Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-01-03
THE NEw-HAvENsT TRAGEDY.

lHt. NEW-HAVEN IhAGEDI'
The murder of Justus Matthew'S at New
Haven, Connecticut, on the night of the
9th ult., is most extraordinary affair, al
most surprising belief in this enlightened
age. 1t seems that there exits in the upper
part of the city peculiar religious sect,
known as the Mathematics, who have
made their doctrines known by holding
meetings at the house of Mr.. Samuel Sly.
This Mr.. Sly has no wife or family, but has
nwoman living in the house with him, nam
ed Rhoda Wakeman, who is the founder of
the sect called Mathematics. This wo-
man af6rms that she was murdered about
80 years ago, antl went to Heaven, and for
some reason, which she does not state, came
back on earth and founded the sect already
alluded to. She breaches and prays, and
holds meetings at her house, giving to those
who assemble to hear her peculiar stories,
her views about the Bible and her expert
ence in the spiritual world. Sly, confesses
that he murdered Matthews, because his sis
ter Wakeman, (who claims to be phrophe-
tess, 'swas troubled with the bad spirit, or
power in Matthew'S"
The following is the evidence given be-
fore the Coroner's Jury by Mrs. Rhoda
Wakeman, who is said to be 'sthe very per-
sonifcation sof the wonderful women that
lived in Salem in the sixteenth century"
81 shall be 70 years old next November
have lived in New Haven II years-have
had II children, nine of whom are now liv-
ing have been widow 20 years. l for
merly resided in Greenfield then moved to
New Haven; my brother has also resided
here he is about SO years of age. l have
been messenger from God about 80 years;
experienced religion at that time and walk
ed with Jesus Christ ever since; first expe-
rienced religion because my husband abused
me and I expected to die, and he finally
killed me. After my husband killed me l
was dead seven hours and then raised two
angels stood beside me when [ went to Hea-
en-, and touched me with their bright swords
and I rose again; saw there all that was
dead, and there they were under the cloud
IF death when was there this cloud par
ted and my spirit went one way and theirs
The other; they all then held up their little
right hands, and rejoiced.
1.-The two angels turned to me and then
] went up to Heaven; there was red light
and many white clouds there; Christ came
TO me when was in heaven, with his nails
j" his hands, and spoke peace to my soul.
Because he spoke peace to my soul raised
up, and another spirit came to me and spoke,
- - .... =: III I
Eve, and all the other spirits. This ligi
then came on me SO that had to look u,
= and the spirits said I was numbered as OF
of them ; was taken up to heaven from tn
place of light, and then saw Christ and a
the holy angels; Christ had on the thorr
and looked as he was when crucifed; the
saw God sitting upon his throne in all h
glory. About the throne were all the al
gels in their white robes, and they were a
happy spirits there. This spirit then cam
and took me back to earth, and when [ 90
back to earth again I saw my dead BODY "
ing on the floor. felt bad because I ha
come back to this wicked world to live again
| soon saw my wicked husband, who said
BY God, she's raisedn
Soon after saw two angels who cam
to me and spoke to me kindly, and the,
Christ appeared to me and [ fell down be
fore him. And oh how happily felt ant
how happy l then was! / went to Coz
with my case last night, and had a revela
ton from Him. Thai man was in leapu,
with the devil. He meaning Matthews
got his evil sgirit from Amos Hunt. Hun
attempted to poison me- (She went on ane
gave long, rambling account of Amo.
Hunts poisoning herr The first thing ]
knew OF the murder, was when they came
up stairs searching for Ratchet [ knew
that my brother had stick of witch-haze
In the house. He sells the bark and lives
by SO doing. was sick that night and ex.
pected to die, and asked them to take Mat.
thews out of the house. He had such a bad
spirit that he was taking away nv divine
spirit, and killing me by it. Amos Hunt
was the man of sin, and he let his spirit on
Matthews. If should die the judgment
would come! This man of sin cursed God
and when he died there was black spot on
the throne of God! Inmy revelations from
God, last night, He said, if was condemn
ed in this case, the world would be imme-
diately destroyed! In this revelation was
told by God that my brother did kill Mat
thews, and that he did it to save the world !''
This singular revelation here closed, and
the messenger from God" Gas she calls her
self was taken back to Jail.
During the examination before the Coro
ner's jury number of other "Wakeman-
ties" were examined. Abigail Sables testi-
fed (:
II believe upon my heart and soul that