Dean Murder

In the later part of the First World War the violence of Europe was brought home to Jaffrey in an event that would split the town in controversy for many years. Late at night on August 13, 1918 a very well known and prominent Jaffrey citizen was brutally murdered at his farm just two miles north of East Jaffrey. William Kendrick Dean was brutally murdered after arriving home from a trip to Jaffrey. During the summer of 1918 hundreds of people saw strange lights around the peaks of Mount Monadnock, Pack Monadnock, and Temple Mountain. The lights were of different colors and they were said to be signals to German submarines in Boston Harbor. Boston is only 70 miles from Jaffrey, and from the elevations of the mountains the harbor is easily visible.

Dr. Dean was concerned about the situation and had apparently gotten some information of importance. Hhe had confided to Mrs. Morrison on the day before his murder that he had some information for the authorities in Boston that would be too dangerous for a woman to know. He wanted here to summon the authorities when she went to Boston the next day. That night Dr. Dean was murdered and his body placed in a cistern. He was completely bound, and his head covered with a burlap bag. A 27 lb rock was place in the bag to weigh the body down. The body was found in 6 feet of water in the cistern.

His wife was suspected as well as his tenants and even some prominent citizens of Jaffrey and friends of Dr. Dean. Because of the paranoia of world war I and the suspected German activities in the area this murder quickly took on the implications of a spy novel with international connections. The Colfelts, who rented the main house on the Dean Farm, were suspected as German spy’s as well as being murderers.

Many accounts were written about the murder and subsequent investigation. Some families had their own histories written on the subject. This is still an unsolved mystery and yet it was well documented at the time between the government inquiries, the newspaper, private investigators, and finally the grand jury investigation. All were unable to prove who committed the crime. As late as 1996 accounts were being written about that long ago murder.

Almost everyone in Jaffrey at the time was involved or at least on one side of the issue or the other. If your family had ties to the town in 1918 it may be interesting for you to research their recollection of this crime. Even more than 80 years after the event the controversy still exists and feelings are still felt.