Found Deceased MA - Henry Bedard, 15, found murdered, Swampscott, 16 Dec 1974

[Betty P]

Is there anyone here who has access to the Globe and can summarize the article using the 10% content maximum? Thank you in advance.

I have a subscription to Newspapers.com. In a few weeks I'll probably be able to download it there.

As always, RIP to Henry and heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I do hope they learn the truth some day soon.

 

[marloweclover]

MOO
If no one recognized the bat's carvings at the time, perhaps the bat hadn't been around. Did anyone of interest move to town after baseball season but before the murder, possibly bringing a bat?

These days, a 31" bat would likely be for someone fairly small. Quite possibly smaller, either in height, weight, or both, than Henry. A middle school kid's bat, if you will. I don't know what was common as to size back then though.

 

[Laughing]

MOO
If no one recognized the bat's carvings at the time, perhaps the bat hadn't been around. Did anyone of interest move to town after baseball season but before the murder, possibly bringing a bat?

These days, a 31" bat would likely be for someone fairly small. Quite possibly smaller, either in height, weight, or both, than Henry. A middle school kid's bat, if you will. I don't know what was common as to size back then though.

NOT athletic at all.

Might this have been a softball bat, intended for a young woman, generally smaller framed then young men?

 

[djtopcat]

The bat was probably in someone's car as a weapon. Think drug dealer etc.

 

[Keane]

Here's a Facebook post by Swampscott PD in December which summarizes the case:

https://www.facebook.com/swampscottpolice/posts/pfbid04Ps9ZSU9psLuo7XNb96SenDB9m1CpX9bnghM4BRM2itv8yXDXMTL4pkJmaGH9wzGl

 

[Betty P]

NOT athletic at all.

Might this have been a softball bat, intended for a young woman, generally smaller framed then young men?

I recall one of the older news articles linked here said it was the type used on the high school baseball team. However, the team bats didn't have that marking on the bottom. LE said many other high school teams use the same kind of bat.

Link to scan of the article with info about the bat

https://henrybedard.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bedard_dec20.pdf

 

[Same Old Stella]

It was a Henry Aaron Louisville Slugger with either initials LL which means Little League or the phrase "Approved Little League" engraved into the bat, something an elementary school boy would use.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

Today, fifty years have passed since Henry died. I'm sorry we've failed to get justice for him for so long.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I was thinking about where Henry's killer may have gotten the bat. It seems to have been primarily used by middle schoolers. So, it could be an old bat belonging to a killer Henry's age. It could have belonged to a younger sibling of the killer. It could have been stolen out of a private property. However, in all these cases, I think someone would have come forward recognizing it.

I was looking through old newspaper articles and there were several mentions of mischief at Little League fields in 1974. A few mentioned break ins and stolen equipment, but didn't mention bats specifically. One article focused on the extensive damage and vandalism at a Lynn baseball field. I think it's possible the killer could have obtained the bat this way.

 

[seichem745]

I no longer believe Henry was killed with a personal motive. he was hit from behind and possibly didn;t even know his killer. i belive the wallet was taken and discarded after the murder.

 

[Warwick1991]

I no longer believe Henry was killed with a personal motive. he was hit from behind and possibly didn;t even know his killer. i belive the wallet was taken and discarded after the murder.

Perhaps the focus on a personal motive has misled investigators. But the path he took was not on the way home, so he might have gone to the hill to meet someone.

 

[EndlessEnigma]

Henry was hit five times. It was personal. The boys who found Henry’s wallet turned it in. Whether there was any money in it was left unsaid in order to protect the integrity of the investigation. Police have always believed it was someone in Henry’s circle who murdered him. There must be a reason they believe that.

 

[mst]

Henry was hit five times. It was personal. The boys who found Henry’s wallet turned it in. Whether there was any money in it was left unsaid in order to protect the integrity of the investigation. Police have always believed it was someone in Henry’s circle who murdered him. There must be a reason they believe that.

Pretty sure $37 dollars were missing

 

[Richard]

The markings on the handle end of the bat all seem to have been stamped on individually, and not "carved".

The numeral "1" was likely stamped there by the Louisville Slugger company when the bat was made.

The other marks all look the same and were made by someone holding a piece of metal to the wood, and striking it with a hammer. This method of marking wood was used by old time building carpenters, who used a chisel and mallet to stamp Roman Numerals into beams, shutters, etc. to ensure proper match-up. Roman numerals were used because they could be made with straight lines easily stamped.

 

[Betty P]

The markings on the handle end of the bat all seem to have been stamped on individually, and not "carved".

The numeral "1" was likely stamped there by the Louisville Slugger company when the bat was made.

The other marks all look the same and were made by someone holding a piece of metal to the wood, and striking it with a hammer. This method of marking wood was used by old time building carpenters, who used a chisel and mallet to stamp Roman Numerals into beams, shutters, etc. to ensure proper match-up. Roman numerals were used because they could be made with straight lines easily stamped.

Thanks, that’s very helpful info