The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-04
HORRID MURDERS ON LONG ISLAND.
Three Persons Probably ikiucd-Tho Mur
deYer Suspected, Sc.

Three Persons Probably Kiled-Tho Mur
derer Suspected, Sc.
Aboct twelve O'Clock Friday night, two ser
want girls in the employ Of Mr.. James Wickham, az
Cutchoguc, in SouthoId town. L. L., were awakened
by the cries of some of the inmates OF the house
and on listening, heard repeated blows ns if some
| body was being struck on the head, and sso heard
Mrs. Wickham cxclaim, nicholas, don't kill him
don't kill him." Upon this, the girl supposing that
Mr.. Wickham was being murdered, got out Of an
attic window and fed TO the nearest neighbors and
gave the alarm
The house was Immediately visited and presented
| q horrible spectacle. Mr.. Wickhan, who WAC for
r1erly merchant in this city, and wealthy farm
err, lay weteriDg in his blood, his head cut literally
to pieces, and apparently in the last gasp OF his
| existence and when our informant left the scene
lie was yet breathing, although unconscious with
no hope OF his recovery. Mrs. Frances Wickhanf,
his wife, was dead. she having had her brains
completely knocked out which, together with her
blood. was scattered about the room. Mrs. w. was
buS thirty-fve years Of age. negro boy, about
iftsen years old. who living in the family, was
also beat and cut about the head to such an extent
that he cannot survive his injuries and he to- il
in sch condition as to he unable to give any ao-
couns of the desperate murderer. The deed was
committed with post axe, an implement used for
the purpose of holing posts for fences
From the cries of Mrs. Wickham which were heard
by the servant girls il il suspected that an Irishman
whose name is Nicholas Dane, and who had been in
nhe employ of Mr.. W., but was discharged on We'd
nj sday, iathe peSpetretor of this hosrd deed hut
~ traces Of him had been found up to yesterday
\ afternoon.
Y II Sea Io ,Sn.o H. :.xh.
TO be revenged upon Mr.. w. for discharging him
and determined to murder his whole family. He
sometime since desired to marry one Of the servant
girls but, on her refusing to have him, he swore
vengeance against her. Nothing in the house was
carried away, which indicates that revenge in
stead of robbery nstigated the monster to the per
petration of TINS borlid crime He will not probs-
bly, long elude the officers of justice.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THIS AFFAIR.
James Wickham, formerly Of the firm Of Wick
lam Corwin, grocers in this city, and who had
Iestred on farm at Cutchogue, T.. l., was murdered
last night at his residence, together with his wife
aHda negro boy. The affair has created the greatest
excitement in the place, il is the first murder that
has taken place in, the township for thirty years.
ihe murderer is supposed to be Nicholas Dane, an
L'3hman who had worked for Mr.. Wickham for two
or three years past and who left his employ only
10" days ago. and was last seen about the premises
the night before The murder.
This man is anont six feet nigh, large boned.
round shouldered, high check homes, red face, and
no whskers generally walked very fast /; usually
carried with him silver watch and a steel guard
chain.
The instrumentw'th which this horrible deed was
perpeha'ed is called post axe, which was found
yesterday morning upon the premises, with blood
| and hair upon it.
STILL LATER PARTICULARS.
| Mr.. Wickham and the negro boy are still alive, a.
groan escaping from them at intervals but no hopes
are entertained for their recovery. The object 81
the murderer to have been robbery but in this
the fiend was foiled, as the two servant girls who
slept in the upper part of tho house, hearing the
cries Of murder proceeding from below, escaped
from window out upon back shed, and alarmed
the neigbbors. The murderer, upon going to tho
girls room and finding they had fed, escaped from
the house without punderiHg
The persons alarmed by the girl were Joseph
Corwin, VIM. Belts, and DR.. Carpenter, who came
Immediately to the house; but the murderer had
fed leaving behind him his hat, which has been
recognized as belonging to Nicholas Dane. Tracks
of blood left from The feet of the monster as he
passed out of the house. 1t seems That after his
discharge on Wednesday, he hung about the pre-.
misses, and made use OF threats towards the girl
Ellen for not marrying him, attributng her refusal
to the advice given her by Mr.. and Mrs. Wckham.
On Friday morning he left the house, took his
truhk, and went to Grtenport. Taere he left the
trunk, and that night is supposed TO have walked
back to the residence Of Mr.. Wickham, a distance
of about ten miles, broke into the premises and no
dout INTENDED TO murder all in the house. and would
have accomplished the bloody deed had not the girls
been awakened by tie cries OF Mrs. Wickham. Up
to the latest account arrest had been made, and
| it was supposed that the murderer was secreted i'm
| the woods, or, perchance, making his way towards
| New York. The inhabitants, however, were out in
full force in pursuit, and no doubt the monster will
| lie captured. He is described being six feet in
height broad shoulders black hair, inclined to curl,
| high cheek bones and fast, rolling walk chews
tobacco freely, and is about twenty-eight years Of
! age.
j We are indebted for the above information to Mr..
John Martin, OF River Head, who came to the city
last evening to notify the friends and relatives Of
tie deceased.
/