Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-02
AGED man IS
FOUND MURDERED
John Hobart, 80, Beaten Over
Head-Robbery Thought
the Motive

Middlesex, April 30.-John @. Hobart a
long thine resident Of Middlesex. was muir
dered at his homo near the Central YER
mont railway station in this village some
time last night. There 10 no clue other
than that the man was hit over tho head
with some heavy instrument which frac.
tured the skull and probably killed him
instantly. Tho purpose was robbery and
1t is believed by many people that the per-
son or persons who committed the crime
we're acquainted with the man enough to
know that he lived alone and that by gen.
eral reputation he had kept money at his
home. Mr.. Hobart was generally reported
well-to-do. 1t Is understood that he was
worth about $1,000 and It is said to have
been Of a misery disposition. 1t Is known
by the townspeople that the man kept
much Of his money at home.
The murder was discovered by Elton
Sherman. a young man who went to the
house each morning to build the fires for
the elderly man. Mr. Hobart was fully
dressed. lying on his back on the kitchen
floor. his arms outstretched. with consid-
cradle blood on his clothing and face APP
parently he had been dead for several
hours. probably since before midnight. On
his right wrist was an indication Of cord
having been tied about It while on the left
wrist was a wrapping cord tied around
the wrist. A gag had apparently been
placed in his mouth, although the gag was
disarranged when the man was found.
Keys to the trunk in which he kept his
money were found in the lock to the
trunk. while the top of the trunk had been
lifted and the money taken.
Mr.. Hobart was In good health for
man Of 90 years and was able to be
about town. He was vigorous and those
who knew him best say he could have
walked six miles to Montpelier had he
desired During the evening he went
to the home Of Eli Goodenough. whom he
frequently visited when he wanted ad-
vice as to different business matters.
He spent a portion Of the evening there.
leaving for his own homo about $40
o'clock and as far as known was not
seen alive again.
The house Is close 70 the railroad track
and II the murderer timed his lob" when
a northbound freight train was passing
no noise would have been heard by any
body.
The fact that the door key was found
on the floor a few feet from the dead
man gives indication that the aged man
had been called to the door and then
| knocked down. Persons who have been
III Inc nAOIt Oh VlSILlU8 tuc Oiu Scutio-
man say that he had considerable money
| In the trunk Some believe 5000 OF
5000. Young Sherman says that he has
seen considerable money handled by the
| aged man.
C. B. Brewer and a man named Downs
who were in Montpelier last evening
were taken in custody this morning and
lodged in Jail. in view Of the fact thai
they were seen in Montpelier about 1913
o'clock. Both are we'll advanced in az,
and there is some question as to whether
they could have gone to Middlesex ant
back in the same night. They claim t,
have slept in a barn about half a mill
from Montpelier Monday night.
DR.. B. H. Stone Of the State laborator.
performed an autopsy on the body thi
afternoon.
! The deceased had lived most Of hi
life in Middlesex, where he had BEEF
very successful as a trader and sho
maker. He leaves a son. George. who l
foreman Of the roundhouse in the Bosto
& Albany yards at Springfield. Mass.
also a grandson at Cornell University