Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-01-12
TWO HORRIBLE MURDERS IN
CONNECTICUT.


The most horrible murder that ever
took place in the State of Connecticut,
or perhaps in the civilized worlds was
perpctratcd on Monday, in the town of
Woodbridge, in that State, about eight
miles from the city Of New Haven. 1t
was far more atrocious murder than the
one so recently committed by Samuel
Sly and the gang of Wakemanites 1t
is to be sincerely hoped that the citizens
of that State have now witnessed the last
scene in the Wakeman tragedy.
About 103 o'clock on Monday, Mr..
Enoch Sperry, of Woodbridge, left his
home, and was proceeding through a
piece of woods near his house, with his
horse and sleigh, and when near a little
brook, in solitary part of the woods,
was attacked by man named Charles
Sanford, and knocked down and most
brutally murdered.
Sanford had an axe in his hand, with
which he struck Mr.. Sperry over the
right eye, inficting a fearful cash, and
prostrating him beside the road. He
then struck him again with the head of
the axe upon the back of his head, and
then deliberately attempted to chop of
his head, nearly severing it from his
body. 1t was connected with his body
, only by little skin at the back of the
neck.
The horse of Mr. Sperry was allowed
to pass on the road, and after proceeding
by the house of Mr.. Samuel Il. Perkins,
halted at shed near by. Mr.. Perkins,
thinking all was not right, went in search
| of Mr.. Sperry, and found his body lying
beside the road, with every indication
that he had been waylaid and murdered
Mr.. Perkins alarmed the neighbor
hood, and having procured assistance
: took the body of Mr. Sperry to his fam
: lily, who live only about hundred rod
from the place where the .murder wa
committed
= A jury Of inquest was assembled il
the evening, and after due elaboration
II rendered verdict that the decease
6 came to his death at the hands Of. som
person Or persons unknown.
In the evening, the murderer was al
e rested and taken to Jail, and confesse
! that he had not only murdered Mr.
9 Sperry, but that he had also murdere
,, Mr.. Ichabod UmberGeld, who lived abou
- mile east of Mr.. Sperry's house.
1t seems that after numbering Nj
Spcrry, he went to the house of MI
\. UmberGeld and entered it, and while h
40 (Mr. u was sitting by the stove in til
4 kitchen, he struck him with the SAN
Nc axe with which he murdered Mr.. Sperry
n and after breaking his skull, nearly seN
re cred his head from his body.
ne The family set up the cry of "Mul
a. DER % but he told them to stop their nois
at or he would chop their heads off also
~ He went out of the house to wipe til
D. blood of his axe upon the snow, an
: while he was out the family fastened tn
IS door and prevented his getting in agar
of He then went into the woods, but W;
a soon pursued by several neighbors, VIII
of succeeded in arresting him after blood
it fight, in which Mr.. Doolittle came nea
$. getting killed.
IS A jury of inquest was cmpannelle(
les and returned verdict that Mr.. Umbei
IS field came to his death by wounds il
IN ficted in the head and neck by Charl,
'lr Sanford, of Bethany.
on This Charles Sanford is fanatic WI
ed has formerly attended the meetings
I Il
It's subject to fits of insanity, and was prol
an ably insane when he committed the'
he dreadful murders. He confesscs havir
he murdered both Mr.. Sperry and Mr.. Tn
berfeld, while on the way to Jail. /
. said he had cramp, and if he had II
vet murdered them, the cramp would ha'
It's killed him.
,w Mr.. Umberfeld was man sevent
ms one years of age, and Mr.. Sperry W