The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-04-30
AN EMPTY WALLET
FOUND IN TRUNK
Victim of Crime Went to
His Home at $40 Last
Evening After Visiting in
the Village-Murder Was
Probably Committed Soon
After That

The body of John Hobart, an elderly
resident of Middlesex, was found on the
floor of the kitchen in his little cottage
in that village this morning, there being
many evidences that the man had been
murdered for his money, Ugly gashes in
the forehead a handkerchief drawn
tightly across the mouth and binding
twine upon one wrist furnished evidence
enough of foul play; and an opened
| trunk from which Mr. Hobart's large
roll of money had been taken was mute
evidence of the motive for the crime
Mr.. Hobart lived in a little house
which sets up on the bank on the east
side Of the street and almost opposite
| the Central Vermont railroad station.
| The house was formerly ON the main
| highway through the village of Middle
sex but since the abolishing of the grade
crossing directly in front Of the house
the highway has been closed for through
traffic
Mr.. Hobart was in the village last
evening after visning the store and he
called at the residence Of j. Eli Goode
nough while ON his. way home, he and
MIR. Goodenough having been in the habit
of meeting to talk about business. He
left the Goodenough house at about $40
o'clock and went alone to his cottage.
That was the last report of him until
Elton Sherman, a boy Is years of age,
who has been doing chores for the elderly
man, rushed excitedly home this morn
ing with the announcement that Mr.. Ho-
bartS body was lying on the floor in his
house. Mrs. Sherman notified Mr.. Goode-
nough, who went to the Hobart house
lu.u
notified Seectman u. P. Sawyer.
The two men went to the house and
began an examination Of the body and
the conditions in the house. The body of
the man lay on the floor in the back
kitchen, being on its back. The body
was cold and rigor mortis had already
set in, showing that he must have been
murdered some hours before the discov-
cry of the body. There were gashes over
the eyes and there was considerable
blood on the floor from those wounds.
Mr.. Hobarts blue handkerchief was
drawn tightly across his nose mad mouth
and tied behind. One wrist was en-
circled with binding twine but not OF
very heavy texture, while on the floor
under the body were pieces of the same
kind of twine, the assailant having ap-
parently tried to bind and gag the elder
ly man while he was committing the
but failing to secure his victim
in that way he used some weapon to
strike him down The examination of
the house and premises thus far has
failed TO produce any weapon with which
The assault might have been committed.
Mr. Hobart, though in his S0th year,
was in good physical health and fairly
vigorous, so that he could have put up
,uite struggle against a single assail-
mt It is presumed that when confront
d with the robber Mr. Hobart offered re-
,istance and that the binding twine
which was put about his wrists failed to
lold against his struggle, forcing the as
ailant to commit murder to carry out
lis plan of robbery. And yet. there were
ew evidences of struggle in the cot
age, things being little disarranged.
There were some papers on the table
n one room as if they had been laid
own while the reader was called to the
oor in response to knock. The front
oor was unlocked when the Sherman
oy arrived this morning to bring in the
rewood and carry The water; and that
ras rather unusual. An examination
lter this forenoon revealed the front
oor KEY lying on the floor about foot
rom the door The inference, therefore,
that when Mr. Hobart went to the
oor in response TO knock he was
lshed upon by the robber and bowled
yer, the key being knocked out of the
,ck by the impact and falling to the
Dor a short distance away.
That being the case the PROSTATE man,
tier being bound and gagged. must have
zen dragged to the rear, where the rob-
IT proposed TO make his search for
oney; and il is inferred that the rob-
n murderer must have been more or
IS cognizant of the conditions inside
e house because there was practically
thing disturbed except the trunk where
r. Hobart kept his valuables. The top
the trunk in the bedroom was up
hen the searchers Investigated this
renoon and the kew was in the lock.
ring near was an old wallet which had
en- emptied of its money. Some bank
oks Of Mr.. Hobart still lay in the tray
the trunk.
Just how much money Mr. Hobart had
the trunk is not known, but il was
nerally understood that he was fairly
ll-to-do and various persons have re-
rted that they have seen him with a
Z Of bills which mus; have amounted
several hundred dollars The Sher-
IN bow, who did work for the elderly
IN. saws that he has seen large pile
so bills while a man who delivered
load Of wood reports that in paying
q Mr. Hobart took the money from a
ge roll of bills. Others state that Mr..
bart was supposed To have consider
r money on hand. although the hank
,ks indicate that he did bIniness with
lks in Montpelier ard other places.
Hrrl1 Lot -
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