The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-12-14
THREE MURDERED
BODIES FOUND IN
MANURE PIT
Mother and Two Daughters
Killed Near Troy
LOOKING FOR FOURTH CORPSE
Son Also Believed to Have Been But
chered by italian Farm
LOOKING FOR FOURTH CORPSE

Troy, Dec. 14.-The worst crime in
the history of Rensselaer, county was
discovered about O'Clock last night,
when the bodies Of Mrs. Mary A.
Morner and her two daughters Edith,
aged q, and Blanche, Is years OF age,
residents of DeFreestville, one and
one half miles from Bloomingrove, in
the town of North Greenbush, were
found in a manure pit in the rear OF
the COW stables. The son, Arthur, 80
years of age, is missing, and search
was being made for his body at 3
o'clock this morning. The women
had been murdered by being struck
over the head with bale stick and
Ratchet, both of which, bloodstained,
were found near the scene OF the
tragedy.
Mrs Morner was the widow OF Con-
rad Morner, who died about two
years ago, and she had been conduct
ing the farm since then. The last
seen of any of the family was on
Tuesday noon when Mrs. Chester
Ostrander, neighbor, saw Edith go
ing to the barn.
Last evening, shortly before 8
o'clock, a milk dealer, whose name
has not been ascertained and who
had bought milk from the Morners
for some time, called at the house TO
see why the regular delivery had not
been made since Monday. He found
the house locked and repeated knock
ing failed to elicit eny response. He
tllen alsuye 10 the li8osR 81 >isrs MOT
ners oldest son. Jesse. who lives
about mile from the homestead.
Mr.. Morner haStened to the house
and forced an entrance. Finding no
one there he went to the baru and
found that the cows had not been fed
or attended to for many hours. He
made further search apd discovered
the bodies of his mother and two sis
ters in the manure pit In the rear OF
the stables and covered with boards.
Near the pit were found large stick
used In baling hay, and Ratchet,
both bloodstained The body of Ar
thur Morner was not found.
Sheriff Cottrell received word OF
the crime at the Jail in this city
shortly before midnight, and he at
once dispatched in an automobile
4 Jailer Toole. These with Coroner
Strope OF Roddy and Deputies HALL
gan and Poestenkill. made a thorough
investigation. Il was learned that an
Italian, who was simply known as
Ed, and who Is OF slight build, weigh
ing about 1l5 pounds, smooth face
and black hair, came to the MorneI
farm last August during the busy sea
son and applied for work. lie was
given employment and appeared TO be
sober, industrious young man. He
could not be found last night about
the premises, nor had he been seen
since Tuesday morning.
The only clue was furnished by a
note found on the piano in the house
and which read as follows: italian
meat an american made sausage i'm
ported from rome. italy" The note
was unsigned but II is supposed tC
have been written by the Italian. In
his room the officers found a letter
written in Italian and addressed tc
Ed Dennis. The letter has not been
translated
The sheriff's officers are at a loss
to find mC,ive for the crime as
there Is no evidence OF robbery hav
ing been committed. A roll OF bills
amounting to $50 was found in the
house and hasty search failed &c
show that the house had been ran
sacked. The Italian, the neighbors
say had been well treated and recelv
ed good wages.
Tailor Roddy and the deputies are
OF the opinion that the Italian laid II
walt In the barn for the members oil
the family TO come In. and that Ar
thur was his first victim, being STRUCK
over the head with n bale stick anc
then Drained with n Ratchet. Missed
by other members OF his family Edith
went out TO search for him, and was
murdered in the same manner. Tn,
others doubtless went to the barn Il
look for Arthur and Edith and wer,
struck down.
AT o'clock this morning searci
was still being made for the body O.
I Arthur Morner. Coroner Strope ant
} the other officials had not the slight
, est doubt that he had been murdered
} and that his body will be found some
where under the barn Description
Of the Italian have been sent to al
ncighboring towns and cities, but III
tie hopes are entertained OF captur
. ing him ns he hne had n otart n
lorty-elght hours. Word will be cab
led to Italy TO watch all lncomin,
steamers with the possibility OF hay
ing sailed for his native country.
There was no evidence OF strup
gle having taken place In the barn
the murderer probably having crep
b up behind his victims and strucl
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