Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-08-29
WHOLE NO. l,l6
HORRIBLE TRAG EDY.
THOY, Wednesday. Aug

An appalling and bloc ly tragedy came
10 light this morning a, the ST. Charles Ho,
tel. About l0'o'clock this forenoon Mr..
X. RI. Mcdonald the proprietor of the ho-
tsl, thinking there was something wrong
in the non-appearance Of a man and wom-
an who had stopped as travellers, went up
10 their room and knocked at the door, but
receiving no. answer be opensd a. snslh
window over the door, when a, horrid spec
tace was presented. Both man aud wom-
an, were deal. The bodies, the clothes
aud the d were covered with blool and.
the ,hroats of both were cut and horribly
mutilated. The man and woman came to
the hotel about o'clock on Monday morn.
ing. From facts which were brought, out,
it was found tha, the mans name was VIII.
liam A. Caldwell, a resident OF Whitehall,
where he has father living. lie was
from twenty-sx to thirty years of age and,
had returned from sea about three OF four
months since. He was well dressed aad
Of respectable appearance. The wnman's.
maiden Lame Na as Lonisa G. Van Wrinkle,
but it i believed she was of late known by
the name Of Knapp. She was betu cen 25.
and 80 years cd, and very beautiful. She
was dressed in deep mourning and 10 stat
ed to b. from Bcooklyn. The Coroner Of
Troy bcln, out Of the city, Coroner Cogs,
well Of Lansinsburg was sen, fpa to hold
an inquest. The Jury, after hearing tho
facts in the case, returned the following
verdict,
That the woman came to her death BY,
having her throat Gu, from ear to ear by
the hands Of William A. Caldwell, on the
evening Of Tuesday. and tina, Caldwell
came to his death by his own hands.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
We ex,rsc, the following farther, par,ie-
ulars of the horrible murder and suicide Of
w. A. Caldwell, AMI Louisa, G. Van
Winkle at the St. Charles Hotel, Troy, on,
Wednesday morning, from the Troy Bud
get Of Wednesday evening, fors copy of
which we are indebted 10 George T.. Cook.
Clerk OF the s,ramb' al Empire.
One Of the Witnesses a, tho CoronCr,s,
inquest being sworn tcs'iicd that he hal
known Caldwell for 5 or years. Saw.
deceased on Monday and Tuesday. and de-.
ceased told witness lha, he was on spree,
and the constables were after him. He
said they he'd arrested hin at the Mansion
House IN Wlliamstown, Mass, but that he
had whipped them and escaped. He said
ne had got carriage at the livery stable
and had run away with it, and had left his
baggage there. II he had p,ison he would
take IT. Wanted witness 10. ge, him two.
bottles Of Congress water and some lunar
caus,ic. Witness sent the Congress water,
but no, the causlc. Deceased said he had
another mans wife with him from New
1 York. Witness came TO see Caldwell,
again, deceased asked him why the devil
he did not senJ him that vial. Caldwell
wanted witness 10 call in the evening, but,
witness ha not time TO oa so.
DR.. Bontecou, tesi6ed-That he first,
examined the bodies, which were both cold
and exhibited the appearance of having,
been dead several hours. The body Of the
lady was reclining ON the arm ofrthe man
in avery afieciionate manner her hands
crossed on her chest ; and throat cut from
ear to ear ; and seemed 10 have died very
easy, coun,enanoe pleasant and position
that OF person sleeping by the side Of ono
IN HON she had every confidence. The
man exhibited signs Of having struggled
somewhat after the commission of the deed;
his hand lying on his ches, after havin.
laid the razor by his side his throat was,
cut badly, severine tho windpipe entirely
and causing great amount of ofhcmorrhage;
his cloak was on the bed outside Of the
/ clothes, and al were badly confused.
The verdict of the jury We have already
| given. Several letters ioand on Caldwell's
person plainly showed tina, the suicide had
been premedi,aled Tine following is one C
the letters referred to -
/ My BROTHER is w. f. Caldwell, No. 10.
Beaver ST.. New York.
The horse here belongs TO the Mansion,
House, in Williamstown, Mass, where all
my things are. die by opium and chic
roformr-let our bodies remain quist-un-
opened. W. A. CALDWELL.
The following fouEd in Caidwellis- hat, /,
woald indicate tina, they had contemplated
snicide by drowning -
H WhasSer may find this hai-ihey can
iRioD tha, in the stream rests the bodies
oitwo---W. A. CsliScll, OF N. Y, and
Louisa c. Van Winkle, Of Brooklyn--let-
ters can be fopnd in my trunk, at Mansion
House, WiIliamstown, Mass.
Sunday, Aug. Is, 1850.
II The appearances Of the oom showed tha,
Caldwell ond his companion had attempted
suicide az ind Gated above. The follow.
ing note explains the IA Tit was found on
the table -
II Our room shows That us failed in a,-
tempting TO deprive US Of our life by taking
opiAm-but as thai has failed We die b.
III chs suayA.