The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-14
New YORK June I, 1854.

| NEW ! ORk June I, 1894.
Mr.. Editor:
Rarely has our community been stirred up
to such degree of excitement rs il has been
since my last letter, by ficndish murder
committed on the end. inst at Cutchoguc.
Long Island, few miles from the city,
| The victims were Mr.. James Wickham, for
merly wholesale grocer in this city, where
he was widely known and universally cs-
teemed, his wife and negro boy The muir
derer WAS Nicholas Behcchan, mn Irshman
who had been in Mr.. Wickham's employ
| The circumstances which led TO the deed
are as follows:
Nicholas wanted TO marry ono of Mr.
Wickham's servants but the girl, by the ud-
vice of her mistress, rejected him. and, on
his unduly urging his suit, Mr.. Wickham
discharged him, and he left, vowiug revenge
upon the girl. He proceeded at once to
bGreenport, and engaged work and lodgings;
but, that same. night, having walked back to
the house Of his former employer, entered it,
and with post hole axe which he had seiz-
ed, killed first the negro boy and then, after
struggle, Mr.. Wickham and bis'wifc, who
had been aroused BY the noise, and appears
TO have met him in the entry. His chief OBJ
ject was 10 satisfy his brutal passions on the
girl who had rejected him, and he next as
ceuded.t TO her chamber; but she and a fell
low7scrvant who slept. with her, alarmed by
Mrs. Wickham's cries, had made their escape
4 tl. l., a II
neighbors for assistance. Finding himself
discovered, The murderer then made for the
woods where he succeeded in conccalihg
himself for several days. Meanwhile the
persons summond by the servants broke
open the doors, found what had been done
and gave the alarm. 1t was too late for med
ical aid but the demon who had committed
the act was still at lare., and but one feel
ing seemed TO animate the hole commune
ty--and that was n desire for ma capture.
Two o'Eccrs were at once despatched from
New York to aid in the search. All busi-
ness was laid aside, and it is estimated that
n thousand men turned out. A line Of well
armed sentinels WAS posted around the piece
of woods in which it was known that he had
taken refuge. lie was seen and fired at on
two different occasions; but it was not until
Monday morning, o'clock, when they were
marching into the woods and closing their
! line, that lac was captured. He was found
covered over with leaves, and had Just cut
his throat, though fortunately the wound
was so slight that there is no danger Of his
escaping the g"llcws. He at first feigned
insanity but. perceiving that such ruse
was two transparent to do him any good, he
| has since made a full confession Of the
crime.
The Senatorial Cimmittcc appointed TO
examine into the affairs Of Columbia Col
lege, and particularly to inquire into the.facts
come ted with the recent election of a Pro-
fessor of Chemistry and whether in this elcc-
ton the Trustees have violated their charter
by applying religious tests, are now in the
city attending TO these duties. A commit
tee Of the Trustees, as well as delegation
q, from the Alumni who feel aggrieyed by the
election above alluded to, have appeared be-
fore them Fifteen questions are propoua
ded by the examiners, the answers TO which
when furnished by the Trustees, will open
up all the facts. The Honorable Senators
have visited tho College building and found
it IN rather deiapidatcd condition, for the
inroads of hundred years are plainly Sisi-
bic. They have also been escor ted to the
fine grounds owned by the College in the up
per part ofthe city, bounded by the fifth and
sixth Avenues, Forty-seycn ard Fifty-6rst
Streets, covering four latgc squares and con-
tanning several hundred ncres. II Is here
the Trusteess intend erecting their new edi-
fee. The ground Is admirably located,
though uneven and in parts rocky They
have lately contracted TO have it graded
and put in proper order at an expense Of
100000.
The even tenor of Sophomore life at this
venerable institution was somewhat Eudely
disturbed the other day by The diamissal Of
\ iaa whole esss 4lib NFphsrs'. '.sse@3
ema.ed lhssnscivas NJ. iIAiatlGaae the ts.
;ugcs of one,og llh ptel, ssofa With aJsf2s.
joe ST isypsaoes Tie class dtclEet ~
sUta,ds tba naaas 6f tie olfRls, and
\ 0GS iheufose ai@issed 1es 3aeaiy,
| boeagF, hes siaqs bess Ssttle4, ,.el tho
! rt., Soljs fte ra,daiasd,
I sonstog Douglas has boaa atny'ag At tAe