Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-06-15
OF THE MURDERER OF
THE WICKHAM FAMILY.

THE WICKHAM FAMILY.
Mr.. James Wickham and his wife, and
colored boy, were brutally murdered on
las. Friday night week, at Culchogue, Long
Island. Mr. w. was formerly Of the firm Of
Wickham 6 Corwn, grocers, in New Y o'k,
but had retired from business with CON
siderable fortune A man named Nicholas
Baban, or Beheehan, formerly in his en-
pIoy, was Immediately suspected of the re-
voting crime. Beheehan was arrested
few days after in the woods on Long Island
by persons in pursuit of him. lie has made
the following confession
81 started, from Greenport about 8 o'clock
on Friday night, for Cutcbogue, and arrived
at Wickham's house by | | o'clock got
the post-axe from The wood pile, and into
the house through the kitchen window, and
passed up into the kitchen garrett where the
negro boy slept. struck him three or
four blows over the head with the axe
lie did no, kill him, owing TO the lownes~
of the roof, which prevented his swinging
the axe. The garrett was situated on
level with the floor upon which Mr.. and
Mrs. Wickham slept, and communicated by
door which opened upon the second s'o
ry hall of the main building.
The las, loom upon this hall was the
one in which The murdered couple slept
On opening the hall door, Mrs. Wickham
opened the door Of her room and asked,
"Who's tina, :" and added Immediately,
nicholas, what are you doing here p
What do you want:' Mr.. Wickham
and attempted TO strike him with The axe.
Mr.. W. grasped it, and then struck him in
the mouth with my fist MIR. w. got the
axe out of ny hand and struck at me with
it; caugh, lhe handle as i, descended, and
struck him again with my fist; the third
blow knocked him down Mrs. Wickham
was crying out, ''Don'. Kill him, Nicholas
take any thing you want, but dom. kill him."
and in her struggles with me she tore off
my shirt; struck Mr.. Wickham several
times wi,h.,he axe while he lay upon the
floor, and had struck Mrs. Wickham seve-
raj blows with The axe in The scuflle.
While was striking Mr.. Wickham OBJ
served thai Mrs. Wickham was getting out
Of the window; pulled hersback by the
feet. and then finished her with the axe;
can't tell how many times ! struck MIR.
Wick ham, but he 60, up three times, end
hit him several blows each time !; then
passed back into the kitchen garrett and
| fastened the door after me; went down
stairs through the parlors, and up the stairs
of the main building to the servant girls
room, but found the door and the window
open. Finding they had escaped tried 10
get down stairs, but could find no
door though had light with me, so that
was ouf1geu 70 pass INT me second-story
hall and though Mr.. Wickham's room to
the window. threw my axe and lamp
out of The window and then dropped out
myself went back TO Greenport; got there
at 9 O'Clock in the morning, and went to
bed and slept till morning, intending TO
leave by the steamboat for New-London in
the morning.
But on looking out Of my window saw
many persons whom I knew moving aboul
and therefore did not dare to attempt it,
then walked upon the railroad, thinking 10
get upon the cars and GO to New York SO
| walked along thinking to stop the train
and get up some distance from the depot
passed into the bushes and remained there
during the day. and at night went 10 the
house Of Mr.. Thompson, an lrishman, and
asked for drink and some food. Mr.
Thompson said lyon are the man tina,
lived with James Wickham, are you not -
| replied. "Yes.n Thompson then stepped
between me and the door, and presented a
gun TO my breast, saying, You are the
murderer and you can't pass Gu, of here;
if you do, shall shoot you" drew a
pistol and said, 81 have Murdered, and
have not done yet; if you stop me | will
shoot you;" Thompson saw severa! persons
with guns near his door and turned to call
them to- his assistance, when Jumped out
of the window and ran for the words: got
there ahead of,hem and escaped
then crossed the woods to the railroad
bridge to get to New Y ork, on foot; ! was
then hailed and ordered to stop by some
ore, who snapped gun or pistol at me;
turned and ran to the woods again, chased by
several men. one of whom shot al me IS
entered the words, but without injuring me;
laid down in the woods, and laid there
unit! 8 or 8 O'Clock on Sunday morning
without food. On Sunday morning three
different men, who were Oh my track passed
within few feet of me. but did no. see me-
Soon alterward / started of 10 the westward,
! was again discovered, and returned TO the
bush, pursued 5y the people.
On Sunday night ! made another attempt
to get west, towards the City, and was stop
ped and sho, at by three men; some of the
shot passed through my sleeve, the rest
over my head. went back to the woods
again, and laid down. On Monday morn
ing saw the people searching the woods