Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-01-22
A TALE OF SORROW.


! Names and places might be given were il
necessary, in notification of the following
facts: WEES
A man of property and standing, named
Major William W., of Connecticut, was
blessed with family of kind, intelligent,
obedient sons. Two of them--the eldest and
best beloved-early received each HIS por-
ton, and took their several Ways to distant
portions of the world, and carving out their
own fortunes: They were each possessed of
an excellent common school-Conhecticu
common Standardization; and wete well
calculated to make their way in the Wbrld.n
| y They departed with fathers and moth
er's blessing resting upon them, and were
remembered with tears and earnest, hopeful
supplications before the throne of mercy, ere
their first days journey was ended.
| A period of nine years rolled rapidly BIZ,
and among the innumerable changes wrought
during that time, was the removal of Major
W from the land Of steady habits-glo-
rious, fondly remembered, ever loved Con-
necticut-to the far west'--a comprehen.
sive term, which means any locality between
| Western New York and the Pacific ocean.
| He was a man Of Sterling integrity true
| New Highlander: intelligent, persevering;
| honest, shrewd, and withal d little arnbi-
tious. The Major dabbled much in politics,
and being a good practical writer and speak
err, in year or two he revolutionized the
| county in which he was settled. Gratitude
and political power rewarded him first with
seat in the State Legislature, and second
with the sherffalty. .-.. .-..' ...f. a ..
A better Sheriff than Major W that
l 1al ~, &.
| ing the first year of his administration the
salutary effects of his perseverance and good
cOunSels were seen and felt. a.,
During the second year of his official life,
notorious vagab6hd, known through the
country as Bill Winchelsea, alias Caulkins,
alias Ford, and half a dozen other assumed
names, after a long course of petty crimes,
| repeated convictions and escapes, was at
length charged with the perpetration of a
foul murder. A widow, who resided mile
or Two from the country town, and who was
reported wealthy, was found early one morn
ing in ] nne lying upon the floor of her barn,
few rods from her house, with her throat
cut and her body awfully mangled with DIN
axe. 1t was known that Winchelsea had
been at the house late the evening Previous
and that he declared he would lodge there
that night. Soon as the murder was dis
| covered, search was made for him, and he
could no where be found. Suspicion natur-
| ally settled upon him, and the hue and cry
was given. r. a-.......r. rtis.. ..,.,.... ~
Sheriff W sent out his deputies and
strong posse, and accidentally receiving
information which led him to believe the
murderer had fed down the Mississippi, he
instantly set out: alone in hot pursuit. He
traced what he believed to be the trail" or
the miscreant down as far as St. Louis, and
there lost it entirely and gave up the chase.
as fruitlesS.. As he was preparing to return
he was taken suddenly ill Of a fever, and for
MANY weeks lay in half-delirious and very
critical state. At the end of that time he
began to be convalescent, and ere long re-
covered so far as to be able to return home.
During his absence, Winchelsea had been
apprehended, tried, convicted upon proof so
| positive that the jury found verdict of
"Guilty of wilful murder" without leaving
their box, and sentenced him to the igno-
minious death of the scaffold. "tG "a
Major W. reached home on the day
appointed for the execution. Being yet fee
BILE, he begged to be relieved from the pain
full duty Of hanging the poor wretch, and 1t
accordingly fell upon one of his deputies. 4
The hour fixed upon for the dreadful
death which the law has legalized, came
round. At that moment messenger arrived
I to inform Major W that the deputy had
fallen upon the scaff0ld in an apoplectic At,
| and that the execution stayed his arrival
There was no alternative. The Sheriff
though weak, and totally unfit for the ter
rible task, felt it to be his duty to promptly
| obey the summons. a.. t..a EaaE ..H -,
In few minutes rolling, heavy hum,
and an unusual commotion in the ranks of
the thousands gathered to behold the shame
full death of a fellow creature, gave evidence
Of the arrival of the Sheriff. The culprit
was dressed for the grave, the fatal rope EN-
circlcd his neck, the cap, drawn over his
face by the deputy before the fit took him,
at his request, remained as it had been adj
justed. A brief prayer was offered up to
God in behalf of the poor wretch, whose last
minute had como. The Clergyman and the
Sheriff then took him by the hand and babe,
him farewell. All things were ready, The
vast crowd was hushed to breathless silence.
With sudden movement the sheriff cut tie
cord, the drop. fell, and the murderer was
hanging by the neck between, the heavens
and the earth. " p" /
:, A few convulsive struggles and all was
over--justice was satisfied. The multitude
dispersed to their homes =, ..s5ts5g I
But the tragedy had not reached its |
close. ,'.'''f' 'i''
After hanging the usual time, the body |
was "cut down." to be delivered to the ply |
sicians-for friends the dead man had none |
no, not one. The Sheriff remained to as
sist in this last ceremony. One removed |
the shoes and another tho 1Ong gowrs. and
the Sheriff himself pulled off the cap The
body was then lying face downward. A mo-
ment after it was turned over, and in the
livid, distorted, ghastly features presented to
view, Sheriff w. recognized 'fhs .coun-
tenagce Of his ovn son! his eldest, his Best
beloved, his long lost son. 4
F; One long minute he stood with streaming |
eyes and uplifted hands, speeehless as the |
clay he gazed upon Then, with a gpan
ofutter agony, he fell upon the body crying I
out, !" NY son oh, my son my son ~ :.
He never spoke again. Death came to |
his relief g29uI Hs fRdf @saetsA |