The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-06-01
Mystery About Old Mans
Death in Montpelier
ROBBERY THEORY HEARD
Autopsy To-day on Body of Matthew
Ferdn Revealed No Cause Of Death
The Body Was Badly
Decomposed.

AAS AHoNhAhciy VI tnt law was 5cL
a going in Montpelier last night to ferret
out the mystery Of the death Of Mat
thew Ferrin, whose partially decomposed
body was found in the clearinghouse Of
Mrs Mary Sarilies at s4 Northheld street
in that city yesterday afternoon. Traces
Of blood on the floor led to suspicious Of
murder, and States Attorney Gates or
dered an autopsy to be held.
Dr. B. II. Stone Of the state laboratory,
with Prof. White Of Burlington and Dr.
Lindsay, performed the autopsy this
forenoon. After an examination Of an
hour and half they reported that they
could lind no evidence of foul play. The
report that death might have been caus-
ed by acute heart trouble was discredited
BY the findings showing that tho mans
heart }, l-.- was In very good condition
for one Of his age They retained the
stomach and intestines for further exam
nation, and the body was buried to-day.
The blood the physicians said might
be accounted for as the development
of the process of decomposition
Sabatino Pasqualone, roomer in the
Sarkies house, was held last night on
suspicion, but after q searching examina-
ti0n was released. He professed to have
no knowledge of the case, and seemed
to be honest in his opinions, his exam
iners thought.
The mystery about d small box con
tanning $40 which was in the old mans
trunk has not been settled. Some people
insist that Ferrin had that amount of
pension money Che was a Civil war vet
eranl in his trunk early last week. The
lock to the trunk was found to be broken
When the clothing on the
body was examined twenty dollars in
bills and silver watch rolled ont. The
statement that the Old man lived in ter
ror Of some man in the house has not
been verified.
Ferrin was oyer 20 years old, had a
single room in Mrs Sarkies' house and
kept To himself mostly One 81 bis few
friends in that vicinity was Mrs. ". II,
simmons, neighhor, who from time
to time carried food to the aged man.
The last time that she had done kind
ness Of this sort for him was on last
Tuesday afternoon, when she took over
some strawberry ghort-calse That vas
her last visit, and the last time that
she saw him. Nor did any members Of
the household think it unusual when
their aged boarder failed to appear, as
be had been talking about going to
Waitsield, and they supposed that he
had gone there.
1t was not until seven -year-old boy
of the house. while wandering about,
went into Ferrin's room yesterday after
noon at two o'clock that the body was
discovered The boy was not frightened
1t his discovery, but went down stairs
and told of his find. Others went lip to
see. and then Michael litter notified the
police.
Terrible Stencil Arose.
Patrolman Patrick Connolly responded.
When the officer ascended the stairs Of
the sarhies house his nostrils were hom-
Darded with terrible stencil, which
grew worse as he approached Ferrin's
.oom. lie was forced to put a handker
shief to his nose and mouth before bio
:ould enter the little room. eight BY ten
'eet in dimensions, where the aged man
lad made his home, On small cot lay
The body, blOatcd and disc0l0red. de-
composition had advanced to a consider
lble degree. The face was very bloated.
The body was fully dressed except for
he coat and Shoes His cap had fallen
rom his head and lay in a pool Of blood
The coat was under the bed. Toward
The entrance of the room aud somewhat
icar the feet, was another smooch Of
blood on the floor. One side Of the
mans head was wet with blood. There
we're no signs Of a struggle. n the room
vas found eight dollars in bills, Of five,
,wo and one size.
Sheriff Tracy and Deputy Henry Law
on were next on the scene, also Alder
nan Emmons. The stencil in the room
vas well-nigh unbearable The windows
II the house were thrown open and
were scattered about to
ounteract the smell. Then steps were
AIKEN to remove the remains to the I'M
rooms of II. y Yolhoim. DR..
lindsay. who viewed the body, expressed
he opinion that Ferrin had been dead
or several days, and it is thought prob
bile that he died either Tuesday night
4 Wednesday morning Of last week,
oon after the visit ct Mrs. Simmons,
rho carried the strawberry short
here.
The members Of the Sarkies household
ay that Ferrin came there about ten
r eleven months ago and bad told very
title about himself He paid Mrs. Sar
les son for the use Of the room, and
irs. sarkies rarely entered into CONVEX
stion with him.