Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-09-22

NJ
One of the most shocking, cool blooded muir
ders, evidently premedit tied, which has occur
red in this State for lohg time, was commit
ted between and o Wednesday, night, il she
usually quiet town Of Sherburne, about a mile
and a half from. he viii &aesof South Framing
ham. The particulars the horrid affair, as
we learn hem ARE as fiMIpws. 81
About o'clock onF wv ednesday evening,
John Chapman, aged albut 81 years, called at
the house be an old ma snamed~ Reuben Coz
zens, in SSherburne, aIH found no one Up ex-
cepting Mrs. Cozzens, kher husband and their
hired man, an Irishma& having retired for the
night. Chapman statBd 10 Mrs. CoZzens, as
the reason of his calIir1, that her son had been
| thrown outof q wagok and seriously injured,
in birmingham, and Vas very anxious TO see
his father. Mrs. Coz16ns Immediately called
her husband and told I'm the story, whereupon
the old gentleman are$s, and dressing himself
as speedily as possibI look measure Of grain
and halter, and stari&d for his pasture to catch
his horse, preparatOIe to proceeding to Fra
mingham MIR. COD ems had proceeded but a
few rods from his hO4s 70 when Chapman, who
had armed himself With an axe, struck the old
man heavy blow d the head, cleaving his
skull, and of course Filling him instantly. .
The murderer neG re-entered the house,
and struck Mrs. Co4Jens heavy blow on the
head, inficting drefaful wound, which will
probably prove fatal ind which knocked her
senseless to the foQrE Na
Chapman then, lno3 satisfied with the human
blood he had split, raAhed to the room occupied
by the lrlshman, WIG at the moment, sprang
from his bed, and se8ng the axe raised above
his head, instantly seIzed the weapon, and both
he and Chapman fell pon the floor in a severe
struggle. The lrishi8an succeeded in wrench
ing the axe from Qbapman, who instantly
seized an earthen ve&Bel from nnder the bed
with which he inficte4 several blows on the
Irishman's head and kTiising his face very Sc
verely. The MISUNDERSTANDING that his life was
in danger, and not knowing what had befallen
Mr.. and Mrs. Cozzep4 begged for his life, and
after considerable patley, the two separated,
and Chapman fed.
The Irlshman soon EFT his room, and found
Mrs. COZzens senseless$bn the floor. He then
went in search of Mrs Cozzens, and as he was
passing through the Gard stumbled and fell
over his PROSTATE and lead body. In this state
Of things, and being grAatly exhausted rom the
loss of blood and the hisrd struggle with Chap
man, he started for the house of the neares,
neighbor, Mrs. Paul, about quarter Of mile
distant for assistance Upon reaching Mrs.
P's house, he had barely strength to inform her
Of the facts, when he$wooned. Mrs Paul
although an elderly hdy, Immediately pro
ceeded TO the scene Of 4he murder, and as soon
as possible called otherAaid faa ohiba NV
Mrs. CoZzens was fannd to be living, ant
restoratives being applied, she recovered her
senses, and related man9 Of the foregoing facts
declaring that John Chapman was the assassin
Her wounds, however, are Of SO serious ma
ture, that it is not expected that she can recov-
| er. .. .a fstf h. ..f
John Chapman, the Gairderer, is nearly 81
years Of age, five feet six inches in height, dark
complexion, black curly hair, full face, anc
rather dark or hazel eyeS He is still at large
but will doubtless soon befaptnred. The only
reason which can be assikhed for this bruta
and premeditated murdefs.is that Chapman
probably believed Mr.. CozWns had large sum
of money, to gain which ny planned and com
milted this murder. rs vi-. 4.r
The affair has caused the. most intense ex
element in Sherburne and me adjoining towns
Chapman formerly lived in the family O
Mr.. Cozzens, and for that eason could be un
misiakably identified BY M Cozzens-Bos
ion Journal II