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tMrs. Melinda Frost of This City Is 8? Years Old Today — R e c a 11s Whalen Murder at Washington — The Minnesota Indians.I»3 j Woven Into the life history of Mr*^ Melinda Frost, who Is 8? years old to day Is the thought that It was ah* ; wlio Is responsible for the conviction, of William Coy, the murderer of John Whalen, at Washington, Mass.. In _ 1892. Whether or not ft was her story told In the superior court that sent Ooy to the hangman's noose in the local jail In March 189.1, it. Is certain that she played a most Important role in this case.On the night of the murder, Mrs, t Frost was living in a little houee In i Washington, close by a stream over . which Coy passed after doing the bru tal hacking of John Whalen. In the dead of night she beard the trea i of muffled horse's feet driving rapidly 9 over the little bridge near her house.* and later heard Coy ervin* JohnI John!*’Hjk;*| When, a few days later, a quantity of Whalen s household goods wasbrought to a neighbors by the name ofr Geer, Mrs. Frost noticed that somei of the things were stained with bloodand this aroused her suspicions that - all was not well with John Whalen, who had been missing for several days. Coy explained that the bloodcame from chickens which Whalenhad been killingThis did not satisfy Mrs. Frost, and the matter kept weighing upon her rnkid uptil finally she told her son Albert 1„. Frost, late of this city and Jcf seph Flouten. a Westfield whip poddler who frequently came to Washington. Coy, it may be explained, had told that Whalen was In Weatfteld at his home. Flouten hadn't heard of hisI presence in that town, and upon in | vestigation learned that Whaien had-not been there.* This gave a clue that Coy had not expected and later led to the finding of Whalen’s dismembered body buried in the woods in Washington.Mrs. Frost's life ha? been an active one. Born in Pownal, Vt„ on May 18, 1822, she resided there for 12 years when she went to.North Adams to work in a factory. She remained there for five years and then removed to Cabotville, near Springfield. She married there lmther Frost, an i went to Monson to live.Her next place of abode was Minnesota she and Mr. Frost going there 1n ; the pioneer days when the Indians 1 were still plentiful and the mode of travel was by stage coach across the prairies. Her stories of the Indians are filled with interest, and she remembers them as though they had happened only a few years since. jMr. and Mrs. Frost did not remainlong in Minnesota but removed their goods back east, going to Washington. Mass.. w here her husband conducted ia farm for some years. Twenty-five years ago he died, and Mrs. Frost remained at the old homestead for sometime, later making her home with herson, the late Albert L. Frost in this:city. She now lives with her grand- !daughter. Mrs. Harry MacDonald Appleton avenue.Seven children w^ere born to Mr Frost—Emily, Monroe. Delocia, Albe L., Ida, Isabelle and William. Two lt;these are still living—Monroe anWilliam, the former occupying the olhomestead in the town of Washinjton. Four of her grandchildren ailiving. They are Mrs. Harry MacDoiaid. (nee Ethel Frost) and Mrs. Wiliam MacDonald (nee beila Frosiboth o) this city and James andlinda Frost, the two latter, ehiidn of Men roe Frost.Mrs. Frost is still able to be up around .although during the past months, she has not been as aoti as formerly. She has been a partk larly strong woman, and she still i tains her mental activity and cheer!spirit.
Newspaper Details
The Berkshire Evening Eagle
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, US
Tue, May 18, 1909
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 06 Oct 2021
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