Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1890 — THE SAWTELLE MURDER [ARTICLE]

THE SAWTELLE MURDER

.SAAC TELLS HOW HIB BROTHER WAS MURDERED. The Victim Lured to a Lonely Camp and an Attempt Made to Extort Hla Estate from Him—Claims Dr. Blood Did the Killing. Boston (Mass.) dispatch: A morning paper prints what it claims is a confession made to his counsel by Isaac B. Sawtelie of Boston, now in jail at Dover, N. H., awaiting trial for tne murder of bis brother Hiram, whose mutilated body was found buried in the woods in Lebanon, Me., last February. Jn this alleged confession Isaac says that he and Hiram's wife wero parties to a conspiracy to lure Hiram to an abandoned camp in Lebanon, Me., whore he was to be held captive by the notorious Dr. Blood and the ex-conviet “Jack” (who have been suspected of having guilty knowledge, at least, of the murder) until he should relinquish in writing all claim to the estate left by his father. Isaac decoyed Hiram to Rochester, N. H., and drove him to a point near the camp, where he was turned over to “Jack.” Isaac claims that his connection with the case ended at this point, and that he did not know of Hiram's death until he received a letter while in Portland telling him that it had been necessary to put Hiram out of the way, and that each of the trio must look out for himself. T his so-called confession makes most of the evidence In possession of the government accord with this theorv of Hiram's taking off, and claims that the murder was committed in Maine by Dr. Blood and the convict “Jack.” He said he had had Dr. Blood’s own handwriting for the proof that Hiram was killed in a struggle, during which more than intended violence was used bv either him or “Jack” to prevent Hiram from gaining his liberty. “The conspiracy,” he said, “was planned by Blood, assented to by me, directly furthered by his companion, and indirectly bv a friend in Lowell.” According to Isaac, Blood was to get SSOO for his part of the conspiracy, and he (Isaac) gave him SIOO cash and a note for S4OO, payable in weekly installments of $25. He claims that Mr. Richardson of Lowell, at whose house ho stopped on his way to Rochester, N. 11., with his niece, gave him the pills which he afterward gave the girl, but the pills were harmless, only causing a sickness which served as an excuse to decoy Iliram to Rochester and that he (Isaac) told Richardson of the intended operations against Hiram. Isaac says that Blood wrote him a letter at Rochester giving him instructions to drive from Rochester to an old house near Springvale, Maine, where he would find a person to whom ho was to pay the installment of the note then due. The letter also requested him to bring a spade, He drove to the house on the Tuesday before the murder, where lie found “Jack,” who requested him to bring an ax witli which to cut wood for fires, as he said Blood and lie were going to be prepared to remain all winter, if necessary, to get Hiram to sign the paper giving up all claims to the property. “Jack” also wanted a spado and pickax, which he said would have a part in the persecution of Hiram, but as Isaac says he supposed, for ocular effect only. On Wednesday Isaac says he drove Hiram to.the same spot,where “Jack” met him and told Isaac to go for a doctor while he drove Hiram to the house where he expected to find his sick daughter. Isaac left the carriage and “Jack” returned it to him about an hour and a half later. Isaac then drove “Jack” about three miles up the Springvale road, where “Jack” left the carriage with a bag which lie had in behind and which Isaac thinks contained Iliram’s clothes and head. lie claims he did nut see Dr. Blood at Springvale, nor has he seen him or “Jack” sinco the disappearance of Hiram. It is believed that the confession is not genuiue, and that Sawtelie made it up to account for the evidence which he knows the State has against him. The story of the crime having been committed in Maine is apparently an attempt to escape the gallows, as the death penalty is not enforced in that State.