The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-26

pdTAcu ny CdI III lily 60A o6S about II o'clock last night.
 T got out and shut the door oi the auto. When turned around saw this man at the dor of the garage.
 "Come over to the corner of the garage. I want to talk to you,' he told me.
 Instead, walked toward him Then he reached under his coat and produced the gun.
 T ran around the automobile and into my house, which adjoins the garage. The man ran across my lawn to an automobile.
 There is no doubt in my mind who he was. I have given his name to the police. The light was on in the garage, there was a full moon, and heard his voice."
 Worked With Elder
 Norton was associated with Elder at Mount Hermon for 9 years, un- til Elder resigned. <
 Were you and the dean friendly?' Norton was asked.
 For long time, yes. But ir1 the latter part of his term, there were difficulties betweeen us. I dc not care to go into that now" At Alton, police learned that since his retirement Elder has been lead ing the life of a gentleman farmer He has mingled with townsfolk and been actively interested in com munity affairs.
 A month ago Elders poultry barn was levelled by fire and has not been rebuilt. Bremen saved the 2h story white frame dwelling where he and his wife have lived for more than two years. The Elders two sons are away at school.
 A native of Hollydale, Va, Elder was educated at Mount Hermon anc Cornell Agricultural school. In 1911 he became assistant superintendent of Mouth Hermon farm and in 1926 was appointed dean. He is an ex- pert judge of prize cattle.
 In their broadcast, police describ- ed Elder as short, stocky, white haired and of nervous temperament Gun Never Found
 The 12-gauge shotgun with which Dr. Speer was murdered on the night of Sept. IA, 1884, never has been found. Authorities have search ed ceaselessly for it, believing the gun to hold the key to the mystery A ten-day inquest was held here following the crime, but associate Justice Timothy M. Hayes, after hearing 63 witnesses and digesting g half million words of testimony found that Dr. Speer met death "at the hands of a person or person. unknown"
 Since then 1t has been New Eng. lands No. unsolved murder myS. tery.
 A $5000 reward has been offered by the trustees of the Northfiele schools, of which Mount Herman i! one, for evidence to the arrest O the slayer.
 Scene of 1884 Crime
 Dr. Speer, only 36, happily mar ried and father of three children was in his favorite easy chair be- fore the fireplace, reading a book when he heard tapping at one O the spacious windows.
 He strolled over, pressed his fac' against the pane, and tried to pee into the darkness made the nor, impenetrable by fog.
 It was at that moment-8:22 P m.-that heavy charge of double o buckshot burst through the win dow and struck him in the ches and right arm. He staggered back collapsed. To his wife Charlotte soon on the scene, he gasped, "wha has happened?" Twenty minutes la ter he died in her arms.
 Copyright 1887 by United Press) L Alton, N. H.. May 26-(UP)- Thomas Edwin Elder, who was dear of Mount Hermon school at North field, Mass, when Headmaster FL liott Speer was slain, denied to the United Press today that he was ir Greenfield, Mass. last night wher a former associate claimed Elder threatened him with shotgun.
 Sought by police throughout the east for nearly 12 hours, the 60- year-old Elder, accompanied by the mother of his two sons, arrived by automobile at their modest home here shortly before 10:30 a. m. EDT and gave the United Press his owr story.
 Police Chief Alfred w. Cooley i'm i mediately notified Captain John F Stokes of the Massachusetts Statl police, who dispatched two men tl Alton by automobile.
 Detectives On Hand
 The state detectives enroute her' were Lieutenant Joseph L. Ferrari | a veteran of the Speer murder in'