The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-31
VIEWPOINT MAN FOULLY SLAIN FOR HIS MONEY CObbler Found Dead, Killed by Axe and Trunks
 Searched. Man Arrested On Suspicion Is Declared Able To EStab-
 fish AIibi.
Special to the Farmer.)

Special to the Farmer)
 Nevvtown, Aug 81-Never in over a. quarter of a century since Rudolph StoeffeI lay in ambush and shot his neighbor, Andrew J. Peck on the lat Eter's doorsiII was Newtown so excited as it is today For sometime between z p. m, Saturday night and o'clock on the Sabbath morning. John Green an aged shoemaker, was bruta1ly mur- dered in his little shop right in the heart of the burough. The deed was done with an axe which the assassin used with horrible cruelty, there being five distinct blows on his head and neck, any one of which the doctors say would have caused death. The un- sforfunate, man was apparently seated on his work bench when the deed was done for when found he wore his leather apron, his spectac1es had fall en into the space between his blouse and the apron and his stool was over tpurned at his feet. Blood spattered the walls and chots of gore were all around his workshop. The axe which belonged to the unfortunate victim, covered with blood on head and han de was found inside the bedroom next beyond the workshop. The bed was denuded of bed clothing, the mattress, clothes and pillows were used to otcover his body prone on che floor and conceal the traces of the butchery, as though to give the murderer time to make his get away if the shop was entered by customers. In the office front of the business place, two large trunks were opened, and the clothing and contents were tossed on to the floor, and much Of the clothing indicated a nasty search as though for a hoard of money which it is reputed the old man had. The rear door was bo1ted from the in- side, one window over the work bench was open and the front door was un- locked and ajar, when first discovered yesterday morning.
 The first one to discover that some thing was wrong was Charles F. Cav anaugh, who shortly after o'clock shoes left there for repair early last week. Finding the door slit ghtly open he entered. Not seeing the shoemak- CT he called his name aloud thinking
 he was in the rear bedroom or down in
 the basement where he did, his own cooking. There being no response he began to search for his shoes on the shelves and counters, and in looking over the counter into the workshop saw the legs and lower part of his body, but could not see the face or upper part Of the body owing to the bed clothing covering. He saw, however, some stains of blood and hastily departed
 He met Daniel Altman and Dr. T. F. Dniker on their way to church whom he told of his discovery Of "something
 
 forwards repeated this to others in the store of Morris and Shepard, but in such a way as not to alarm his hearers, as nobody investigated. Messrs. Altman and Uniker, fearing they were late for church services did not stop att the shoeshop in passing,
 = went to church. On their return about D. m. they decided to investi- gate. Entering, they lifted the pill low 8, trif1e and almost swooned as the I-. f- -I-f M Fr They rushed from the shop and gave the alarm. P. H. Cannon, grand tur-j or lives diagonaIly across the street. | He owns the shop which he rented to the shoemaker. He returned with his i'm fornaants and the three entered. MT. 1 Cannon went in first and lifting the pillow. he nearly swooned at the sight. Rushing out he imm ediately telephon- ed Sheriff A. B. Blakeman and Medf- cal Examiner w. N. Kiernan, who were on the spot in less than ten minutes but not before a crowd of ex- cited villagers had gathered. Everyone | was appalled,, and no one knew what l to do. The medical examiner took onei look and decided at once it was a case for the state authorities. The telephone was again resorted to, Chief Egan of the state police being notified 1 and the facts briefly detailed to him. He advised the town authorities, w. l c. Johnson, first selectman, to lock the door, put officers in charge and await the coming of the state detec- tives. This was beforeInoon.
 With the conclusion of the church services the crowd was greatly aug mented and the people took up the in vestigatiop. The rear of the build ing was examined and foot prints were discovered. These were measured and the. tracks covered lest the feet of oth- CTS might obliterate them. A dead line was established and none permit ted to cross it. But this did not sat- isfy the now thoroughly aroused cfti- zens. They insisted that the town officials get b1oodhounds to track the murderer before the scent would be lost SeIectman Johnson telephoned Danbury, Bridgeport and other places but unsuccessfu11y in the matter.
 pr. w. c. Kennedy organized a posse of citizens and with Frank Blackman started out in pursuit of clues or a possible evil doer. At Sandy Hook. Constable Egbert Thran who had heard of the tragedy, was on the look held him in, converse. He had blood on his sleeve, shirt and trousers, but explained 1t as the result of fight the night before in Newtown street He was employed on the state roa ad work on Mount Pleasant but had been off the job for a week drinking He had come to Sandy Hook with the hope of securing a drink, but bemoaned his failure to the constable, who was un- able to suggest any help for the thirsty road worker.
 pr. Kennedy came by and seeing the stranger, stopped to accost him. g At glance he saw the blood stains on the stranger and immediately took him into custody. Although not an officer of the law, he knew the infer- ent power of a posse comitatus, took the man into custody and brought him into his car to the scene of the mur- der, but carefully withheld from his prisoner the caNse Of his arrest Ques- tioned by the town sheriff and select man to how the blood came on his clothing he gave sub stantiaITy the same explanation as he gave to Con- stable Thrall. He also gave his name