The true Democrat., 1856-02-05

the thurid cartilage, skin deep. A ragged wound was in the upper lip, above the angle of the mouth in both sides, passing through the lip. There was large wound, beginning one inch forward of the spine and about an inch below the occiput A small scale of bone was scaled off the occiput on the right sde-the wound coming forward cutting off every thing on the left side of the spine.
 The large wound upon the neck was of such a nature that it was impossible for him to make the wound himself My own impression is that the wound was not inflicted by himsell.-- The wounds were dorbtless made by large or heavy knife. The inside of the fore finger was cut off, (from the hand,) which piece was found on the floor near him.
 Dr. Daggott concurred in the entire state- ment made by Dr. Knight
 Dr. Jewett testified that he thought Mat thews could not have made the wound upon hs neck himself, as it was carried so far to- wards the neck.
 Josiah Jackson, sworn-I went to the house about 6 o'clock in the evening, with the inten- ton of going from there to another meeting, found there Samuel Sly and Miss Abbv.- About 8 o'clock Mir. and Mrs. Sanford came in. Justus Matthews came to the e.house about 10 o'clock in the evening. Matthews was in the room below and we were in the room up stairs. MT. and Mrs. Sanford, Samuel Sly Wooding and myself went down and found Matthews in the lower room, blinded. 1 told Matthews he was killing the old woman, and that I would not let him into my house sooner than I would mad dag. 1 asked him if he knew that he had bad spirit. He said in the name of God he aoouH renounce t. Amos Hunt gave the old lady (widow Wakeman) Il, IL and wanted to make away with her. think Matthews got the evil spirit from Amos Hunt Widow Wakeman is woman who professes to have died and rose again, and came on earth to teach the way to heaven. 1 believe that she is prophet, and she is what she professes. The second time we went down into the room was about an hour after we went down first I went down and told Sanford to take Mat thews away from the house or Mrs. Wakeman would certainly die. I soon heard a noise in the room and heard Sandford beating the out side door. Sandford. and his wife came up stairs and seemed very much excited I heard some of them say that Woodng had gone home.
 I did not know until this morning that Mat thews was dead. When 1 went down the se- cond time Samuel Sly, and Wooding, and Mr. and Mrs. Sandford, were with me. 1 believe that if the widow Wakeman should die, the Me lenum would come and the world would be de- stroyed. When came up the second time San- ford said he has murdered himself" and there was great confusion in the house. 1 then heard some one ask where "Uncle Sammy was, and they said he was gone after Wooding. When weat down the second time, he was sitting in rocking chair, and 1 told him he had better give up that evil spirit, and he said that he want ed to do so He said he would give up that spirit if he could, and did not know that the evil spirit he had was hurting Mrs. Wakeman. II l believe he was hurting Mrs. w. and his sis ter by eachanting htem
 His sister bIindfolded him last evening to prevent this enchantment, which is always done by the eyes. Nobody but his sister dared to blindfold him. His hands were also tied behind him. to prevent his enchanting them with his evil spirit. The general impression was that he had made away with himself in the night. His sister, Mrs. Sanford, told us that she believed he had killed himself LII Wooding left the house before the noise was heard Mrs. Hersey let him out at the back door, 1 went back to the house this morning. and while there I heard Matthews son come running into the room, saying, father is dead, father is dead, in the other room" When I went down the third time told Mr. and Mrs Sanford to get Matthews out of the house, or it would kill Mrs. Wakeman. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford then went into the room where Mat thews was, and in about three minutes I heard a noise in the room.
 Almeron Sanford, sworn-I went to the house of Mr. Sly with my wife about dark, on Sunday evening-got to the house about two hours after we started We got there and found Josiah Jackson, Wooding Miss Hersey Miss Abby and Samuel Sly there. Justus Matthews is my wife's brother 1 found them in the chamber singing and praying. About eleven o'clock Matthews came to the house. Widow Wakeman said she was haunted by Matthews the "man of power'' with an evil spirit- When Matthews came he went into the front room, where there was fire. Rhoda Wake man wanted Matthews to come to the meeting, so went to see him. and he seemed willing to come. When he came my wife tied a hand kerchief over his forehead, and they tied his hands behind him. the same as they would tho devil. told him he had a bad spirit and he wanted to give it up. Jackson and Wooding were with him, and he talked with them about the evil spirit. Widow Wakeman said he was drawing terrible power over her. Mr. Wooding told Matthews that he ought to be killed, and
 
 quench the evil spirit Woodng and Jackson They told him he must die. It was about l o'clock when heard noise Woodiug, Sly and Miss Hersey were up stairs praying with us but lodged down stairs, and soon heard them say, down below, "He's killing the messenger he's killing the messenger.'' Iheard noise, and several blows follow, and started towards the door; but they pulled me back, saying: "lf he's killing himself he'll be raised" l heard girging noise, and cries of "Oh. oh! oh.'' I then went up stairs to sing and pray. When 1 reached the door, l found it fastened and some- thing braced against 1t inside. 1 could not get into the room below. This occurred about 12 o'clock and 1 left the house twenty minutes past four. 1 walked home to Hamden, about six miles last night 1 have not changed my clothes since the murder
 As Wooding and Sly, lodged out in such manner 1 think they might have helped to kill Matthews. I think Matthews was willing to die. Sly said he thought he ought to die. After 1 heard the noise and cries below, Sly come running up stairs and kneeled down and seemed to be praying I thought he could not pray much for thought he would not feel like it then. They believed that if Widow Wake man (the prophetess) should die the a0orM ,0ouM be destroyed. 1 should think that from appearance he did kill himself. If they (Wooding and Sly) killed Matthews it was to keep him from enchanting Widow Wakeman who was disturbed by his evil spirit.
 When went back to Hamden I saw M at- thews' son, and told him that something had happened to his father, and that he must be looked up.
 The jury adjourned until 10 o'clock next morning.
 Subsequently, Samuel Sly was brought be- fore the jury, and made a confession, which is thus reported in the Courier:
 CONFESSION OF SLY.
 Sly opened by admitting that he, and he alone, committed the murder, although before he clos ed his statement he related circumstances which tend to implicate Jackson, the negro, and Miss Hersey, as being accessories.
 He says that his sister, Mrs. Waskeman, was so distressed with the bad spirit or power in Matthews, that he thought something must be done to remove if and he consulted with lack