Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-10
Another Tragedy in Conneo ut



The most brutal mur'er thnt ever took pln,e
II the State of Connecticut. IT perhaps in the
civilized world. was perpctra,rd on Monday in
the town of Woodbridge in that State, about
light miles from the city of New Haven. 1t was n
far NOR ntrocou, murder than the one so recently
committed - Samuel Sly and the gang al Wake
NANTES. II i. to he sincerely hoped that the cit
iz"n> of that state have now witnessed the last
scene in the Waterman tragedy.
The victims were Enoch srcrry, aged about
~ years the father of the Hon. n. ID. Sperry
Secretary of State; and lchahod Umhcriield, II
farmer also "f about ~ years If ngr. The per.
son arrested for these awi1 deeds is Charles
Sanford - years of age, sou ut Rurl Sanford n
farmer living in bethany. The following paric-
ulars we find in the New Haven Palladium, of
"Wednesday:
sanford the prisoner, lived with his fathers
subject Ia sudden fits of lunqey, ard has been
once or twice in the Insane Retreat of Hartford.
On New wears eve, he went 10 IA Methodist
Wnchncrring in Bethany. and made n great
disturbance. He ordered the minister out. and
was in such condition that he ought IL be 50
cured ~ some proper authority. The next
IN 'rning, ftes'a he WI, seen sharpening his axe
but il supposed to be for some purpose about
the farm.
The next we hear Of him is n, the house of Mr..
l-aac Do"liitle a farmer and near neg hbor of Mr.
hickory cluh. Mr., Doo,tlr told him that he was
about going away, aud he had better leave also.
Sanford refused 10 go. and raised his cluh. Mr..
Doohit" took hold OF it, while some other per
son took h"ll Of the axe. Sanford then said he
would | ave. ii he. (Dooli,ile) would lei go his
hold of the club. Thi, was agreed Ia, anl San.
ford left, md som after Mr.. Du,little left. and
heard no Nor" Of Sanford until he heard of him
IN connection with the murder of his ncighbors
Mr.. Sperry aud Mr.. Umbert"ll
On Mon lay Mr.. Spprrv left his home. aud was
proeecdiu; through piece If woods near hi-
house with III, horse and >loigh, uul when near
htile bronx. Ia n solitary part of the woods. was
attacked by Sanfoid, and knocked down and
most brutaIy murdered.
Sanford had axe in his hand with which he
struck Mr. Sperry over the right eye, inhicting n
fearful gash,and prosrating him beside The road.
lie then struck him again with the head of the
| axe upon the back of the head, and thea dclihe-
ra'oly attempted to chop off hi- head.nearly sey
erIng It from his hodv. 1t was connected with
his body only by little skin at the back of his
neck.
The horse of Mr.. Sperry was allowed to pa :
! on the nd, and after proceeding by the house
OF Mr. Samuel +. Perkins, halted at n shed near
| by. Mr.. Perkins. thinking that all was not right
went in search of Mr.. Sperry and found his DO.
| dy lying beside the road, with every indication
that he had been wayaid and murdered.
! After tn" murder of Sperry, il appears Sanford
visited the house of Mr.. Umberfrld. He there
| met Mrs Demlng and little daughter. Some
| words passed between Sanford and this woman
which was heard by Mr.. Umberti Id whea he
! came into the room and saluied Sanford with the
enquiry "h'w hi- folks were" No reply was
made. Mr.. Umberfeld then sat down. Snnfoi d
arose took up his axe.and Mrs. Deming supposed
he was going home; hut instead of going forward
| he turned and struck Mr.. Umbel field two blow :,
! with the head of Lis axe. and then with the edge
nearly severed his head from his body He left
the house. went off the road up the mountain. and
IN about twenty minutes he met powerful negro
named Sampson. who was at work cutting wood
1t was the intention of Sanford. he soon after
confessed. To kill Sampson. bit he thought he
would be too much for him. In the mean time pur-
suers on the track of Sanford. The two
first We're Willis Doolittle and Neus Gorham.
! They found him coming down to the house soon
after he had met Sampson. His purpose then
was. as he said to ''kill the rest Of them"-mcan.
ing Mr.. Umherfeld's family.
They attempted to arrest him, but he stuck at
! Mr.. Doolittle's shoulder with the axn--the edge
! passed over his coat collar. and only the helye hit
him. Mr.. Lewis Peck then joined the others with
pitchfork.and held Sanford Il, bay with the fork
at his hreat. A, this moment another of the com
/ rany slipped behind him and struck him down
with club, when he secured. BY this time
there were eight persons present.
lie told them that he had killed Mr.. Spprry and
laid his head TO the north" He was taken back
to the house, where he was bound hand and foot
and placed in a chair. He hitched along To-.
ward the body and kicked it, having at the time
demonacal expression of countenance. While
IN TINS condition he remarked that he would like
10 De one OF the jury, or lawyer to plead thi /,
case.
During his confinement he spoke frequently
about Sly and the Wakemauites, and the nurder