Year: 1870

An Old Man Shot and Butchered bv q Bur.


glar In Westporf, Mass.-Escape Of the Muir.


derer and Great Excitement and Indignation


Among the Citizens.


BOSTON, Dec. s, 1870.


A most horrible murder, sckenng in every detail,
and one which creates involuntary desire for
swift ana severe vengeance, was committed within
q few miles OF the Head" OF Westport, Mass, be.
tween Tuesday and Friday mornings OF last week.
The victim was Benjamin Howard, an old man OF
eighty two years who for about forty years has
sided In the house where the deed WAS perpe-
Irated The house Is situated about quarter Of
mile on cross road leading from road
to Westport Point to one known as the ''sodom
Road" In this house for about forty years
Howard has led q solitary life, relieved now and
then by visit rom Mrs. Eliza Howard, an old LADY
ever sixty years or age and the widow OF his
brother. Within few months past sne visited her
brother-in-law, but left him about two weeks ago,
and the old man remained alone, his nearest neigh
b or being quarter Of mile distant. The old man
had a COW and two yearngs and few fowl, and
his habits had been regular for many years past
in regard to the Of his little farm and his life
had invariably been such O solitary one, that his
neghbors telt no great socitude in regard TO him.
He owned the farm, and what he produced on il,
with q little interest from small sum OF money
which he had In bank at Fall River, served 10 sup
port him.


had not been seen tor few days. and on Satur
day, the neighbors. becoming somewhat alarmed
searched for him: :, The house house was found locked
pinning, milk pail filed with milk was found,
and beside It the old mans cap simultaneously
one OF the searching party discovered apparent
blood stains on the stone step Of the 'front.'
entrance. on the west side. Of the building.
The search was pursued, and finally, about six
rods from the entrance to a meadow, freshly dug
hole was found. Proceeding about SIX rods further


With ea b. and on
The other side OF the wall woodsaw and axe, both
OF which were covered with dried blood. From here
the search was easy one The parties were on
the scent, and trail OF blood leading stone
wall INTO the west field, ana sill over another WALL
partially thrown down, into the woods a few feet
distant was only too apparent.


Following thjs tra, into the woods about forty feet
committed. The dead boly OF the old man, with mis-
head beaten in shot through the arm, and with the
right leg severed from his body at the thigh and
missing there lay. A search for the missing limb
then made, in the OF which the dirt in the
intended grave was thrown over and one of the vic
TINS shoes was there found. The log finally dis
covered In the woods, partially covered WITH leaves,
few feet south OF the body. diligent search was
again made around the house for any traces of the
murderer, and the other shoe OF the old man was
found where 1t had evidently been thrown, in
small garden near the house. twas also discovered
that an attempt had been maze To break open the
back door with an iron bar three marks Of its inser
tion being plainly visible between the door and the
casi 3. 1t was subsequently asserted that Mr.. How
ard had been shot through the arm; he had also
been struck four times IN the head with an axe. Two
OF these wounds were between his eyes and about
two inches long. These were evidently done with
the edge OF the axe one of the other two was near
the ielt temple and fractured his skull The re-
naming one was slight wound on the top OF the
mead.


A coroner's Jury was Immediately summoned by
George II. Clifford Justice OF the Peace, and rem
dered a verdict that the deceased was murdered by
a some ,h persSn o ooy VINO was NOT ar
he heard very lodd talking the direction Of the
house. ane innks he distinguished the words "You
let me alone and I'll let you alone,n but says
nothing about hearing the discharge oi gun.
II is hard to conceive the object OF the murderer


IL IL said that the old man paid small bill at sore
near by, and had at that time sixty dollars in his
possesslon and II Is rumored that ne gave order
dollars FROM one OF the FAN River banks; but
Tue money was not collected. There no


% ana ans n nolnnS or nc ceng m icInd put
pockets, nor has any money been found In the
nelghbors say tnat Howard has been robbed several
times on one occasion losing a watch; ana eggs
and other articles have been stolen from the house.
When the tragedy was discovered the house was
immediately filled WIN people from Oil directions
attracted thther by the brutal deed. The dead body
OF the old man In everyday attire was lad In one
Of the rooms and although his head was badly cut,
his conntenance was cain and gave no sign OF the
terrible scene through which he had passed


The most plausible theory OF the deed, taking all
circumstances into consideration Is that the mur
aer was committed early IN the morning, ror the
manure from the stalls had been removed and the
mornings milking done The old man probably re-
turned from the barn with his milk pail and dis
opeD Setting his pail down where 1t was found
he naturally had some words witn the burglar,
wnom POSSIBLY he knew tauu ulls Wouiu
account fer the words heard by the boy,
and then went around the house 10 enter
the front door. The burglar knowing fhe old man
could identify him. shot hIm with the gun which he
had with him, and subsequently attacked him with
an axe, and then attempted to conceal the Dlo0dys
work he had accomplished, and In the course Of
which, TO tighten the task Of dragging the body. the
burglar obtained the wood saw and axe, with which
he removed the right leg or his victim and light
the terrible load. Two journeys over the walls
and through the neld were made and, hastily cover
,ng The corpse with . lew leaysA the murderer ned