The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-24
From he Rutland (Vl) Herald, Of Del 0. .


al place called Hayi, supposed TO have been muir
dered On repairing 10 the spot the board OF Jurors
went into the house. and after being duly qualified
by The coroner, Gen, Brown, proceeded to The ex-
animation and inquiry Ard such a revolving scene
of horror and boodshed is probably without paTal-
| lei. From the testimony there seemed to be no
doubt resting on the minds OF the jury that the de-
| ceased Sophia Daman, came TO her end by being
wilfully murdered by Henry Daman, her husband,
by cutting her throat. This believe was the sub
stance OF Tie verdict in the case.
Some Of the testimony disclosed in the examine
tion was too revolving relate In this public man
ner. But We will attempt 10 give some OF the par
liculars.
The house was characterized as one Of i'll fame
had been visited that night by wreches equally de-
iestable in our view, with some OF those who dwelt
therein but not SO well known--that controversy
had taken place between the husband, Daman, and
his wife the deceased In relation TO the visitors and
that in the ARRAY, Damon procured razor while
his wife was in bed and cut her throat nearly from
to ear severing the wndpipe, and both the great
arteries nearly cut off, He then attempted 10 cut
his throat, but did not so eeclually succeed as
to destroy life. He admitted that he killed his wife,
and intended to destroy himself, not having any de-
sire 10 live longer and We should so Judge from his
wreiched appearance at that time. Il further APP
peared in evidence that those who visited the house
that night carried with them Jug of rum, or that
jug Of rum brought into the just before the
| Controversy that Daman drank OF il two or
| three times that there was another man and his
vile in another bed in the room on the floor when
wife-that this man who belonged TO the house re-
manned there in bed when the murder was commit
ted-his wife being frightened had left the room and
the house-the man in bed on the floor had a child
with him, le there by the mother-and his location
| was SUCH that his views of the transactions the
other bed was chiefly obstruced, as there was then
no light in the room except what was derived from
| the moon through the windows-tlere a woman
/ in another room in the house who related among
other things that she frightened by the racket
in and about the house that she leaped out the win
dow and ran to the neighbors-dd not seem TO know
what was going on In the other part of the house.
| II may seem TO the reader from these facts that
Damon might be led to commit this atrocious deed
account Of Jealousy, or in consequence Of disco
vering some criminal intercourse Of his wife, with
other male persons. But il was disclosed in evil
dence, revolving and incredible may seem, that
the husband, il he deserves the name tolerated and
was privy TO this intercourse and sought out and in
vited this infamous employment for the sake Of the
gain thereby derived from Ii! And il was "the
wages of this than the brutal conduct that led
| to the revolving scene above attempted TO be de-
| scribed
Daman's wound was dressed on the morning that
the above transaction took place, and in the course
of the day was committed TO prison and on Satur-
day was taken before Justice Brown for examina
ton. The evidence being very similar, as we are
informed, he was recommitted.
The inquiry now is, when will the criminal be
tried BY the present laws organizing our courts
without some special proceedings he cannot have
trial till next September. 1t is 10 be hoped however,
HoRRlp-On the 22d ult, Alonzo Pnrdy, an active
and promising of Mr.. James Purdy, OF Milton,
Orange County, was deliberately sho. by vile, vicious
boy, named John Baker Young Pnrdy had been gun
ming with another boy named Staples and Baker joined
them, took Purdy's gun and hunted with it for
time. After he returned the gum Purdy reloaded it,
and Baker again desired to fire it, which Purdy refused
Aerward Purdy and Staples sat down their guns, and
climbed into tree to pick apes, which run upon it
Baker coming up, took P.'s gum and exclaimed that
they stealing grapes, and he would shoot them
epon which he took deliberate aim and fired Fifteen
shots lodged in Staples's legs, and he fell to the
ground so violently to stun him When he came to
his senses, he perceived Pnrdy hanging by his feet in
the tree and the blood flowing profusey from hs head
Upon being taken down his right eye was found to be
shot out, and lay upon his cheek his left eye also
penetrated with q shot, which reached the brain his
teeth were torn out and his tongue shot pieces Six
ysix shots lodged in his face He fingered in
extreme agony, unable to speak, until the I'd instant,
when he expired. Baker has fed, but the officers
in pursuit Of him. more cod-blooded and malicious
act we have hardly been called to record. We
knew young Purdy WELL and believe him 10 have been
wel-disposed child incapable Of injurng any one.
We hope that the murderer may be arrested and made
to suffer for offence which appears so truly hellish
and demoniac scarcely to be entitled to place in
the catalogue Of human offences.-W esfchester Spy.
An English paper gives the following account of
the death OF individual from that terrible disease,
The GkaaderS:
:" Most Horrible DeaM-On Saturday week an
adjourned inquest was held at the Champion, Prin-
street. Lisson grove, on the body oil John Lei
Ian, whose death occurred under the following cir
cumstances The jury first proceeded to view the
body of the unfortunate man, which presented
spectacle too horrible TO describe the face being en-
tirely eaten away, and the whole body being one
mass of Sores from top to toe. From the dispositions
il appeared that the deceased was the driver OF
cab and horse the property of Mr.. W. Johnson, cab
owner at the west end of the town.. On the evening
| Of Friday week, the deceased came home and COM
planned of having a cold. He took some Cruel and
went to bed. On the following day large Jumps or
swellings began to make their appearance under the
| Jaw and on the nose, which, as well as the eyes,
emitted great deal of running.
i "The eyes gradually became worse, and full OF
holes and the nose and jaw broke out into dreadful
sores Medical aid was called in, but the gentleman
who attended was unable to tell the nature of the
disease. On Wednesday week deceased was con-
veyed in cab to Sir Ashley Cooper, who examined
from horse The deceased's medical attendant
subsequently fell in with his opinion but all rene
dies were found Of no avail. The unfortunate man
gradually became worse and entirely insensibe. In
the space of two days his fell from his face and
his eyes became like colandef both emitting thick
mucous running He, however about quarter of
an hour before his death which took place on Thurs
day evening recovered his senses, and stated that
| he had got his death by wiping the horse, which
was glandered, with his pocket handkerchief and
then incautiously using the same 10 wipe his own
nose He expired in the most excrucating agony.
| The Jury returned verdict That deceased died
from CHAMBERS accidentally caught from horse, of
| which he was the driver. The jury declared that
they could not be satisfied unless the horse was killed
The proprietor expressed his readiness TO assent to
their proposal and the animal was accordingly de-
stroyed."
Extraordinary Preservation Of The Human Body.
On the 18th June, 1882, Capt. Mead, and his
clerk, of the steamboat Homer, both died OF Cholera