Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-01-05
DREADFUL MURDER IN NEW HAVEN.
Strange Developments Concerning Ne~
hsIi1iO.ts Sect.

| RefyiOaS oeCt'
The New Haven Journal and Courier
gives the following particulars oil the iright'ul
murder committed in that city on MohoaY
last, in addition to the brief account publish
ed yesterdays Times;
ut seems that there exists in the, upper
part of the city peculiar religious sect,
known as the .Wakemanites,' who have made
their doctrines known by holding meetings
ut the house of q Mr.. Samuel Sly, who lives
in lane or alley between Dixwell and Bes-
yer streets
This Mr.. Sly has no wife or family, but
has woman living in the house with him,
named Rhoda Wakeman, who is the founder
Of the sect called the 'Wakemanites This
woman affrms 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 al
ready alluded to. She breaches and prsys
and holds meetings at her house, giving to
those who assemble to hear her peculiar sto-
ries. her views about the Bible and her expe,
rence in the spiritual world Among her be-
levers aud followers are many families wig
live in Hampden, and they ore in the habit
of coming down to her house every Sunday
to attend meeting She held q meeting at
her house last Sunday evening, and there
were present at the meeting Almeron San
ford and his wife. Justus Matthews, Betsey
X Keeler, Mrs. Davis, and colored man,
named Josiah Jackson. They about o'clock
on Monday morning, the widow Wakeman,
THE prophetess,) says that she heard neise
in the room below, and she thought all was
not right below
although widow Wakeman aflrms that
she thought all was not right below ut o.
clock in the morning. no effort was made by
her to ascertain anything concerning the sup,
posed trouble At about o'clock yesterday
Monday morning, young son of Justus
Matthews began to search for his father,
wondering why he had not made his appear
ance 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
open the door, He looked into the room and
there beheld his father lying dead upon the
floor ,rith pools Of blood surrounding his head.
! The throat was cut nearly from ear to ear,
and his head seemed to be nearly severed
from his body. 1t is evident that he could
not have committed the deed himself, from
r the nature of the wounds. They were doubt
: less made by a hatchet, or some instrument
D heavier and more powerful than a knife or ra-
f zor. A small rope was found on the floor,
e and marks of rope were discovered on his
e wrists and it was evident that the wrists had
J., been bound By this rope"
Y The evidence taken before the Jury of
l. Inquest, contains some extraordinary revela-
;. tons concerning the new sect known as the
S Wakemanites" 1t would seem that to q
fanatcal belief in this latest ahsurditv the
e murder of this unhappy man is chiefly attri-
t, butable.
d Josiah Jackson colored. sworn--I went to
d the house about 6 o'clock in the evening; l
d found there Samuel Sty and Miss Abby 4;
n about o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Sanford came
e, in; Justus Matthews came to the honse about
q 10 o'clock in the evening; Israel Woodng
Il was there when Matthews came Matthews
il was in the room below, and we were in the
n room up stairs Mr. and Mrs Sanford Sam
Of uel SLY, Woodng and myself, went down and
8. found Matthews in the lower room, blindfol-
,r ded; l told Matthews he was killing the old
woman, and that / would not let him into my
house sooner than l would a mad dog ask
ed him if he knew he had bad spirit in him
and said that he ought TO renouuce this evil
ii spirit; he said in the name OF God he rOulI
t. renounce it Amos Hunt gave the old lady
X widow Wakeman) some poisonous cakes
lie with arsenic in them and wanted to make
D way with her; j think Matthews got the
s. evil spirit from Amos Hunt; widow Wake
N man is a woman who processes TO have died
l. and risen again, and came on earth to teach
l. the way to Heaven; / believe that she is a
s. prophet, and she is what she professes; the
" StCOIu tltit WGut NONH INTO IOUHl Wus
+ about an hour after we went down first
ID went down and told Sanford to take Mat,
n thews away from the house, or Mrs Wake
is man would certainly die j soon heard 6
+ noise in the room, and heard Sandford beat
e. ing the outside door; Sanford and his wife
IN then came up stairs and seemed very mucl
excited l heard some of them say tina,
;e Wooding had gone home; did not know
ID until this morning that Matthews was dead
e. when came up the second time. SanforG
1e said he has murdered himself and there was
ly great confusion in the house; the general i'm
u preston was that he had made away with
IL himself, in the night.
at Ameron Sanford sworn-I went to the
ce house OF Mr.. Sly with my wife about dark oil
ut Sunday evening; widow Wake said Mat
TO thews was drawing terr bic power over her
at Wooding told Matthews that he ought 10 D.
er killed, and JfdttherS said he cas giliing II
ld die 10 quencb the erii spirit Wooding and
IN jackson said Matthew'S must be got out O.
~ the way they told him he must die it was
ol about | O'Clock when heard a noise Wood
ing, Sly and Miss Hersey were up stairs
praying with US, but lodged down stairs, anC
is soon heard them say down below, "he's xii
IN ling the messenger, he's killing the messen
in ger;" ! heard noise and several blows fol
no low, and started towards the door, but the,
et pulled me back, saying, IF he's killing him
cd SELF he'll be raised !" | heard gurglin.
ed noise and cries of "Oh, oh, oh !" then wen
We up stairs to sing and pray; when | reached
n the door found it fastened and somethin,
e. braced against it inside l could not get int
bv the room below; this occurred about l.
er- o'clock, and left the house twenty minute
M past four after heard the noise and erie
Of below, Sly came running up stairs and kneel
,ur ed down and seemed TO be praying l though
he could not pray much, for thought
would lot feel like it then; they believed tha
h, irwidow ",akeman l'he prophetessl shoul
',c ao die, the world would be destroyed / shoul
y 10 think that, from appearances, be did not XII
= himself; if they (IYoodng and Slyl kille
,%ro Matthews it was to keep Lin from enchsp
IA ing widow Hakeman, who was disturbed b
40 his evil spirit.
y Sly has confessed the murder Of Ma
theWs.