New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-23
SLAUGHTER OF A WHOLE FAMILY
SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER.

We print herewith the particulars Of a shocking
trsgedy which occurred at Port Jefferson, l. / on
Saturday morning. a. derived from persons residing at
that village.
About u o'clock on Saturday morning, while Mr..
Waters Of Port Jeeron was ct breakfast 10 company
with her son n.lsw, Mr. Sturdevaat and his wife, Mr.
Waters, her busbard who had been out of the house
for some time previous suddenly entered the room With
an iron b.r in bis hand, and without word of warn
in attack ed bis own wife and Mr.. and Mrs. S.urds
vsnt with the formidable weapon. The only person in
the house beside the party at breakfast vas boy Of
about 10 years old, who had concealed himself up
stars He heard distinctly number of blows falling
IN Quick succession accompanied by shrieks aud cries
of murder" Then only one voice was heard, and
murder" murder" was loudly shouted. Two or
three additional blows were again quickly delivered,
and then there noise, except the footsteps OF
some one apparently leaving the scene OF the tragedy
ard proceeded up stairs. The boy nov con sealed him.
.elf closely urder bedstead while the footsteps, after
reaching to the top Of the stairs turned into another
room from that in which he concealed. Suspect
irg that Mr. Waters wanted TO kill or beat him, the
boy then ran down stairs q, fast as he could, and
was rapidly followed by Waters, who still had the Iron
bar in his hand. The lad however, escaped by out
rupprg his pursuer, and then specialize ALARM where
upon number of villagers in the neighborhood pro-
ceeded to the spot.
Outside the door, and few PAGES from it, terrible
spectacle was presented Mira. Sturdevant lay in stae
of irsersibility on the ground. Her head and fare
we're covered with bood and she had received heavy
stroke from iron bar the head. Beside this she
bad been struck with the weapon on other parts
Of the body and had two smaller wounds in the head.
Appearances indicated that struggle had taken place
between her and Waters before he was able to over
come her, Perhaps while he was finishing his second
victim she endeavored to escape by running out OF the
house and raising the cries Of murder that were over
heard by the boy when the fend followed and struck
the blows at her head which caused her to lie in the
state in which she was found by the neighbors. All
tina. the circumstance would permit at done
for Mrs. Stwdevsnt, and the neghbors proceeded to
make further discoveries. The implement with whi,h
Waters had effected the death Of two individuals and
with which he had attempted that of third, was
found near the barn. adjacent to the dwelling hsuse
The bar of iron was square, about inch aud quar-
ter thick, and was three and haf feet in lsngtA-
When found il was covered ~ith human blood
ON entering the house bloody evidences of the aw-
full crime, Of which II had lately bsen the scene,
were scattered al over the walls aud floor. becoming
more numerous as they nesrei the breakfast room.
Two human beings lay dead, their heads battered In
fightul mapner AID their persons altogether present
ing the most horrible spectacle that be imagined
II was evident to all that instsnt death mus have been
the result Of the blows inflicted upon the heads Of Mrs.
Ws'ers and Mr.. Sturdevant.
In the barn. suspended from joist by the neck the
neghbors found the remains Of the maniac murderer
who, after wresking bis vengeance upon his victims
had gone and hanged bimself
Up to the time our informants left Port jefferson,
nothing fur her had trsnspired in relation to this
guir airy affair. We have Obtained the following "a ,ts
in regard to the past history Of the actors 10 this TRACE
dy. Mrs Waters was the widow of the late ar.
Darling, ship builder in Port Jefferson. She had bseu
married 10 Waters about two years before the murder
occurred, during which time they lived together to all
appearance in the most affsctionste manner. Mrs.
Waters was about 50 years old, and her husband
appeared to be abou. five years youcger MIR. S'ur-
devant was about 30 years DID, while his vita, who
was the daughter Of Mrs Waters By her former
hubbard, is little more than g. and adylke person
in every respect. The boy that was up stairs, and
Who bad such narrow chance for his life, was also
child of Mrs. Waters by her former husband, and be
is smart int ieent young lad, Of 10 years Old as HIS
we'll planned and Fortunate escape fully proves.
It il alleged that the cause Of this shocking affair is
this: Mrs. Waters was very much attached to her
daughter and her daughters husband and possessing
good deal Of property since the death Of her first
husband, was very liberal With her daughter. 1t
supposed that her husband, noticing many material
proofs of this Eberay in the shape of presents, inn
seined that he was not the chief obec: Of his wifss
affection and perhaps fearing that at her desth she
would will the property to her children, broodsd over
it till he became crszed and committed this wholesale
,lauybter