The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-26
Horrible Tragedy.

Troy, Wednesday, August u.
An appalling and bloody tragedy came to light
this morning at the St. Charles Hotel. About 10
o'clock this forenoon Mr.. II. H. Mcdonald, the
proprietor of the hotel, thinking there some
thing wrong in the non-appearance of a man and
woman who had stopped as travellers, went up to
their room and knocked ~ the door, Lut receiving
no answer he opened small window over the door,
when horrid spectacle was presented. Both man
and woman were dead. The bodies, the clothes,
and the bed were covered with blood, and the hroaS
Of both cut and horribly mutilated The man
and woman came TO the hotel about 4 O'Clock on
Monday morning. From facts which were brought
out, it was found that the mans name was Will
liam A. Caldwell, u resident Of Whitehall, where
he has father living. He from twenty six to
thirty years of age, and had returned from sea about
three or four months since. he was well dressed
and of respectable appearance. The woman :
maiden name was Louisa &. Van Wrinkle, but il ia
believed she was of late known by the name of
Knapp. She was between twenty-five and thirty
years old, and very beautiful She was dressed in
deep mourning, and is stated TO be from Brooklyn.
The coroner of Troy being out Of the city, Coroner
Cogswel of Lansingburg was sent for TO hold an
inquest. The Jury, after hearing the iacts IL the
case, returned the following verdict
That the woman came to her death by having
her throat cut from ear TO ear by the hands of VIII
liam A. Caldwell, on the evening of Tuesday, and
that Caldwell came to his death by his own hands.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Oae Of the Witnesses at the Gofoner,s inquest be-
ing sworn, testified that he had known Caldwell for
five six years. Saw deceased on Monday and
Tuesday, and deceased told witness that he was on
spree, and the constables were after him. He
said they had arrested him at the Mansion house IN
Wiamstown, Massachusetts,, but that he had
whipped them and escaped. lie SAID he had got a
carriage from the livery stable and had run away
with it, and had left his baggage there. he had
poison he would take it. Wanted witness to get
him two bottles of Congress water and some lunar
caustic. Witness sent the Congress water but not
the caustic. Deceased said hc had another man 3
wife with him from New York. Witness came TO
see Caldwell again: deceased asked him WAY the
devil he did not send him that vial Caldwell
wanted witness TO call in the evening, but witness
had not time to do
DR.. Bontccou testhcd-That he first examined
the bodies, which were both cold, and exhibited
the appearance ofhaving been dead several hours.
The body Of the lady was reclining on the arm Of
the man in an affcctionate position; her hands
crossed on her chest, and throat cut from ear to
ear; and seemed TO have died very easy; counte-
nance pleasant and position that OF person sleep
ing by the side Of one in whom she had every conti
dence. The man exhibited signs Of having strug
ged somewhat after the commission of the deed
bis hand lying on his chest after having laid the
zor by his side; his throat cut badly, severng
the windpipc entirely and causing great amount
Of hemorrhage; hs cloak was on the bed outside Of
the clothes, and all were badly confuscd
The fdict Of the jury we have already gwen
Several letters found on Cadwell's person plainly
showed that the suicide had boon premcditatcd
The following Is one of the letters referred to.
"Niy brother is w E. Caldwell, No. 10 Beaver
street, n. Y.
"The horse here belongs TO the Mansion house,
in Will!amstown, Mass, where all my things are
die by opium and chloroiorm-,et Vur Dodics re-
main quict-un6pened. w. A. CALDWELL
"Our only request IL, that We be buried together,
in Greenwood Cemetery. w. A. C."
The following, found in CALDWELL hat would
indicate that they had contemplated laivido by
drowning.
"Whoevcr may find this hat-thcy can inform
that IN the stream rests the bodies Of two--W. A.
Caldwell Of New York, and Louisa &. Van Win
klc Of Brooklyn; letters can be found in my trunk,
at Mansion. house, WillamstOwn, Massachusetts.
SUNDAY, Aug. Is, 1850"
The appearance OF the room ehowcd that Cald-
we'll aud his companion had attempted suicide IA.
indicated below. The following note explains the
fact-it was found on the table:
''Our room shows that we failed in attempting 10
deprive us ofour life by taking opium--but a. that
has failed We die by the sword
Courage bold WAC.
Letters in my trunk, al willamstown, Mass. b,
will explain all. WA. c."