Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-07
KILLED Child
Charge Against Two
Vermont Women
Housekeeper Said to Have Tired
of Care of Cripple

st. Johnsbury, Vt, July Solve Brad
shaw, a crippled child, was murdered
because he was brother to her fathers
housekeeper Miss Eta May Hicks. ac-
cording to admissions which the county
authorities say they obtained today from
Miss Hicks and her chum and neighbor,
Mrs. Alvin Remission. The child, who
was eight years of age. had been missing
since yesterday. Both women were locked
up tonight and it was announced that
formal charges would be drawn against
them tomorrow.
The body of the child has not yet been
found although it is alleged that one Of
the women said that 1t had been placed
under rock pile. A search of the rock
pile failed to show any trace of the eodv
According to States Attorney John B.
Campbell and County Sheriff Wilbert H
Worthen, both the women have agreed
in the admission that Miss Hicks struck
the girl. with a club while Mrs. Kenniston
choked her.
Olive Bradshaw was the daughter of
John NJ Bradshaw. a house painter
who lives on hill farm in the out
skirts Of this city. Since the death of
his wife, Bradshaw has employed Miss
Kicks to care for his house. A year
ago the girl, his only child, suffered an
attack Of infantile paralysis wnlcn left
her cripple. 1t is alleged that the
housekeeper had become weary of the
care of the girl and that week ago
she formed with Mrs. Kennson the
plan of relieving herself of further
trouble. When Bradshaw returned
home last night after spending the day
in painting a neighbours barn. Miss
Hicks is said to have told him that the
child had strayed away and had be-
come lost.
One Of the neiGhbors, John Best, had
seen the girl picking wild flowers be-
side the road in front of the Brad
shaw house about 100 in the after
noon bat after that all trace of her
was lost.
Suspected Miss Hicks
Bradshaw Immediately started
search of the hills and accompanied
by Miss Hicks and a score of farmers
of the neishborhood spent the night in
vain effort to find his child. Today
he notified the authorities of the dis
appear dICt dHN 10 SdiN W nave NoilA-
municated to Sheriff Worthen suspi-
cion that Miss Hicks might throw light
on the mystery. 1t is said the alleged
admission of Miss Hicks and the Ken
niston woman were made at the end
of a long Official examination.
States Attorney Campbell said to-
night the two women were being held
for the grand jury but that pending
the recovery of the baby no formal
charge would be made. If the body
was found Mr.. Campbell said, the
charge would he first degree murder.
Miss Hicks is 90 years Of age while
Mrs. Remission is IS. The latter lives
with her husband and brother on a
farm adjoining that of Bradshaw.
The question of the disposition Of
the body appeared 10 puzzle the Off
Gals tonight. as the women are said to
have made conflicting statements as
to what was done with it. The sheriff
said he had searched without results a
rock pile where. according to one of
the women. the body had been placed
after it had been driven some distance
across the country in wagon. He de-
clined to reveal the nature of the story
told by the other woman in this con-
nection. Other details Of the alleged
confession were also withheld.