The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-06
THE HCRRD MURDERS ON LONG ISLAND.

EIxclIcm6nt-A Made
to Hang Him TO Tree-The Funeral Of
! MIR. and Mrs. WicIkham.
In yesterdays COTTON we gave detailed account
proceedings taken up Sunday afternoon BY the
people in Suffolk county consequent upon the atrocious
murder Of Mr. and Mrs Wickham, at Cutchogue town OF
Southhold, Suffolk county Long Island Nicholas Balm
the rpersor Of the crime having taken to the woods
to eude arrest and as great fear entertained that he
would avoid the vglanse Of the sheriff, consequently
the people of the township and county mustered together
forca of several hundred men armed with pistols ana
guns who formed themselves into squads Of twenty Ave
and thirty and thus divided OF in varions directions for
tie purpose Of scoring the woods s~amps through
out the section of country where the iercr was
known to be.
We left the scene Of the Tragedy at Tour O'Clock On
Suniay afternoon, and mp that time no person had
the criminal since the night previous when he
capped from the house Of Mr. Thompson and took the
woods--thc circumstances of which we have ALREADY
published.
Justice Osiorn of this otsJ, wishing 70 aid the autho
rites Of that county in the capture of the villain sent
down constable Nesbit and Sergeant Do wing two very
expert officers for that purpose These ocers arrived
ON Sunday afternoon and ast evening meeting vss
held, at the suggestion of Mr John Martin OF River
heae-who has from the commencement Mt of this melan
choy affair rendered essential service towards the
arrest OF the assassin. AT this meeting Of the people
thetwo New York officers CHOSEN captains and un
der their orders squads we're formed who took differ
ent directions, keeping always within hearing distance
that whoever discovered the murderer by
gun, should give the understood signal for general
muster.
In this manner, at sundown the various squads took
ther positions and kept guard At about O'Clock on
Monday morning Nicholas Balm made his appearance
from swamp on the south side of the Island One Of
the guard observed him. and quickly did tho criminal
his pursuers and secuted back to the woods The
guard discharged Lis gun at him he retrcated, but
without effect The discharge created general alarm
and more vigilant watch kept until aylight The
various patches ofwoods then taken ia rotation
and aminutc search made At O'Clock a DISCHARGE of
guns was heard In piece Of woods situated within half
q mile OF the Hermitage depot Cheering and hooong
took place. The signal was understood. The New York
officers were in few minutes the spot and there
they found Nicholas Balm covered up by some brush
wood, arpar emily nscnsblc At FIRST he was thought to
be dead wound of about two inches in length was
visible on Lis throat He picked up from his hiding
place, and conveyed to the road and laid tree
Here scene occurred which battles description. The
alarm having become general that the murderer was
CAPTURED the whole force In pursuit hnrryns up
yelling and cheering IKE many crazy men; each one
too wanted to irhct blow the monster. The cry
was, Hang him up to the tree, eDespatch the vii
like" stake his head oa'' said another" "Burn the
son Of -" exclaimed another, &c. GGicer DowIing
protested against any such steps being takea aad was
actually compelled 10 stand guard te accused with
loaded revolver, to prevent the excited eope from
carrying the i nch law into effect.
The prisoner appeared to have been worn out with
fatigue. il, lis pockets found augc barrel pis-
to loaded with small shot pocket Enfe and razor
case from which IT is supposed he took the razor TO kin
anlf 1.,lo s.ns. IL.
In bis pockets also found bread and Ike enough
fer him to subsist upon two days The bottoms of
his Tana,oons were saturated with blood apparently
that OF his victims. He would not speak although IL
was evident from lis physical appearance that he
could il he chose, but acting that manner to ar
feet tinsanity.
wagon was procured, and the prisoner was placed
therein and conveyed to barn the Hermitage de
rot Hero the officers placed him in tho custody Of
the sheriff Dr. Lord sent for TO render medical as
sstance. lie found the wndppe severed to the exter
Of alont half nch but the arteries not being nj
the doctor pronounced the wound not one of fatal
character and therefore he considered the wretch would
recover. The wounds DIRE ises, and it was only
when the needle passed through his skim in stitching mp
the cut, that hc exhibited signs Of animation.
The great curiosity exhibited by the excited popuaee
induced constable Nosbit to crafty them and, Their
FORE hc requested them to form line and pass in single
fle by the criminal which they did, enabled TO
take view Of the monster he Iay Each one az he
passed, gave vent to his feelings by exclamation of
80, you villain ~ 30, you murderer - ssYou ought to
be burned alive and all such similar expressions The
great excitement over-thc fugitive was caught
and in the hands Of the law. That afternoon he was
conveyed to the jail at Riverhead where he will be kent
10 await his trial.
The evidence against the prisoner although mostly OF
cireumsaatia character, Is very strong In the FIRST
place. there the threats Immediately prior to the
murdersthTcaening revenge; secondly the manner Of
entering the house, showng his knowledge of the pre-
misses thirdly the savage watch dog kept in the kitchen
not making any alarm, which he would have done had
any stranger attempted to enter; fourthy, the straw
at left in the kitchen has been Identified to belong to
the prisoner; fthly his subsequent conduct and par
tial acknowledgment Of his guilt to Mr. Thompson and
the bloody condition o ( his clothing.
The funeral Of Mr.. and Mrs. Wickham took place at
O'Clock yesterday acrnoon, attended by their relatives
and large number of friends and acquaintance AZ
last advicos the colored boy yet breathing although
no hore was entertained of his recovery
In reference 10 the reward of 81 900 offered BY Mr.
John Wickham for the arrest of Ban we suppose Il will
be awarded TO those who first discovered him ia The
woods, and to those in the immediate vicinity The
New York officers certainly deserve to be compensated
for their trouble they very active and rendered
good and ehectual service.
BOARD OF Supervisors.
JuSE lila Honor the Recorder in the chair. The
minute of the ast meeting read and approved.