The Massachusetts Spy

SALEM, August 4. Soon after the Commitment of Sarah Goldthwait to prison in May last, on Suspicion of murdering her bastard Child, one Abigail Rhodes, of Lynn, a Resident in the same House with her, was missing; on which the Woods, Swamps, &c. were searched by Hundreds of People, in order to find her, but to no Effect. After about two Months Absence, last Thursday e'enight, her Remains, with the Cloathing which she usually wore, were discovered in a Swamp adjacent to where she lived, little remaining but her Bones, her Flesh being mostly consumed. The verdict of the Jury of Inquest, summoned on the Occasion, was, that she came by her Death in a manner unknown. It is very strongly and generally suspected that this poor Woman was murdered; the Reasons for which Suspicion, as we have heard related, are.- That she is supposed to have been knowing to the Death of the bastard child above mentioned; and therefore was put out of the Way that she might not appear as an Evidence in that Affair: That though she was so weak and infirm as to be able to walk but very feebly, she was found in a place almost inaccessible, on Account of Bushes and Mire; and her Shoes, notwithstanding, found to be quite clean, inside as well as out; besides some other Circumstances we can't particularly relate. The Jury, however, though they strictly examined a Number of Persons, could make no Discovery of Violence.