Evening star., 1916-09-30
F. L. SMALL FACES CHARGE
OF FlRST-DEGREE MURDER
Body Of Wife, Taken From Burned
Home, Shows She Was Strangled
and Skull Broken.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, N. H. September
s0-Frederick L. Small. who was ar
rested yesterday after the finding of his
wife's body in the ruins of his burned
cottage here, remained under guard at
a hotel today, until taken to a hearing
in the district court on a charge OF
murder in the frst degree. Attorney
General James P. Tuttle and County
Solicitor Walter E. Hill took charge of
the case.
who examined Mrs. SmalTs body, said
today that the skull was fractured. ap-
parently by some blunt instrument, and
that she had been strangled by the
cord found tied about her neck. He
found no trace of bullet wound.
The agent of a life insurance COM
pany has made known that in Janu-
airy last he had written joint policy
on the lives of Small and his wife. Mrs.
Arlene Small, for $4,000. He solicited
the business, he said, and both the
husband and wife participated in the
negotiations that led to the issuance
Of the policy.
In 1909 Small sued A. II. Soden. widely
known as one of the three owners of
club. for 100000 for alienation of Mrs.
Smalrs affections. He was awarded
$4,000.
Small was arraigned in the district
court today and held for hearing Octo-
Der s on charge of murder. The
coroner that Mrs. Small had died OF
strangulation. Small pleaded not
guilty.
Another development of the day was
the statement made by B. Frank Horne
medical referee, that his investigation
had disclosed that the person who killed
Mrs. Small and fred the house in an
endeayor to conceal the crime had frs,
shot her, strangled her and beat her
over the head. The statement was made
after the discovery Of bullet in the
womans head and the finding In the
ruins of revolver of similar caliber.
The head of Mrs. Small, which was
saved from the flames through falling
into pool of water. is being held BY
the medical authorities. The neck i.
still circled by knotted cord. the skull
crushed from seven blows and the trace
Of bullet wound is clear. according t.
found to be Of size corresponding t.
that used in an automatic revolver
found in the debris.
In the opinion of officials the woman
strangled perhaps to stifie her cries
AS yet they have found no evidence
they said, to support the statement OF
a spectator at the fire that he saw the
body through the flames. apparently
partly suspended by a rope from the
head of a bed. e.
At the inquest DR.. E. W. Hogsdon, who
performed the autopsy. described the
wounds on the back of the head. the
hole over the left eye. through which the
bullet had entered to lodge at the back
Of the right ear. and the circling of the
neck by a cord tightly wound. The bull.
let, he stated. fitted exactly a revolver
found in the ruins. In his opinion, death
was caused by strangulation. The find.
ing of the revolver and Of Mrs. Smalps
Jewelry In the ruins also was described.
To. a.qnestion by Attorney General
James Tutt1e whether Small had said
anything concerning his wife's death
High Sheriff Chandler stated that the
husband, on his return yesterday from
Boston, said Mrs: Small had gone to
the door to bid him goodbye when he
was leaving home on Thursday. Small
left here at 4 o'clock that afternoon
and the fire was discovered about 10
o'clock at night.