The detectives now began a systematic search in Halifax and Hanson in an attempt to find where the bloodied cart stake found at the scene had originated. They were convinced it came from some spot not far away and farm after farm was visited and searched. They also issued confidential warnings to shopkeepers in the area, asking them to be on the lookout for coins minted more than thirty years ago and scrip issued during the Civil War.  Some coins were soon reported, showing up in stores in neighboring towns, but the clerks who accepted them seemed to have curiously short memories. Then came a startling tip from William Sturtevant of South Hanson, grandnephew of the murdered brothers.

He said that while out walking, a few days before the murders, he saw a man sitting in a wagon behind a span of horses outside his house. He stopped to look at the horses and then, happening to turn, saw a man sneaking up behind him. The man then asked if his name was Sturtevant, and when he told him that it was the man acted like he wanted to “tear him to pieces.” The other man in the wagon then laughed and told him that he wasn’t the right Sturtevant, the second man then jumped into the wagon and they both drove off as fast as they could. Sturtevant told detectives that he did not know who they were, but was told that they sometimes hang out at Frye’s on the Pete Hagen place, which was either in South Abington or West Bridgewater. He then urged the detectives to please look them up, as they obviously meant no good to his elderly uncles.

Before they could begin following this lead, they received startling news from Detective Pinkham. Working single handedly, he had successfully located the site where the murder weapon originated. It was found in South Hanson, outside the home of Sophronia Josselyn, and the cart stake was the property of her father, Luther Keene, who made his home with her after the death of his wife. The cart in the yard of the home, had holes for twelve stakes and one was missing. Pinkham tried the death stake in the empty hole and it fit perfectly. Wells Elliot was then instructed to take photos of this additional evidence that would be used against the guilty party, should he be caught and tried in court.

More stolen Sturtevant money began to show up, first in a South Abington store not far from the railroad station. Although the storekeeper was unable to positively identify the man, he did describe him as being young, and of medium height, and swarthy with piercing eyes, and he had part of two fingers missing on his left hand. The storekeeper also mentioned that the fellow goes by his store every day, and that he probably worked at the Blake shoe factory just down the street.

At this point, the case began to break very quickly. Two of the detectives questioned Henry Blake, owner of the shoe factory, and asked him if the description of the man given them by the storekeeper matched any of the workers in his employ. Blake replied that that the description certainly matched at least one of his workers: William Sturtevant of South Hanson!

The detectives then met Sturtevant face to face and confronted him about his whereabouts on the day of the murder. He told them that he had spent the day in South Abington with a relative, Daniel Blanchard, and that night he and his wife entertained two young ladies, Alice Drayton and Marilla Bonney. He claimed the two ladies departed his house at 9 p.m. after which he went to bed. One of the detectives then noticed a stain on Sturtevant’s collar. It was later determined with the assistance of Dr. H.F. Copeland, that the stain was in fact blood.  They then asked Sturtevant about the cart stake, which had been taken from the Keene yard, which was very close to his home. He denied any knowledge of it, and stuck to his story about his whereabouts on the day of the murder.

Sturtevant was then escorted to his home in Hanson, where he was searched. He was asked to take off his shoes and socks, and when he did, $120 in bills fell on the floor. When confronted with the origin of this huge sum, Sturtevant told them that it was his “life’s savings.”  As they left the Sturtevant home, Detective Pratt was carrying out a mysterious paper bundle. They next headed directly to the scene of the crime in Halifax with William Sturtevant.

As they drew near the barn, young Sturtevant jumped out and ducked inside. Pratt quickly followed, still carrying the mysterious bundle that he had taken from William Sturtevant’s home in South Hanson. He watched Sturtevant stoop and pick up something, stuff it in his pocket and then turn to go out. It then dropped to the ground from his inside pant leg and he continued on without knowing it. The Detective then picked the item up and put it in his coat. He then caught up with Sturtevant and grabbed him by the arm.

Proceeding to the spot where Mary Buckley had been murdered, and where the footprints of the killer were found, Pratt unwrapped the paper bundle to reveal what he had found in Sturtevant’s home. It was a black congress boot with a patched right sole near the toe! The boots were stained with black clay. Pratt then revealed that he had found the boot hidden in the closet behind the chimney, and accused Sturtevant of hiding it there. The suspect then said nothing as Pratt fitted the shoe snugly into the clay track and it was a perfect fit!

Proceeding into the house, the detective then confronted Sturtevant with a thick roll of bills. These were the items that Sturtevant had tried to shove out of sight as he entered the barn.  Sturtevant then claimed that it was his “Bounty Money” which he had received for fighting in the war. The youth then asked to see the bodies of his uncles, which were still at the farmhouse, as their funeral had been arranged for the next day. He remained with the bodies for about fifteen minutes and then was asked to go into the living room for more questioning.

Once inside the living room, Sturtevant’s expression seemed to change to a ghostly pale. Mary Buckley’s parrot Captain Kidd was perched in a brass cage on the table before him. As the bird looked up and saw the young man, it dropped from its perch and cowered in the corner of the cage as if in fear. “Help—Help”! it screamed. “Take that bird away,” Sturtevant replied. “Take it away!” The red and green parrot continued to shriek for help. Then Pratt, with a grim face rose to his feet and closed the door. As the youth continued to stare at the parrot in fear, he started to talk and told the detectives how he had watched from outside the farmhouse waiting for a chance to rob it. He told them how he had lured Mary Buckley, the housekeeper away on an errand of mercy and then struck her down as she hurried down the path. He then told of killing his great uncles. And then just as riches seemed in his grasp, the parrot screamed his haunting yells for help and Sturtevant fled, leaving behind him a trail of evidence which dropped, unnoticed by him, through a hole in his pants pocket!

That night the prisoner was housed in the home of Selectman Inglee. He was placed under arrest and charged with the murder of Mary Buckley, and Simeon and Thomas Sturtevant.

Next week the final chapter in the Sturtevant Murder Case, part four “The Trial of William Sturtevant.”