The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-01-18
A Barbarous Murder.

The New Haven papers bring us full partic-
uIarS OF one of the most singular murders that
has occurred for mauy years 1t is curious
and revolving story of ignorance, superstition,
and tanatacism worthy Of the darkest period of
Salem Witchcrah. The substance Of the hsto-
ry is this:
A certain widow Wakeman, a woman of 70
years. Pretends To be Prophecies, possessed Of
miraculous powers, capable of raising the dead,
and as having been sent from Heaven 'MrS-
srnger' 10 the wicked in this world At her
house in New Haven has been living a some
what notorious tanatical old man nanied Elder
Sly and the house had been the place Of meet
ing OF company OF persons--nae and female,
husbands and wIves-who had come TO believe
the old woman as all that she proiesSed to bp
and that at her nod, the world would be destroy
ed. This pretence had been strengthened by
the fact that not long since on+ Of her followers,
It Is SAID, gave her dose OF arsenic in a cake
believing 1t would have no EFFECT, except to H.
luStrate her divine mission aud nothing bat the
fact that 1t was All overdose and soon elected
from her stomach, saved her life. From that
time all cavl among her followers respecting
her power has been hushed, and her presence
has been considered by them as that ofa mes
sepgsr from Heaven Among these drvoteeS,
was JuStus Mathews, small farmer living in
the western part Of Hamden, and who has lat
terly been accused by the old woman of posses
sing drvit-and the lncantatl0ns of The whole
party had been applied for It's removal at va
rIous times, and 10 various ways. OF late, 1t
had been the burden ofthe Old woman's mum
meres, that he was her evil genius-that he
was btwitching her-that she should die If he
was not removrd-and that, in such an event.
the world would be DESTROYED On Sunday
night last, these spasms were repeated, and 50
worked upon the fears Of the party assembled,
that during The night be was by some one or
more ofthem murdered, in the belief that. by 50
doing, the life of the old woman would be- saw
ed. and the destruction of the world prevented
Sly has since confessed the murder, and thus the
bloody work of superstition ends
An AFFECTING lNclDENr.-Mai. John NJ.
Gilmore, the gentleman who DESTROYED our
identity last summer by Disgusting us in a new
suit, few days since, 10 company with Maj.
Thomas a. Mcguire and John Hpadrck ESQ,
sent thrill OF Joy 10 the hearts Of some hal-a-
dozen young Smiths, the children OF poor but
worthy citizen of our borough. The above ma
med gentleman, whose hands are ever open and
ready to relieve the wants of the suffering with
their Characteristic beneyolence, ordered three
fine turkeys to be taken to the home ofhe above
mentioned young Smiths. We shall not at
tempt To describe the rapturous delight of the
children on the reception OF the turkeys. Most
fortunately the turkeys We're not received sim
ulaneousy, SO great a cause of JOY, breaking in
so suddenly upon their young hearts might have
resulted in something serious bat arriving, one
by one, they were sufficiently prepared for the
eXigency. The happy smiles that lit up their
young faces, AID the shouts of joy Iong prnt
up" that escaped from their empty stomachS,
made the incident one Of most thrilling interest.
The scene can only be imagined to describe it
would be mpossIble.-Johastotcn Echo.
GENL. WALKER.-The situation of this re-
doublabIe fiIlbuster is represented to be exceed
ingly critical. He cannot trust native beyond
the reach Of his rifles. His military chest is
empty. The s. 1000 brought over by Minister
French to raise recruits was every dollar that
Gen. Walker could raise in Nicaragua, and if
the New York and New Orleans recruits, or
emigrants as they prefer 10 be called, should fail
10 eude the vigilance of our government aud
reach their destination in time to succonr him,
il will require all bis sagacity and valor to save
himself and his troops from immoIation.