The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-05-25
Howard w. Peaslee, Pros
porous Toy Manufacturer,
Dead at Henniker, N. H.
EUGENE WOOD
CHARGED WITH CRIME
Wood Denied Doing Shoot
ing, but His Shotgun
Was Near Scene

Concord, n. H., May 25.-Eugene
Wood, farmer, was arrested yesterday,
charged with the murder of Howard w.
Peaslee, a. toy manufacturer, of Henni-
ker, Friday night. Peaslee was shot in
the head while reading in his workshop.
Wood was employed for year by
Miss Ida NJ. Barnes, who manages her
fathers farm in Henniker According to
county officials Wood was jealous of
Peaslee, who was an old friend Of the
Barnes family and frequently called.
1t was brought out at the inquest that
Peaslee had told his son, Morrison that
he was afraid Wood might try to do him
harm The authorities also claim to
have information that Wood was seen in
the vicinity of Peaslee's shop Friday
night, an hour after Peaslee was seen
alive.
Wood denied doing the shooting. A
shotgun with which Peaslee was killed
belonged to him and was found short
distance from the workshop. On the
windowsll nearby was pinned piece of
paper on which was roughly scrawled:
"Let this be a warning to all who en-
gage in crooked work"
Pcaslee was so years old and had been
selectman and road agent He was con-
sidered an expert on road construction
and has had charge of state highway
construction. He lived mile from the
village and across the street from his
house conducted small manufacturing
business under the name OF the Henniker
Toy & Novelty company.
He is survived by a widow and two
sons and daughter. For some time he
and his wife had lived apart and few
months ago she instituted divorce pro-
ceedings, which he was preparing to con
test.
At night peaslee retired to room in
his shop. where he read and slept. He
entered the shop as usual at half past
last night. Half an hour later, ac-
cording to the county officials, his son
heard shot, but paid no attention 70
it as his father had been threatening to
shoot some cats which had been disturb
ing him.
This morning, when Charles Carter.
boy employed in the shop, entered his
employers room he found Mr.. Peaslee
sitting in his chair, the lantern still
burning beside him and a newspaper
clasped in his hand He called the son
Morrison, who in turn notified the
county officials.
Mrs. Peaslee was told of the murder
at the house of her daughter, Mrs, James
A. Parmenter, quarter of mile
distant from the Peaslee home. She re-
turned home Immediately. Mrs. Peaslee
was Belle Bragg of Weare. They had
three children, the married son and
daughter living in Henniker and another
son, Shirley Peaslee, who is employed at
the General Electric plant in Lynn, |
Mass.
After an investigation the authorities |
expressed the opinion that some one
entered the shop unseen, and after shoot
ing Peaslee with a revolver, made sure |
Of death by discharging the contents of |
one barred of the shotgun into the vic |
TINS head
The shooting of PeasIee is the second |
mysterious affair of its kind in the town
within few weeks. On the morning of |
March s the body of Charles A. Manley |
was found in bed with the top of the
head shattered by charge from a
double barrelled gun which lay across
the bed. The medical examiner reported
the case as one of homicide. County
Solicitor Murchie presented the case to
the April session of the grand jury, but
no Indictment was returned.
His son says that he heard the report
IF gun about . o'clock Saturday night.
Peaslee apparently was sitting in a
chair reading by the light of lantern
when shot.