TWO SISTERS MURDERED
Item
- Title
- TWO SISTERS MURDERED
- Source
- The sun (NY)
- Date
- 1880-06-15
- page
- 3
- Identifier
- https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030272/1880-06-15/ed-1/?sp=3&q=murder&r=-0.021,0.053,0.276,0.132,0
- Crime
- Murder
- Subject
- sisters; double murder
- Race of alleged victim
- White alleged victim
- Gender of alleged victim
- Female alleged victim
- Law enforcement involved
- police
- Stage of the Legal System
- crime
- Location
- Out-of-state; Avon, Conn
- Length of story
- 4667
- Description
- TWO SISIUUS MUUDKUED rut nniin iun rnisr intr tttstaa 11111 Itf 4X tl IHHUUXJXtH A DqIIhPt i P HUU tclme l Avn Conn f whtck e Un lT f iln la bo jbubleOit oC lie U4 LaIIe ruud I with itAO nill l lde UrTh IvisI I Mrs Emily ChUlsoy who was about an near sanctllloiillon as I think poopto ever got In i this llfps ld a resident of Avon Conn ycMer diir Slio nnd hur aged sister MM Mnrla Avontllvetl In hn old Johu ChLUer Iiomtatinnln I quarter otnjiilli from tho village which before tho days of rnllronds wns tlio site of two famous l rival hostolrlea OB tho Boston and Albnoy uost road The Farmlngttfn Illver Irrlgntce the I beautiful ratloy and the Now Haven and North I arapton Railroad now lnt rse tB the tillage A I ride ot ten ratios eastward over the Tnlcott i Mountains bring ono to Hartford Mm John Chldsar and Mrs Josorli Dunning Avent tho former 71 and the titter 73 years ot ago llvud together unattended by servants and thuy wore j nt peace with almost all of their neighbors until Bundny the 30th of April last The old home stead notwithstanding the tragody that then took phcoyet looks like the nbodo of pence ami happiness They had Just had It painted within and without Blossoming row busies crowing closo by the roadside arc trained up bcsldo the front windows nearly to the roof for the build ing is only one story high In front The ground elopes inpldly from the road and In the rear the house Is I two dories high At its sides It Is shaded by tail elnis On tho CAlL or villugo aide are two thiokloaved grnpo arboru nnd a cluster of rosebushes la blossom Each of tbe old Indlos was short aud stout and each pos sessed unusual intalllgoneo I think said thn Rev N J Beolov Ihu Congrogationallst minister and their pastor that if Mrs Clitdeey bad had tilt advantages ot n good education she might not have had her equal In the State When she epoko In church meetings no man could surpass hor for point and good tense nor sister Afro Avont was not far behind her They were remarkable for their charities It wua n peculiarity of their that they would rq celvo and care for the very worst characters No matter hour bad a persons reputation was or how repulsive 1m was In manners or dress 11 bo applied for aid to thoso sisters ho was irOto meot with a favorable response Norcr thelcs Un Avonts tongue was barbed with fiery Indignation against tboso whom she classed its evildoers or roaring lions going about seeking whom they might davour HIT Indignation against nucn was unsparing and retnorfelt9 She sought to carry her point by repenting the worst that slio bullovod against nay person she opposed flurtn the latwwkin Maysfto told asver3I persons that uho no longer felt comfortable In tho old homuatoad She nld that she felt u It the houso was Inhabited by devils On Snnday morning tho 80th of May at an early hour Charles Ib1 11 yon r old was milking a cow nntr the house Mrs Chldsey told him to tell bit father to shut a pair of bars on the place His father Luther tied worked somn land nnnr tho houso for Mr Chidsey and had loft the bars open Tho boy forgot to tell his father l but on Sunday night noticing that the bars 4 wcro open ho shut them himself That Sunday It was remarked that neither of the sisters wag at church On Monday morning Mrs Luther Itrail the boys mother went to the old houso to borrow n pair of shears She wont to the kitch en door In tho rear part of the house on tho wt side There was uo response In bc knock and sheturnnd the knob and pushed tlm door open Ilxslda thu door to her lelt she saw the hrMljrof r a woman lying very still on the floor The men woe covered with a pleco of f rag car pet Without slopplnc to exninlun further sho hurried away to call Mr Ltitau U Clilikwy who ownHaerlft mill a low yards to tho west ol the house Ho la n son of Hurry Chidsey n brother of John Chldsoy Mrs Chldnern hilt band long since ducenred He vntcnxl tIi kitchen and discovered that the body WHH that of Mr Avent It WHS cold The ptevH nf carpet viu tuckeil tightly ubont her bu id and neck In nn Instant Uu felt without nay tirociss of roisonlnc hii s nys thut her elstcr Binilb uMhi ttHt jirlniitiBtyWVnttrosiTtiry loth maUl flior of the house on n Icvol with the road and inrehme1 caiitlonilj through tho rooms there HI rtlacoveret no slcns of bin stints prukKuce lie then wont out cud found Itttlierltqtrd Luther be suld thero boa boon murder ll Dm old ii flute You dont mean It said Mr Reed Vo 1 do fcHld Mr Chldtiey Corns and Both the men then mndn a snarch of tho buuHx Ietinmr t stirs that Mrs Chldaoya body mint tn there bwauio It she had not been kiliud she would move given an alarm When they lou senrclied the kitchen and tha cellar thoroughly they went uu htalra to thu main floor TheM Iteed found nn ale with bloody Uun r murkit on the hulve nnd with n blotch of r blOod on 1U bide Thn buck and thi edge ot tho fie were fret of blood It blood besidn the stairway that n ci nds to tno carnt wlirro a perMon nbiiiit luco up to the unrret might nat urnily yet It down ns ho stood In front of the flrt l step Mr Clildeoy nent up thu stairs first AH he nrrlviil ut the huad he aw i thni ntlmr ems tur tiho lay on the bed nt thu op imsitn ml ot limo carrot on her right side tier eyes wero ilo oj leldo her lay a lllllc wnMi tmn liKd hnubilt benii rHinlliii Hnrfpcctncle lay Ixtilile It Un thn I foot of tii1ol lay n copy nl the t Cinsdim Union Over tint rue and hiMil It Is iilil nltiiuuuh Mr Clildoeyilld not nritlra this lay a torn IIHC of piper hiding a frhglt lot woiind In tlm t lot l slum it the liHiul Thou ear wan cut Hourly iu two flu tSIUeJttl i it phi tcluI ii IUHHSLJ ontlionoiind t with hi Iliigiirnml n part of theekull sink bu iiuath UIH preftsurc Near thn t top nf th head Man number wound Her rlcht linnd was hulil upn nlnet liHrrtnttwitli th hingi relo Hjbiit not clenched Hur left arm rested along her bijr Uur fentimw wcr peauiful It uppuiirud MB If I sue had guile itUletly tu liwi wbilu nuidliM hor lllblo nnd hud nivir nnnkenud Ner tnu bond ottbubed r tmgou a nbjxw aullir gnoan Weiglilug about limit Iouudd TItus Dituk part or heel wan inarktHl whO blood and grit hair rhrsiclans urn of opinion that shim nan not con cious ol the death blows Th fact tbat shim uau lo the carrel wee aoubtl wi ovrlotr t lh disor dered viMiiiltlnn of her room down Mnlrn Tb a new paint on tho floor of the ioicmr room was not yrt fairly dry Olnor neigh bore ware rullud In nod exainlimtlon wit made of the body of Mrs Avent In tlio kitchen It lay on Its bu k with elbows bout and with thu bunds on thi hrwut tiuninln they bad boon held In PositiOn riy thn carpet whin It was tuckwl around Uur The removal of thn carpet dlHclnimd n brute on the forehead t and an nppiilllng lrutur of the back lurt of f the skull A large part of the app r ball of thu skull moved uudor proasure Within half an hour time whole vlllagn of Avon thronged atioul the house Who could bmw slauulit re4 tlivMu Pjouv unprutxrtud oM Ui dleaf WUH asked The story it f Cbnrlra lined t iliowed that tber w r alive on Suudav morn lug The uodutIon o the bodIes sliawiid tlut tIme murder bud levn coratnlttiMl abxiut twnntyfour houce before thn bodlus wr found I It was tUe opinion ol moot Unit the murder hail human committed in thin hourmi sit morning tiurvl h service Tliooc whu kutw ttie old trifles well said It was quite taron lvablu that the axo wilt picked up by the murdervr ns he pussed tho wood pun at tliu kitchen door eo ery care tul wore they always to keep It In tho mite room which ndiolns the kitchen mini whore the wood saw yet hung Soinni dy must have eutortxl tho meal room tn get the axe aud th S murderer would not naturally have sought t weapon in that outoftheway plan S unless ho hau pruvlousli known that no good a weapon ns an axe was there There waco no mark sot H slcuggln ou be part of iilthor of the victims Only two blown were itrucfc tn eaih case Thre ofthn fur blown I t iuuBt weie vory tioworful and there wm much 4 ihowof probability lint the hniUn on Mrs ue Avunt fontuhund wits not iii uu1uui with tb S Too assailant It labellovcdstrueL h her tiit will m blsflst Apparently the murderer eould no look j on time face of hIs first victim bn l hey wlieni iliufollas was shown by thu absence blood 1 4 from thn kltclmn floor except n pool bunoath uorU Hi Before huwnnt up italrtftb mur dnrar carefslly rovHrml uphor face and wounds with a ploct of rug carpet thiit ho found on tho kltohou floor Tbero ll Flttlv tlouW thou Hits Inference Is correct There were linger marks of bliio on tba handle of th nzvHtid Hi to Wood could oulv have bututi got on Ills fingers In Iba prodaaoi tucking th carpet about the dead womnna bead It was reniarkud as singular that the blow was struck with Iho side of tho un and uot with I is back or udge A motive won looked for A search of tho houso failed lo suorr that anything whatrvtr was mlsuing Dunldes this there was nothing l lu ttie houso worth tlu commIssion of a theft muflh lean of a double murder There wart I 4 only two conceivable motives In this case gain eai orangar Tho villager were troubled It waa I harilui seowharuany one cOUld ba benttlted br tbvlr death and it waa haider a understand stand bow any person could bo to angry or revengeful aa to Injure either ot the defenceless i old laillna 4 y t If yottwlll grant mo Uve Drweaca of aa j Castor In tie httchen with Hri Avont an mealy who onuld be provoked by her pontoi LI w league to Indict that brniai on himr forehead laid mceniIemen wbo ham studied flut pass can aeeit for alitho rut I auumethat tb rnurd rerdld DOtBotber to ommlt murdor uri An tut waa a very oecullac womafl Tha ModtM lt wominomwoi DIQII I I 3 t no as to Injure him Bho did not conflno her self to ccnerallllis and If an enemy visited her fXpnvtluK to Intlnildato her he would him found himself itrrntlr mistaken If wo sniv pooo Mrs Avent felled by the blow of n fist the lm nuiry limn who foiled her found himself In n vory peculiar situation Jim could not hnvo lived In Avon lifter the had told the story of hla rwsnult Tlio Unlred that mudo Uui striking of thn old lady poMtbfo rondo the thought oC Hn Inblngthn work possible Yet somebody must havo struck her Wlilln she lay on tUe floor ho may bAte looked around for n i wmipou Whether tIme axe lay at the wood plln or In time meal room JN had the opportunity and the dlcponltloa toRn ll Ho t hud only to throw open tIme door ol thin meal room In n search for something with which tn Etrlko to find thn axe If It wns there I dont think thoU n maim with an axe In his hand and with n woman lying nt his feet would bo nt all unlikely to strike with thn tide Ho would not i deslroto atni hO AX Into the brain osprclnlly I n man who Immeillntely nlterwnrd would hide I 4 m wound ho had rondo with a nIece nf carpet 4tc It think thastroko wllli the axe was huh by him tc ben matter ofnooefBlty He did not want to see n horrible wound I Ima1no him llstoolnf after ho had struck the final blow discover the whereabout of Mr Cbldsay Ho would bo anxious tn know whether time had not boon 111 tenlng It may have Ixnn with the design of temporarily t deceiving Mrs Chldsoy as to bar haters condition that hn throw lImo piece of cat p et over thn Uxly Ilu undoubtedly oxpoctud Eut to coma down etulm or at least to ask what h ad occasioned the noise lo the kitchen When ho found that she did neither lie reasoned that she had fled out of time front door and would give an alarm Thin thought led him up stairs axe In hand Ho did not take time to wipe the blood from the axo or from his fingers though hu must havn feared that the sight of the blood would havo made her scream with alright I Imagine him hurrying through time rooms up stairs and whnn hn failed to unit her growing pule and j I nerxous with fear lied sho conn out nt the I front f door lute must boloro this have arrived at Luclan H Cnldsera house which was jiut a eros the road though hidden Of a utah tank Them wad iust ono other possibility slio I might have lieu lo tho uarrrt In fear lie did not think tills was likely but ho would make pure i by a hasty look Ho had so little conA j I denco that ho was going to find her hiding l tlinrn t thai nt the foot of the stairs ho set tlio I bloody nxo down As his head rose above the garret floor ho saw her lying In ropoao on u bed Her face was turned from him and she bad ibm Hppoaranoe of being asloop It i t not Impossible that he questioned himself at tills momcntwhcthor he could not afford to parn her Nobody could have anything against Mrs Chldaoy Uu resolved to make sure how ever whether she was asliop or onlyabam rolnir He approached tbf bed and stood over her Sho soemud to bu asleep But there was a risk In letting bar live even If sho wero Her evidence might show tho murderers motive At thin head of time bod was n high square box It had stood tliero months In thelittleys gar rot He could reach without stirring from t ile tracks On top of tIm box was n ml l ors goose One blow would make him smile Ho struck two blows aita It either of which would huvu causal death He had then only to cK away from the house without being soup There Was n second kitchen door on tie at tide of limo house through which he could puss to the shelter of the grape arbor and the clump of row bushv Thtfncc with little risk of br ine summit from the road nn that ijulet Sunilny morning he could make his cay across u foot brldgo ton stretch of woods Of course Ibm Intensity of the horror felt by tho villagers has led them to recall every clr cumilnncn preceding Iho crime that could In auy way bo connected with It It U roiuera Ierfxl for example that one of those who had been Inn subject ot Mm Avtrcta polntnd criticism took hold of her arm a taw weeks KUO In nan ot the village stores and attempted forcibly make her glvo bend to what he was saying She had turned from him as It to Ig linda his angry or Indlxnant references to hor After fcho had left thu store he followed her The old lady went up ou the Btoopof the Post Offlce amid he having mounted the stoop after her took hold of lion arm and forced her down the htells tO the nldnwalk tiha complained ot till violence to setritb purson and It was pro posed the next day to invoke the law to protect her from his violenc In the future but tho idea was abandoned This man Is related to many ot UIH old families In tho neighborhood unit ft wns thought that the excitement caused by legal measures would create morn trouble than would probably arise from any vlolcnca hn was likely to Indulge In Although this story takes cognizance of most of thn fnctt yet mauie known hit villagers can not bollava that any one who has been living In their in Ida t eouil do such a deed Defective Kidney Cowfen of Hartford thought at ono tlmo that hi hod found tho crlmlnnl In thn ponton ot lint Florence Itldgowny a niece of the two sis trs t Mrs Kldgowny had quarrelled with Mrs A wit and bud quit the old house on lie 20th et April Hue was known to nourish bitter fool Ing toward the old lady A few dny after the murder a letter written bv her In Now YorK ar rived In Avon Its contents were not remark able but while IU date May flO was the day of the murder Its postmark was dated Juno 1 iui4uttWttUhIii rIu turned to Nur York utter the commission of the irtirder It was argud that the blow with the eldu of tho axe sliownd womans work But a discovery made br Mr Oowles tended much to assure him of Mre llldgeways guilt This waa a discovery ot frtttutiutbi of a will drawn up for Mr Chidsey Mr Illdgiiwny was ono of Iho heirs and Mr Cowo conjectured that blio Imd committed thn murder nnd at time same time hail destroy Um will I I In I nlileli she was without doubt d Iii a herited Time dxtixtlvv eitmn to New York to semi her but nlill hero ho and two detection ualgiifd by bupnrlntendent Wnlllng to assist him eon lnced thuuievlveB through tlm tentl nxmy of tier employer unit otlieru that she had not quitted New York since she cnmo hero on Aiiil 20 The fact that the litter dated hut SO wan mt mailed until June 1 wits explained by her employer n reiUiibl man who unit that hi hiil I Iirrlfil i thn letter ovum one whole day In bin pocknt throimli forgetfulnes Afur thn iiei rtUKH visit to Now York two wilM went found That ol lire Avunt was found Iu nn old lUck truck iuit whurH Mi Hldgnnnv tit ft would probably bn found Tbu will of Mrs CliKlhoy that was found was one executed many ypjra ago ill which elioan to leiiviiHll her properly to her husband Thu htiBlwnd hiving died first this will IH of no ac count htm hnd dttUrued hover to mnko a will In Mliielt n caiiM wni Intuited btlpulHling that FloiemM Illilywrty I should ulwnyn lmou hoiie In I the I old homestead nud In I addition bequeathing I hr 1200 When this will had ben I drawn up Mio was ppr undeil by Mrs Avent to omit nil iii iulon of Mrs Itldguway Uolay was hue caused nnd the will was ner exixiitHil U Ii l HUPtitil I to he IliU t I will I Iho I rnutllntd rtmaln of which were found by le teetlvu Cowles In bar work biLsket Most of thu pariitfriijihs in it Warn smoothly cut out with bclsoro ns If rho had Intended to paste them on another piece of iniur In u different order Sue tutu very little property merily a few acres of land tad threetweutlethi of thn hoiucKteiul Mm A ntliow VHr owned land lo the VSVst unit lint about OmO In rnvlngb banks Her will was written for her sevnrnl times hy rliln eat GuLriel who utlustRviit her tu the ll v Mr Httdity to hove it written Filially In heat March hit wrotn one htrscif which wan duly exe eitted her pror rty is i UljiKalhed to nephews rind nlrrmi In Ohio Mr Ant who was her uvond hunliand Is said to bn liv lug yet In Nuvcton Abbot county of Ueon EuaUinl Hu wits formerly a barrister in England but hu runiovDd to this country whnru ba met Mrs Aunt titan tine widow of a farmer nuiuod 1lifli Th ev lived In n hundsonio coltape aiimmmleil with tnMion the Ohio 111v iat Uelpr Washington County Ohio Fiom In front donr they could u thn famous Uland whuro Aaron llurr vUltod BloumrtiHssBt About tourteet sears aico Mr and Urn Avont acrucd Iu upurati NuUh brought auiiisiitioii1 against the other This sepurntlon took IIIKV In Avon Mrs Avwnt bade her husbanda Kindly adieu nt tim r a Uro id station U wite old and It was explninnilbivl a strung dertlrti loco buck to Eitgltind wail site had an munlly atrouir dealru to stay In this country AlPr tho Bepnrntlon Mm turned to Ilelpre wherii chin ruuialnd Buoral years Tberu Sr four liranohtxi of the family to which the property of Mm Annt would lirvo cone jf her will luau bueu destroyed Mrs Itlduimny bclongH to one of the I fk but liar inhuilliiiioo I I t would bo only oncf ltcuntli buciuiHu tin hits two sittera unit a brolher living tier itiumlien ttttuiu WiiC liowe It Ib said tin eutlru property of thn two bifteiH eiiiinol HXCCOI f UlfiOU Justice of tlm Iciicu C 11 Woodford acting ns nCoronnr Hiiiniiionod a jury j on thu t dny the i iidli I s vu trim found Charles S anti form Dwlglit JliulRcy llinry Clark Hnd A VCaa took up Um Iuly ol Mrs CliiitHiy from the bud on which It lay In the garret Hint carried It down to thin kllelion whore timer iilncud It hostile tlio body of limit sister Tlm jurymen wnro all friundn until nelghbiirv After viewing tlio remains they ndjourn d until Mon day lust Juno 7 On that data nothing wua done on account of time absence nf one ot the jurors It is mild that the people hardly dare to whlitpor their minds lo onch other but that any regolutn ofllelnl who will silt stories that mire going about In secret will earn him gratitude of thu vlllHgn Oo Thursday la ta reward of 11000 asnffermlby lie eltiwas of Avon assembled In town muutlng for Information leading tu the arrest nnd conviction of the criminal or crim little The Governor of the State U to bu uskod to appoint it titaloduUictlYt to aid in ferreting out the murderer Inatetterto chief ChamberUn of the Mart firti iioilcu dated June 3 AIrs llldgewny savn Mra 4v ut tooa lua wlieu 1 way 6 jearaof ajcoant lor xvaral ytaia I ludered uonld uiirurliui at liar hamli I have lli nurki of tier illlmliicnlol me 10 mr bouts saw an4 tuiel will remain us lottr I UN I drl dliltke her and not without lint cnni bat my only deflie wit to remain away iron tier and have MoUilua to ilu wllli her whatuier Aunt K ilv Mia VUMieyl was aiiexcecilinxly lovuly RUUU Chmiian Huiuaii ana ito ut UK kil IrUiKle ajvl trueai that I bail In this workl Tii affilp Is ft mystery to ml Whu coual hive had the uteri or proviicauon Iu have luunlered poir Mail Km who never wromtid a human btimr In all her lilt ll Kinnelhluj I cannot fathom Mrs Aveit wtt iup ul L btllavebv cotta tu baw tnonev mult ahwya Iu ths IUWM I sis it lb oiiiniua list ihs was itit real object uf the muMerera wai In the HaUlt wise I was Uier hat l olnUr tt taniiig Uiare at all hour thrvMah tan Jay an Sunttay wtmeilmeaOtrvctlT after brraafatt lit wai well acaualnlctl with all parts ol the IIOUM Look wen uound Avon Timer an oiii itlixiliue ahara Hr U tt Llo kHlltaU ni 1 iuave no tiiiflbtt clue al all i omy my iiiiptcluni J hays llniiif oTtr all 1 know and hats read and I am it lhui pillion that to an4 Aunt Km wan sat mui lzrtzL 1 di rr4 m feeaunt nf tlielr nti bat tftktf BironKti rr Vf net it iinra ptMshie l mil tar i nady niMr i pMrr tow Septic M lus t I test Ool t5Irtmtwt l munlarer will be found cad mi1o A may the I easy prrurtr nf thi law Ilir you are a Mranirrr to inc but do 1 bee of Ton all i that yim ran IA unravel Iliat hnrrlblo rnyitory Timers are IwereuuautUi farloron eidbea pitw Search thoirunki these Mra Afloat usually had two pocket booka It ah roallv lia l momy Irs robably In a hu sh buck trunk III thai rooio 1 AIM M ahaturrd eonfu ril aail t rnktt h arte4 over AunlKmturrltU d atll that I am unatl 4 for aterj tlilnf I iliall rtraaln when I urn al t bav nil rot the mean lo leave here and t hart I ctnfeia no dcitre to to nest that minnie wtiero I lat saw them altra and well AnT thliur lhal 1 car dit b kelp is thin matter I idall be only Infltlxt todrv list I Ptse no denlr le l so to Avis for DO amount of mciter vrouM Intlneo KM 14 remata In tAKl dreadM honiwl Mr iHrvoui aritn ll come pl tlr iTiaiternil alr a4y One thinS mere lira Aw tit iftril to talk hunt of Rom person In ATH and itM mar barn moO eMmlet In that war I shah tWnli II bce keen don for either isorv r 1w l rrvence but t I think the will hint nolhlmr to do with Owl 1atiis it was tim by snot nvo well acnmlnwa there I believe no Htranirrr ever murdered these poor women a Ian wltkiuiafamllr aom tare w eka In which time I have been out only twice for mr own pteaaural tn AMU Uo all you cut In tat matter Toura reapeotrull Maa FLOMRCB Ripcawir itreal Niw TarS Wtr r a IMeaM be careful and let no ono ontikto of he la know where lamias I nilthtb belly dealt with aUo The Inqant was concludedrotordnr nflor the examination of ono witness Lester Woodford n mputablo citIzen of Avon who was engaged It 1 painting tho house for several darn be faro the l murders ITo testified that the rooms were Ir I the sums disordered condition while he wrh al t work as that In which they wero found after he crime The scraps of paper found on tho floor were thrown Inure br Mrs Avont whIte ovrrhaullng a drawer Ha said that thn tall ori goosn with which Mrs Arunt wns klllnd ho found In them attla and used It for driving nails He finished his work on Friday and called on Balunlsr and was paid br Mrs Meat who took u tba money from a large leather wallet Sho spokn of having drawn from bank tlie sum of 150 a few days bcforennd It was nearly all gone The wallet was found afterward with a few dollars In It Nothing further of 1m portanc wns elicited train the witness The jurr rendered a verdict hat the women woro murdered br some person or persons unknown Ther were dlrnargod and further Investiga tion will bn under tho direction ot Grand Juror Dwlebt Every
