The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-08-09
MURDERER'S BODY
FOUND NEAR
HIS HOME
Joseph Pascal Who Killed Wal
den Man Committed Suicide
BLEW HEAD OFF WITH RIFLE
Long Man Hunt in Caledonia County
Ends With Finding of Corpse In
Woods

81. Johnsbury, Aug. 9.-The most
exciting man aunt ever experienced
in Caledonia county came to a sudden
close Sunday afternoon when the
body Of Joseph Pascal, who brutally
murdered Farmer Charles Perkins at
the latter's home in South Walden
last Thursday, was found within 60
rods OF the murdered mans house.
The fugitive evidently having decided
that escape was impossible and that
arrest meant certain death, ended his
life with a 1856 caliber rifle bullet.
the gun being found beside the body.
The bullet, which entered at the tenn
pie, practically lifted of the entire
top of the head. 1t is thought that the
man had been dead about 48 hours
when found.
The body was discovered by George
Hayes, a farmer, who was in search
of his cows at the time. A physician
who was at once summoned, stated
that the man had in all probability
been dead for two days the body be-
ing badly decomposed owing to the
hot weather.
The selectmen of both the towns of
Hardwick and Walden were notified
as it was not known definitely which
town the body was in. The body was
then removed TO Pascals late home.
The finding of the body ends a man
hunt in which practically all of the
male residents of the vicinity in
which the murder was committed
took part, about 80 men having been
on the trail continuously since Tues
day night. These were called in to-
night by telephone and in various
other ways and it is believed that all
Of the searchers have been notified OF
the finding of the body.
The residents of South Walden es-
pecially the women, have been In a
state of terror for the last Ave days
it was generally believed that the man
who was always known to be a des-
perate character would never be Ia
ken alive and IL was feared that he
would shoot one or more OF his pur-
suers before he could be shot down.
The finding of his body ilas come as a
great relief
Pascal and his brother Corliss re-
turned home Tuesday from Morris
Vile where they had obtained guam
-ity of liquor. Joseph Pascal on en-
Lering the house, began beating his
wife who ran to the home of neigh
Dor. The husband then went to the
home of Farmer Perkins where he be-
ieved his wife was concealed and de-
handed that the woman be turned
over to him. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Per
kins told. Pascal that his wife was
not there, but ne insisted upon enter
ing the house and upon being refused,
broke several windows. He then
went home and secured his loaded ri
hle, returning TO the Perkins house
and demanding his wife, declaring
she had been secreted by the old peo-
pie.
Mrs Perkins was in another room
when the man entered the house with
the declared intention of making a
search, and he was received by Mr..
Perkins.
Mrs. Perkins stated later that she
heard some words pass between the
men and that she heard a shot fired,
by ner husbands exclama
lion: Don't Joe, don't she then
rushed into the room and seeing Pas
,al there she was so frightened that
she hid in the woodshed until the
nan had gone. She then returned
md found her husband lying dead. mis-
body extended across a chair. The
)ullet passed through his wrist but 1t
vas disclosed at the autopsy that
leath resulted from a blow on the
hest with the butt of the rifle three
lbs being broken and an artery lead
ng directly to the heart being rupeur
d.
The murderer later returned to the |
Perkins home after Mrs. Perkins son
nd daughter-in-law and two children |
lad gone there and attempted to shoot |
hem but found his ammunition ex-
austed.
Pascal then returned home, secured
lore ammunition and escaped into an
swamp in Cabot. A posse
vas Immediately organized and the
earch was continued without inter
Mission until Sunday afternoon.
Three shots were heard Friday
light in the vicinity where the body
,as found and it is believed the man
nded his life at that time.
Mrs. Pascal who has been living in
error lest her husband should return
nd kill her before he could be captur-
d. was removed to the home of a
larried daughter in East Hardwick.