Connecticut western news., 1921-12-15
DOUBTFUL IF DIANE
 MURDERED PARSONS
Does Not Fit Miss Parsons Description of
 Murderer

With the entire state set agOg again over the Parsons murder case, through the arrest of Henry w. Deane last week Sunday, people gen. orally feel that the manhunt has come to an end. A few who reside in the vicinity of where the murder took place, have their doubts as to whether Deane was even implicated. What little evidence has been made public and that which has been obtained by newspaper reporters, i5 hardly enough to convict a man of murder.
 On the night of June 7th, when Joseph Parsons was murdered, 1t was reported that Miss Mary Parsons, sister of the murdered man, had just returned home from a visit to an other part of the state. She~had been accustomed to make such visits. Also, an estwhile farmland, Arthur Bur gess, had agreed to work for Parsons at that time, disappearing immedl- ately after or before the murder. Where does Deane come into the case? He was not known to be present Dy MISS farSonS.
 The history of the Parsons and Deane families dates back to early childhood days of the principals in- volved in this case. Wilbur Deane, father of the accused man, stated that he even lived in the same house with the Parsons for time when he purchased farm on which they lived. For many years the children of both families played together and probably quarrelled as children do, thought it is said that the older peo- ple often had arguments over minor matters.
 About fourteen years ago the Deane's moved away from Norfolk and as far as can be ascertained, these families saw little if anything of one another since. Miss Parsons even did not recognize Deane as her childhood playmate when brought face to face, though she positively identified him as the murderer. How could she so positively identify this man whom she saw in the semi-dark- ness of Joseph Parsons home?
 When asked this question by a ''News" representative, Miss Parsons stated that it was dark in the house the night of the murder and that it was impossible to distinguish anyone. Aside from this one inadvertent Te- mark she refused to say anything about the case except that she and her mother hoped it would soon be settled.
 It is said by those who have known Deane for years, that he had a quer- ulous disposition, but few thought it ever went beyond the talking stage. He was much the same type of man as Parsons and was heavy thinker According to his father, he never carried firearms and was not prof. cient in their rse. He had been twice married and has been contributing to the support of his last wife and children. When arrested for hunt ing on Sunday he was employed on wood job.
 The violent death of Joseph Par sons was not the first of the kind in this family. His father, Peter Par sons, lost his life on the railroad tracks in a drunken stupor A brother, Levi Parsons was drowned and an uncle, Joseph Parsons, shot himself. Violent deaths would seen, therefore, to be the heritage of the Parsons family.
 Assuming that the police have sut1 cient evidence against Deane, why did they not arrest him before? Was it necessary or wise to permit SIS pected murderer to roam the country side until he had committed a minol crime before they took him into custody?
 Deane is no more guilty, in tn minds of many, than thousands o1 others in this state and with all due respect to the State Police, it appears that some one had to be arrested fol this crime in order to prove the vigi lance of the Department to the pub lie. Their duty is to find Burgess.
 Arthur Burgess is known to have carried various firearms, for from al accounts it was no one other than ht who was seen in Canaan about tht time the tragedy took place. Tt strengthen this belief, shotgun wa found hidden in barn in this town near where he was last seen