Year: 1865




victim was no stranger. Farmer Aigh,
ion was well known, and respected in
Woodbridge, and had been seen and spo-
ken to by many of his friends on the
very day of his assassination. The in
quest was held as in the other two cases,
but no evidence was adduced as to the
author of the crime. Justice appears to
have been tardy in those times, at any
rate in that quarter of the world; nova
days it would indeed astonish US should
three undiscovered murders spread their
dark shadows of suspicion and fear over
a single small town within the course of
ten years. Although no evidence had
been brought before the authorities, ten
ding to inculpate any individual with the
murder of Aighton, yet the finger of sus-
picion, as directed by the good people Of
Woodbridge, pointed to Stumpy Brown.
He was known to have poached on the
farmers grounds, and had been prosecu-
ted by him, and threatened with a second
summons. Stumpy was a sour -mouthed
fellow, and had been heard to say what
he would do for any person who inter
fered with what he considered his privi-
leges, and in consequence of this, many
farmers and neighbors had refrained
from prosecuting Brown, absolutely
through fear. Hence it was thought not
improbable that Stumpy Brown had mur-
dered Farmer Aighton to prevent his exc
cutting his threat of a second summons.
Time passed on, and people forgot their
suspicious concerning Brown. When 1
was boy in the town, about forty years
since, Stumpy was regarded by the more
sensible folks as a character, a queer sui
ky old fellow, but no credit was given to
the rumors of his being murderer. I
was appreuticed to a doctor in the town,
and being fond of fishing or shooting
whenever I could steal the time, manag-
ed to make theacQuaintance of old Brown.
who always knew where a hare was, or
an old pike. IL seemed to take fancy
to me, and many summers evening
have spent with him fishing in the riv-
er. One evening remember well walk
ing with him at the back of the town
I never gave the least credence to the re-
ports about Stumpy, and therefore had
no hesitation in referring to the murder


"Ah," said I, pointing to a part of the
road that's where they murdered Aigh
ton. isn't it?"


Brown started a little, and said, Il
wish, sir, you wouldn't talk on them sort
of things that amt pleasant. I never
heard much about it, never heard much.
I suppose that be the place, as they say
SO, but my opinion is that that's farther
along, not that I should know about it. "


often heard him muttering to him
self, and once found him staring into Ky
son dock in a very intent manner. I
startled him by my appearance, and he
said, that's deep down there, sir, very
deep. That would easy drown a man
specially if he wur tied up" And then
he laughed.


I recall these circumstances now but
at the time thought nothing of them.
Towards the end of the year 1889, the
small pox broke out in Woodbridge with
great violence, as it did in many towns of
East Anglia at that period. All the help
and care that could be obtained were re-
quired for the hundreds of patients who
we're daily carried off by this terrible dis
ease. My master and had the greater
part of the work to do. A pest-house
was established, and the individuals ap-
pointed to take charge of it, to receive
the patients and superintend the nursing,
were Stumpy Brown and his wife. Old
Mrs. Brown, whom I have not yet men
toned, had been welded to Stumpy for
forty years, and I always considered her
an honest old woman. When the pest
broke out Stumpy and his wife were get
ting old folks, the marks of sixty winters
wear being upon them. I, however,
found Brown an excellent assistant at the
pest house, as he seemed to posses a very
great amount of sangfroid in dealing with
dead bodies, which is valuable quality.
Although, as we before said, among the
educated Of the townspeople, no more
was thought Of the rumor that Brown
had murdered Aighton, yet the lower
classes still feared him. Mrs Brown had
all along shared the same dislike as her
husband. 1t was said that she had the
"evll eye" that she was a witch, and va
rious other disagreeable things. When,
therefore, the doctor placed my old ac-
ouaintance Brown and his wife in charge
of the pest-houso, it was not wonderful
that many of the poor we're afraid of 60
ing there, and tried hard to be allowed
to remain in their own homes. 4 Mrs.
Fitch. whose husband was smitten with
the disease, and was to be sent to the
pest-house, begged hard that she should
not 90. "He knows, sir, that of Brown