Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-05

Two Horrible Murders In Conn ecttcut.--
Further Results OF the Wakeman Fa-
naticism.-Ye Another yfctim De-
manded.
The most horrible murder that ever took
place in the State of Connecticut, or perhaps
in the civilized world was perpetrated 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 Mathematics. tits to be
sincerely hoped that the citizens Of that State
have now witnessed the last scene in the
Wakeman tragedy.
About l03 O'clock on Monday, Mr.. Enoch
Sperry, of Woodbridge, left his home, and was
proceeding through piece OF woods near bis
house. with his horse and sleigh, and when
near q 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, infict-
ing 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 off 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 f. 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 in
dication that he had been wayaid and muir
dered.
Mr.. Perkins alarmed the neighborhood, and
81 Al holx ~C
Mr.. Sperry to his family, who live only about =
was committed.
A jury of inquest was assembled in the
evening, and after due elaboration, rendered q
verdict that the deceased came to his death at
the hands of some person or persons unknown.
In the evening the murderer was arrested
and taken to Jail, and confessed that he had
not only murdered Mr.. Sperry, but that he had
also murdered Mr.. Ichabod Umberfeld, who
lived about mile east of Mr.. Sperry's house.
1t seems that after numbering Mr.. Sperry,
he went to the house Of Mr.. Umberfeld and
entered it, and while he Mr.. Umberfeld) was
sitting by the stove in the kitchen, he struck
him with the same axe with which he murdered
Mr.. Sperry, and after breaking his skull, near
ly severed his head from his body.
The family set up the cry of Murderp but
he told them to stop their noise OF he would
chop their heads off also.
He went out of the house to wipe the blood
off his axe upon the snow, and while he was
out the family fastened the door and prevented
his getting in again.
He then went into the woods, but was soon
pursued by several neighbors, who succeeded
in arrestng him after bloody fight, in which
Mr.. Lucus Doolittle came near getting killed.
A jury of inquest was impannelled and re-
turned a verdict that Mr.. Umber6eld came to
his death by wounds inflicted in the head and
neck by Charles Sanford, of Bethany.
This Charles Sanford is fanatic who has
formerly attended the meetings of the Wake
NANTES in Hampden. He is subject to fits of
insanity, and was probably insane when he
committed these dreadful murders
He confessed having murdered both Mr..
Sperry and Mr.. Umber6eld, while on the way to
jail. He said he had cramp, and if he had
not murdered Mr.. Sperry and Mr.. Umberfeld,
the cramp would have killed him.
Mr.. Umberfeld was man seventy-one years
of age, and Mr.. Sperry was sixty nine years
old.
Mr.. Sperry was man beloved and respected
by all who knew him. He was the father of
Hon. N. D. Sperry, Secretary of State.