Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-04
More Witchcraft in Connecticut-Murdc
.5 of Justus Matthews.

More WItchcrat in COnnecticut-Murdcr
of Jnstus Matthews.
The New Haven Register, of "WEDNESDAY last, cor
tans the following particulars Of this bloody rage-
dy, already noticed in our teIegraphc coIumn
The city was thrown into considerable excite
ment by the announcement of another murder on
Sunday. 1t is hoped that this is the last one we
shall be compelled to chronicle in the year lS55---
as three have already taken place in New Haven
since April last. 81 s.
It seems there exists in the upper part of the
city peculiar religious sect known as the "Wake-
NANTES" who have made their doctrines known
by holding meetings at the house Of Mr.. Samuel
Sly, who lives in lane or alley between Dixwclf~
and Beaver streets. ~
I This Mr.. Sly has no wife or family, but has q
woman living in the house with him, named Rhoda
Wakeman, who Is the founder of the sect called
the w akemantes." This woman affirms that she
was murdered about thirty years ago, and went TO
heaven, and for some reason which she does not
state, came back earth and founded the sect al
ready alluded TO. She breaches and prays, and
holds meetings at her house, giving to those who
assemble to hear her peculiar stories, her views
about the Bible and her experience in the spiritual
world. ba" @A M
Among her believers and followers are many
families who live in Hamden, and they are in the
habit OF coming down to her house every Sunday
to attend meeting. She held a meeting at her
house last Sunday evening, and there were present
ht the meeting Almeron Sanford and his wife, JUS
| tus Matthews, Betsey Keeler, Mrs Davis, and
colored man named Josiah jackson. They met
about o'clock Sunday afternoon and continued
their meeting until late hour in the night. About
o'clock on Monday morning, the Widow Wake
man (the prophetess) says that she heard noite
| in the room below. She occupies small room in
the attic of the house. The house is a common
story a-haf house, with thin partitions, and
noise in the lower story could be easily heard in the
| rooms above. The widow says that she told Betsey
Keeler, when she heard the noise that she thought
I" all was not right below" r
| Although widow Wakeman affrms that she
thought " all was not right below" at two o'clock
| in the morning, no effort made by her 10
ascertain anything concerning the supposed
trouble. sE
About O'Clock yesterday (Monday) morning,
a young son of Justus Matthews began to search
for his father, wondering why he had not made bis
/ 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 open tho
/ door. He looked into the room, and there beheld
bis father lying dead upon the floor, with pools Of
blood surrounding bis head
/ Clotted blood and hair lay upon the floor around
him, and several pools Of blood were found near
his head. 1t was truly an awful scene to witness
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 the nature of the wounds.
They were doubtless made by hatchet or some
other instrument heavier and more powerful than
q knife or razor. A small rope was found on the
floor, and marks of rope we're discovered on his
wrists and t evident that the wrists had been
bound by this rope
| A jury Of inquest was summoned, who visited
the house, and viewed the body, and then adjourn
ed 6o'clock on Monday. A post-mortem examna-
\ tion was held at o'clock on Monday afternoon Tho
body was examined, and the wounds probed and
cleansed by Drs Knight, Jewett, and Daggett.
i While the post-mortem examination was being
held, and also throughout the day, crowds of peo-
pie assembled in front of the house to learn the
facts and particulars concerning the murder but
few persons, however, were admitted into tie
house si d-I an ofs
The boy was struck almost dumb with terror,
end Immediately ran into the street and went to
the next house and got Mr.. Lewis Dorman to come
4 TO the house and the body. Mr.. ID. did not 20
into the house, but Immediately went and notified
Justice Bennett of the facts. Mr.. Bennett and a
number Of men repaired Immediately TO the scene
of blood. They found the body to be that Of JUS
tus Matthews, who is pistol maker, and works at
/ Whitneyvile, but lives in Hamden
He was one of the individuals present at the
meeting held at the house Sunday evening When
first discovered the body lay upon the floor, with
the head toward bed in the room and il was
found with the face turned toward the window "
ing upon the left aide, and lay very nearly in the
middle Of the room.
| The house was thoroughly searched and bloody
/ clothes were found, and marks Of blood upon both
sides of the door leading to the room in which the
body was discovered. A common butcher-knife
was found in box or small che {, well sharped,
and having the appearance of being used recently
but no Ratchet was found except one so duls
rusty that no use could be made Of ii.
The following persons were arrested durinf
afternoon and lodged in jail, charged with &C
ting, or in some way being accessory 10 the
Israel Woodng, Almeron Sanford and "
| gail Sables Thankful s. Hersey, the ,wids
man, (the prophetess,) Samuel Sly, and
man named Josiah jackson
| Samuel Sly has confessed the rnur