home from
mill where Heath was employed and
as they reached lone spot in the woods
preble suddenly fred charge from n
shotgun at Heath. blowing Off his head
and killing him instantly.
A Story Of the Murder.
AT six o'clock Saturday night Preble
went to the sawmill where Heath was
employed and waited until the latter
finished work, when the two started out
together toward Heath's home, about 4
quarter of a mile distant. Most of the
way was along O road lined with woods
on either side. After they had gone
about $50 yards Preble, according to his
own statement made to the authorities
after bis arrest, slipped into the woods
and secured Q shotgun which he had CON
cealed there, and reioined Heath in the
road. He says they then walked along
together for some distance further until
they reached the bars Of pasture, across
which Preble could take short cut 20
his own home
Il guess I'll leave you here PrebIe
says he remarked to Heath, and he then
stepped through the bars and turning,
aimed the shotgun at Heaths head and
( pulled the trigger. The charge struck
( Heath Just behind the right ear, tearing
away the back Of his head and killing
him instantly.
! Preble then, according to his state
ment, dragged the body from the roadside
into some bushes, fe at which required
I great deal Of effort as he himself is a
youth Of slight build, weighing only
eighty pounds. When be had reached the
bushes with bis burden he heard team
approaching and coneeaIing himself until
it had passed.
Peering through the bushes from his
hiding place, he saw that the team was
driven BY bis victims father, and that
Alr. Heath's attention in passing was at
tracted to the pool OF blood which stained
the dust Of the road. Mr.. Heath, how
ever. continued on his way and afterward
young Preble dragged the body farther
into the woods 10 the edge Of swamp,
where he covered 1t with pine needles
and leaves and left it, a little later
Prebe appeared at the Heath farm and
told Mr.. Heath that his {Prebe's father)
had killed dog in the road and that it
was that which caused the blood stains
there
Az young Heath had occasionally spent
his evenings in the village his parents
we're not particularly alarmed at his fail
ure TO return home to supper and it was
not until Sunday morning that search
was begun for the boy. On the way Ia
the village To look for biz son. Mr. Heath
passed the spot where he bad seen the
4 blood stains Saturday night, and motto,
ing marks Indicating that something bad
been dragged from the roadside, he fol.
lowed The trial into the bushes and dis
covered the body Of his son,
He notified the authorities who went
to Prebles house and charged him with
the crime Preble confessed TO the deed
without any hesitation and added that
hc had intended TO 90 to Bath to-day
and make his confession to the Judge oi
the municipal court Of that city. That
be said, was the reason for borrowing
young Heath's bicycle as IA desired "a
iuse IL Ia bis trip to Bath,
( According to prebles story be had
fcarefuliy planned the killing, and he said
that the reason for his desire tp put
Heath out Of the Way was p rcprimand
administered " him by young Heath
about fortnight ago, when Prebls
Kicked Heath's dog and Heath said III
you do that again Ill XIII you"