Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1846-01-15
Stlrfteo Gales.
From the Albany Citizen.
A TALE OF SORROW.

ticut, was blessed with a family at knd
intelligent, obedent sons Two ofthcn
., 1.-The eldest and best brloved-carly re
l. ceived each his portion, and took thei'
several ways to distant portions Of the
country, intent upon establishing them
y selves in the world and carving OIL, thri,
own fortunes, They were each p, ssess
ed Of d common school-CUnae ciicu
common school education and were
well calculated to mako their way in
the world
e They departed with fathers and a
mothers blessing resting upon them,
aud were remembered, with tears aud
earnest. hopeful supplications before the
throne Of mercy, ere their first day =
journey was ended,
A period of nine years rolled rapidly
by, and among the innumerable changes
wrought during tha. time, was The re-
moval of Major W from the land Of
steady habits-gIorious, fondy reIDem.
bered, ever loved Conneolicut-to the
far West'-a comprehensive term,
which means any locality between West
ern New York and the Pacific Ocean.
lie was man Of sterling character
a true New Englander intelligent, per-
severing, honest, shrewd, and wiihaI a
little ambitious, The mnjor dabbled
much in politics, and being good prac-
'ticsl writer and speaker, in IA year or
two revolutIonized the county in which
he was settled. Gratitude and political
power rewarded him first with a seat in
The state Legislature. and second with
he sherflaliy.
A better sheriff than Major W.
that county had never been favored
with. During The first year of his ad-
ministraiion the salutary effects Of his
perseverance and good counsels were
seen and felt.
During the second year Of his off cial
life, notorious vagabond, known
through the country as Bill Winchelsea.
alas Caulkins, alas Ford, and half
dozen other assumed names, after long
course of petty crimes, repeated convic-
tions and escapes, was at length charg-
ed with the preparation Of foul mur-
der. A widow, who resided a mile or
two from the county town, aud who was
reported wealthy, was found early one
morning in June lying upon the floor Of
her barn a few rods from her house,
with her throat cut and her body awfully
maagled with an axe. II was known
that Winchelsea had been at the house
late the evening previous, and he de-
clared he would lodge there that night.
Soon as the murder was discovered,
search was made for bin, and be could
nowhere be found Suspicion naturally
settled upon him, and the hue and cry
was given.
Sheriff W-srni on, his deputies and
"a strong posse, aud accidentally receiv.
ing Information which led hun to believe
the murderer had fed down the Nlisss-
sippi, he Instantly sci out alone IN hot
pursuit. lie traced what he believed
TO be the trail OF the miscresnt down as
lar as ST. Louis, and there lost IT entire
ly, aud gave up the chase as huIIIess
As he was preparing to return, he was
taken suddenly i'll Of fever, and for
many weeks lay ina hslfdeliri"us aud
very critical state. Al the end Of that
time he began to convalescr, aud ere
long recovered so far as to he able TO 70
Turn home.
DUNG his absence, Winch,lsra had
been apprehended, tried and convicted
upon proof ~ positive that the jury found
a verdict OF Guilty OF wIllul murder
without leaving their box, and sentenced
him TO the ignominious death Of the scat
fold.
Maior W-roached home on tho
day appointed for the execution. Beng
yet feeble, he begged TO be relieved
from the painful duty Of hanging the poor
wretch. aud It accordingly Tell upon one
pf h's deputies
The hour fixed upon for the dreadful
murder which the law has rpshzrd
came round. Al that moment mrsseu.
ger arrived 10 inform MAJOR w. that the
deputy had fallen upon The scafold m
nm apopleciic III, aud that IN. execution
stayed his arrival. There was no alter
native. The sheriff, though weak, aud
totally up6, for the isrubIr ,ssk, lel,