The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-06-15

TnE Lone IsLAND TRAaEDY.-CogfessiOn

The Lone ISLAND acknowledgements
of0s Murderr.-Nicholas Balm, or Behee-
han arrested on the charge ofbeing the au-
thor ofthe horrible murder of Mr.. and Mrs.
wickham, on Long Island, New Y, has
made aconfession to DR.. Carpenter, as
follows:
81 started from Greenport at about 8 o.
clock on Friday night, for Cutchogue, and
arrived at Wickham's house about IL o.
clock. l got the post-axe from tie wood
pile. and got into the house kitchen window
and passed. pinto the kitchen garnet where
the negro boy slept. struck him three or
four blows over the head with the axe
HE did not kill him, owing to the lowness
ofthe roof, which prevented his swinging
the axe. The garnet was situated on a
level with the floor upon which Mr.. and
Mrs. Wickham slept, and communicated by
a door which opened upon the second story
hall of the main building. The last door up
onthis hall was the one in which tie murder
ed couple slept. On opeuiag the hall door,
Mrs. Wickham opened the door of her
room and asked, who's thst?' and added.
Immediately, Nicholas, what are you doing
here? What do you want?' Mr. Wick
ham sprang to the door atthe same moment
and / attempted to strike him with the axe,
Mr.. Wickham grasped it, and then struck
him in the mouth with my fist; Mr. W. got
the axe out Of my hand and stTtck at me
with ii; I caught the handle as it descend
ed, and struck him twice again with my
fist the third blow Knocked him down;
Mrs. Wickham was crying out "dont kill
him. Nicholas: tske anything you want,
but don't kill him." and in her struggle
with me she tore off my shirt; l struck
Mr., Wiokham several times with the axe,
while he lay upon the floor, and had struck
Mrs. Wickham several blows with the axe
in the %scufie; while ! was striking Mr.. W.
l observed that Mrs. Wickham, was get
ting out of the window; | pulled her back
by the feet, and then finished her with the
axe; / can't tell how many times l struck
Mr.. Wickham, buthe got up three times, and
l hit him several blows each time, | then
passed back into the kitchen garnet, and
fastened the door after me; went down
stairs through the par!ors, and up the
stairs of the main building to servant girls
room, but l found the door and window o.
pen.
Finding they had escaped tried to gel
down stairs, but could find no door, though
j had a light with me, SO that | was oblig-
ed to pass into the second story hall and
through Mr.. Wickham's room to the win.
dow. threw my axe and lamp out of the
window and thendropped out myself. ]
went back to Greenport; got there at 2 O.
clock in the morning, and wentto 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 | knew moving about.
and therefore did not dare to attempt it. ]
then walked upon the railroad, thinking tc
get upontbe cars and 90 to New York; Sc
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 t.
the house OF Mr.. Thompson, an Irishman
and asked for a drink and some food. Mr.
Thompson said: You are the man that liv.
ed with James Wickham, are you not9' ]
replied Yes Thompson then stepped
between me and the door, and presented &
gun to my breast, saying, You are the
murderer; then you can't pass out Of here
if you do shall shoot you drew a pis
tol and said, Il have murdered, and have
not done yet; if you stop me | will shoe
you Thompson saw several persons will
guns near his door, and turned to cal
thar, 10 his aaatvtapna xulnN ,eoI -,
ofthe window and ran for the woods; | go
there ahead of them and escaped; | thel
crossed the woods to the Railroad bridg,
to get to New York, on foot; / was thel
hailed and ordered to stop by some on
who snapped a gun or a pistol at me;
turned and ran to the woods again, chased
by several men, one of whom shot at m,
as | entered the woods, but without i%niurins
me; l laid down in the woods and laid Their
until 8or9 o'clock Sunday morning ,withou
food. On Sunday morning three differen
men, who were on my track, passed with,
few feet of me but did not see me. 500
afterward | started off to the westward.
was again discovered, and returned to tn
bush. pursued by tho people.
OH puhuuy HlShI L maui AlOLncT ~
tempt to get west, toward the city, and wa
stopped and shot at by three men; some o
the shot passed through my sleeve, the res
over my head. went back to the wood
again and laid down. On Monday morn
ing saw the people searching the woods
but did not change my position. l lait
still until they come within a few feet o
me, andl saw they had discovered me-
then took a razor from my pocket and Gu
my throat. ] was then taken"
The prisoner also stated that he killet
Mr.. Wickham for discharging him and
Mrs. w. for taking the part of the cir
Ellen. The latter he says he intended tc
outrage and then murder, as well as tn,
other seryant-girl. He had contemplated
the massacre a week before.
He subsequently stated that he knew h,
should richly merit all the punishment tina
mi ght be meted out TO him. He requisite,
an interview with the servant girl Ellen
which being accorded, he pointed his fin
ger toward her, and said, "You, and yo
only, caused all thisl" Meaning thereby
thather GOODNESS to him had led him to d
the deed. She burst into tears and hc,
into the house. He wished to see the bod
les of Mr.. and Mrs. Wiekham, but thi
was denied him. He is a tall man, of spar
ND I-