New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-03
DREADFUL TRAGEDY.
DOUBLE MURDER IN CONNECTICUT.
GREAT EX CITEME NT.
THE MURDERER ARRESTED.
From tn. y,.,- Haren Daily PoHadium Of Jan Z,

From The Ner- Haren Daily Pdstadisn Of Jan =
most melancholy and heart-rending tragedy took
place in Woodbridge yesterday by which two respecta-
bic citizens of that place were hurried into eternity IN
a bloody manner, and without moments previous
warning. The victims were Enoch Speny, aged about
20 years the father of the Hon. n. d. Spery, Secre-
tary of State, and Ichabod Umberfeld farmer also
of about 70 years of age. The person arrested tor
these awful deeds is Charles Sanford % years OF age,
son of Ruel Sanford, farmer living in Bethany, near
the line which separates that town from Hamden.
Sanford the prisoner lived with his fathers subject
TO sudden fits of unacy and has been once or twice IN
the Insane Retreat at Hartford. On New-fears eve
he went to Methodist Matchmaking IN Bethany,
and made great disturbance. He ordered the min
lister out and was in such condition that he ought 10
hare been secured By sosIe proper authority Thenext
morning. Tuesday, he was seen sharpening MS axe;
br Il was suppOeed be for some purpose about the
farm. c,.. A. Luso os NJ Js.,o
pooitte a farmer and near nelghb0r oil Mr.. UmDer-
field He had with him his axe ana mcf0Ty cluD.
NJ Doolittle told him that he was about going away,
and he had better leave also. Sanford refused To go,
and raised his club. MIR. Doolttle took hold OF 1t,
while some other person took hold OF the axe Sanford
then said he would leave, if he Doottle would let go
his hold of the club. This agreed to- and Sanford
left and soon after Mr.. Doolittle left and heard no
more of Sanford until he heard of hun IN connection
with the murder OF DIE nclShDois, 4i oPOiy uHu "'
Umberfeld. .
The circumstances connected with the murder of
Mr.. Sperry are substantially as follows He lives
branch OF the Litchfed turnpike, or rather on the
branch of a road which leaves that turnpike near
Westvile and goes TO Oxford Seymour, &c. IL il
called "the Shnnpike." From this "Shunpike"
short and crooked road branches toward the north.
On this last branch about mile from the Shunpike,
is Mr. Sperys house. He left his bone In the morn
inc with horse AMI pair of sleigh runners, intending
to 90 after seigh-bOx somewhere upon the main
road or "Shunpke 800 ,,
Tbis was the last known of him until his body was
found in that road about half way between his house
and the main road 1t presented hOnid spectacle
the head being nearly severed and hanging only by
small ligament He was discovered by Mr.. ,. Falren
Perkins who lives on the Shunpike at the junction
of the road which the deceased resided and where
ne was killed The horse, with the sleigh runners and
a dog passed Mr.. Perkins, house without driver,
and came toward New-Haven 4 distance of quarter
of mile and stopped at puohc mousse ana peer
mandatory called " ClntOns." The dog acted
misunderstanding constantly at the horse, a If he
expected him to go on or to communicate something
After nearly five hours the neglected horse began to
inquiry and we believe Mr.. PERKINS ially De,
gan to express anxiety that something had happened
10 Mr. Spery which induced Mr.. Perkinsto go up the
road toward the house OF the deceased Tor the purpose
of unravelng the mystery. When abOut half way
over he found the body OF the good Old man. a. before
stated He appeared to have been struck in the neck
with the sharp AK three times. Mr. Spenys
sight and hearing had failed somewhat recently, IN
consequence of paralytic shock which he received
about year ago. and it is probable therefore that lie
was all unconscious of assault until the instant De-
fore his death. This bloody deed, II Is supposed, was
done at about IL O'Clock yesterday forenoon. Inc
body was not discovered until clock III the alter
noon Coroners Jury was immediately summoned,
nJ the officers were in the pursuit OF the suspected
murderer Charles Sanford. lie was found and taken
TO New-Haven for commitment. On the way he tod
the officers that he had also killed Mr.. lchabod TIMBER
f,ld They besitated to believe it, until the horrid
ly
Mr. Umberfeld lives road that branches OIL
from the Litchfed turnpike, and by cross road
j. about a mile distant from Mr.. SpeHy house and
about three-quarters Of u mile nearer the LltchneId
tunnike than the house of Mr. Doolittle, who had
such nauow escape from Sanfords AK in the
morning. c,,,, ,,,
in the afternoon or iust at the hour when Mr.. Sperys
body VIA for nd IL il said that he sat down aud
talked with Mr.. Unberteld. He then rose from bis
chair struck the fatal blow and repeated the strokes
until he had severed the old man head from his Dody
He left the house and went up the mountain snort
distance made n circuit of about half mile came
back to the house, Eat down and said ne "oud s'ay
there all night. -. ; =; IL;
We saw the prisoner Sanford this morning ID nls
coll which il near to that of Willard Clark and that OF
Samuel Sly The murderer was standing close up To
the grated door of his CELL talking very rapidly and IN
coherentIy; occasionally oaths aud mprecations could
be heard. Yet he did not speak rs u IN passion put
iderably bruised On the left side there seemed TO be
dried blood. On the right his eye was badly black
eued and HIS face discolored in a similar manner:
Ills scalp had also been hunt 80 IA to bleed reey az
The time These wounds were from those W no arrested
him. lie brought his upon one Cd them but i9rtu-
pately the edge passed outside of h' neck ana he
bslyc only tuck, doing no harm. AZ this moment
r.rsop behind the maniac brought him 10 the gfouhu
with a club; and in this way be was secured
He had on this morning seal-skin fur cap wi'h9ut
any forepnce pair of black Kid gove- CONSIDERABLY
worn; ON one hand was tightly wound an Old siA hAnd
k,nbief hut be gave no answer to the question why
he wore il. and merely looked down upon wnen III,
attention wa directed toward H.. The wrstband
of his shirt was greatly stained with blood lie wore
nm oycrcoat aronrd which wasted WOODEN comforter,
and his whole appearance indicated preparation for
trnmp IN the cold. Soon be turned aud got into his
he'd without taking of his cap OF shoes, be 1.-THE time
Lerniug M his lnnttcring jaTgon.
ubns been said that this wrttchcd young man De-
hanged 10 the gang of Wakcmanhes, the haltcraIy
s,ns,cs vbo arr now in jail for the murder of Justns
Mathew, whom they called the man Of SIN We
doubt however whether Sanford has ever given him.
eli much trouble about che man OF sin, or had any
other of the anxcti,s OF the Wakemantes. Never
tholess II u fact uat he IA connected by the ties OF
relationship with most OF them. The widow OF Jusius
Mathew who was murdered by sly, Is his aunt Al
ne,on Sanford is his uncle. IL was this mans vile
tbai tied the hands Of Matthew betorc he was mur
~. ...,,o., n.xi who test tied az the nuuc4