Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-01
Particulars Of tho Late Tragedy in New Haven
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Conn .nfes81On OF tNe Muiueiet
The New Haven Journal and Courier gives
the following particulars of the murder commit
ted in that City on Monday last
ali seems that there exists in the upper part
of the City. n peculiar religious sect known ms
the sWakemnuites.' who have made their doc.
trines known by holding meetings at the house of
n Mr.. Samuel Sly, who lives in "a lane or ally be-
tween Dixwell aud Beaver streets.
This Mr.. Sly has no wife or family, but has II
woman living in tie house with him. named Rho
da Wakoman, who Is the founder of the sect
called the Wakemnnites. This woman aflirms that
she was murdered about thirty years ago, and
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
and prays and holds meetings at her house, Civ
ing 10 those who assemble to heur her peculiar
stories, her views about the Bible and her eSpe-
rience in the spiritual world. Among her be-
levers and followers nrs many families who live
in Hainden, and they are in the habit of coming
down to her house every Sunday 10 attend meet.
ing. She held a meeting at her house last Sun
day evening, and there were present at the meet.
ing Almeron Sanford and his wife, Justus Mat
thews, Betsey Keeler, a Mrs. Davis, and a col
ored man named Josiah Jackson. They met
about = O'Clock Sunday afternoon, and continued
their meeting until a late hour in the night. About
, O'Clock Monday morning. the Widow Wake
man (the prophetess) says that she heard Il noise
in the room below. She occupies n small room
in the attic of the house. The house is a com.
mon story and "a half house with thin partitions.
and n noise in the lower story would be easily
heard in the rooms above. The widow says
that she told Beisey Keclcr, where she heard
the noise, that she thought Fall was not right be
low
Although widow Wakeman afirms that she
thought all was not right below at > O'Clock in
the morning, no effort was made by her to ascer-
tain anything concerning that supposed trouble.
About 6 O'Clock yesterday (Monday) morning
A young son of Jnstus Matthews began to search
for his father, wondering why he had not made
his appearance at so late an hour in the morning
He went to the door of one of the front rooms
and found it locked, but persisted in breaking o.
pen the door. He looked into the room and there
beheld his father lying dead on the floor ,cith
pools ofbiood surrounding his head.
The boy was struck almost dumb win terror.
and i'm IT cdiately run into the street and went TO
the next house, and got Mr. Lewis Dorman tn
come to the house and see the body. Mr.. ID.
did not go into the house. but immediately went
and notified Justice Bennett of the facts. Mr..
Bennett and Il number Of men Immediately re-
paired to the scene of blood. They found the
body to- be that of Justus Matthews who is pis-
tol maker; and works at Whitneysville, but lives
in Hamden. He was one of the individuals pre-.
sent at the meeting held at the house SUNDAY
evening; when first discovered. the body lay up.
on the floor, with the head towards a bed in the
room; and it was found with the face turned to-
wards the window. lying upon the left side ant
lay very nearly in the middle Of the room. Clot
ted blood and hair lay upon the floor around hin