New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-21
THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER.

One of the most rem ark able cases on the criminal
records Of this any other country hiss Just come 70
our knowledge. Even now, with the hood OF ligh'
thrown upon The case portion Of 1t is Involved In the
deepest mystery.
Most of our readers will remember the facts gener-
ally, as heretofore Published 10 the sspaper, con-
cernipg the dsappearancs, las. Winter, Of Charles r.
Sage hom bis home in Cromwell, ner MiddletoWn, IN
this Sae We recsptulste the facts briefly, a. they
came out In the testimony.
Young Sage was Is or ~ years OF age. During one
Of the coolest mornings Of last Winter ne sent by
hi. father TO the bsrn to feed the csts The boy de-
c'ned goirg, because he had been threatened with
violence by an Irishmsn rsmed Patrick Nugent, whs
kept his horse at the barn. The father thought the
excuse frivolous ard compelled the son TO 60,
who departed in tear. This s the last seen OF aln
by the family
Suspicion Of foul play was at once aroused. and Ma
gent was arrested; but the evidence was not thon
deemed sufficient TO commit him. hole WAS found
in the ice in the river in the Of the barn, and It
was rpgested hst tho body Of the boy had bsen put
through The opening into the river. Some time after
a body was found on the river bank near Lyme. and
was believed TO be that OF young Ssge. The father
s6w upon it several marks which eorresponded with
those upon the body of bis son. The hight was pre-.
oey the ssme and piece OF the coat was recognized
az resembling the coat by his In the Spntg,
The lining Of an overcoat corresponding With that VI
yourg Sage found on the banks OF the ryer near
Cromwell SILL there was no positive evidence
against Nugenti but suspicion grew stonger daily IN
I'll at leugth all doubt removed by the appearance
of a sailor named John Amos Benson, whose testi-
mory was direct ard positive. We give his statement
below as was given during the examination. Nugent
was then rearre sted. ,
Benson stated that he was passing through Comwel
on the day Cf the disappearance of young Ssge, ana
when near the BAN he heard an alteration. He
locked in and saw NvgeDt and bis wife, and bog
whom he described, and whose description answered
perfectly to that OF youg Ssge. Nugent, with an
oath, struck down the boy With club, and then
etabbed him with knife. As be looked out Of the
door he cav the wtnets Benson-asked him what he
was doing there and finally compelled him to come in
ard help him 10 remove the body. When he said
Ibis Nugents wife exclaimed. 90, what lie!1
Beusop added that he did rot the body to the
heyu ow which be had never seen before SINCE
lie wss asked what young Sage had on bis feet a,d
he answered, pair of cowhids boots, one OF rhi3h
wss through at the side, and the other was worn
Though On the bal. The father ssid tina. was true
snd that his was about having the boots mensed
Blood wss found the barn floor, ard pieces OF tho
icor we're sawed up aud saved for the trial. The Jack
knife also found-or enc supposed TO he the knife
used TO con plete the murder. Benson described the
gapgwsy through which the body was carried to thu
bsynow in an adjoining barn, and here hscks In the
snow were remembered 10 have been seen from one
barn 70 the other.
Benson said be never saw the boy before the MUIR
der, but he remembered HE appearance. lie picked
out nan in the room who had such hair. aud the
fati er said the COnI arisen was correct. No doub!
row rtmsiIed On the mind OF any person IN the room
of the guilt Of Nugont When tho prisoner was
broughI IN lie uas asked IL be kues Bensoh aud
said, mo. be bad never seer him before. Berson
rel led, "Yes you do, n gent and you know You
" killed that boy, and ihas helped TO put tho body
" under TIE hay Benson was then told 10 ioos Nugent
in the face apo tell the whole story. lie did so, NJ
gent all the while trembling like condemned culprt.
On beirg tcld that be IN q bad scrape, ne iad,
~ know II, but God is my nan-he will get Ino OUT
Cfit"
Nucert was then rensndeS 10 prison, and bis hi.l,
il was supposed would take place the present month,
hut circumstances have caused delay. Benson sald
that he came to Cromwell expressly to make clesn
bresst Of the whole affair; hat sinee the murder Ge
had been shipwreckeo, and was near losing oh NE;
tbet Re rad not epjoyed moments peace OF mind
ibst he krew that HE confession would mplcate him
self sIc that if be Yves not hung as an accomphc' he
would go TO state Prison for e-6ut ne dld 90, care
wis. became q him If re could bnt ease bis con-
feiepce of the burden which the Gre sdfd secret hsd
cast upcr H. and which be could not otherwise Stake
Cf.
The following s hs testimony as taken down at The
tine &c the exsB IL atlcD.
J.bn Amos Ber on svorn--I suppose | an thirty
five wears old; was born in Rocky Hill my mother
lives in Nethershed; ! lived on farm VII was
vsrty.ore, ard then vsot 70 sea- eamI 70 th' town
sst Jsnu,ry dent remember the day, bat do recol-
Iect thstI suffered with cold. witness here wen:
back 10 d. scribe very niDutsly where he was and
what be did for seyer.l days before. lie started Tor
Cron well about 10 O'Clock 9. N hsvns spen. tns
for.r oou IN going from one rum boe 10 another IN
,fodIetorl | cane 10 Cromwell about where We now
ere 10 Sages bern heard some ons threshipg ID the
ham ard I'M 40 of the goed - 20 10 me barn
teEf0 Two uisE n IL; tDokcc kLIDuSn aSh ~ h1o
Dig door and ssw them one Ct them was the defend
art lNuee1t; The other never had seen; could not
bear " hat they sbd, the wind was blowing so nara
bpt moved Tound south q the door and then heard
the defepdsut ssy, DIN you say you have many
/. 6n.e taken he horse from the plscs where put
bin" The other replied: have cone es vas
toc Defer cent then said " YOu ID son Of
ID YOU rever will 90 il again" ard he came
toysrd NE ike msdrlsn; thought he was coming
AZ re-: but be tuTnsd and struck the other MAJ
with a fail: I was close up 20 the barn al that
time: the frst blow struck on the back bat he
,fTuek hro the eeccrd blow on the head which knock
cd him down on the foor: defendant tnen put ms
fail IN the hay row, and oomrg TO the msn .uIned
him yer snd gaze him q jab-then came sreignI 20
bloody; be ssked Los l1ug HaI been tnere 4 h-soe
10 reply; was sfrsid, bur presently sid " bvey
ss,d - defendant taen ssid, Come 20 me mouse
raid would; be asked II / was rsveiefi 30.
zee srG tbst | should Ike some oteIsi u Inas
asked NE 10 ksIp him do job, but OLD no' say ra
aid ssid would; he asked saw n'1 ,o N 'a
,old him Jaw SENS of IL; he then ssld uis Juo
am GOING IN GET xou 10 help me ABOUT can ge' Jy9
Lills5 an lime 4 you Re of II told him l woai3
rct tell - a. 90 tben rescued the hose; ne vsneo
80, .sIs IN vs,n vTsier ard then TOOK something
10 1,;rk dor, srov the hind Of hquor-ana heh "a.
~ a. g.; g.. o. f;t,een uinutse; defendant tnen sakso
- .. ~ 80, o. ,te BAN aud vent; We TOOK tne
~ - - Rim 70 the east door by the coiist o,
E.e,s. de,,rsspt then got sink ana ply up an
o. mt the body on 10 the board, snd tnen 'ooh
t Ely ft's, and We canned il 10 the ucf'n oars.
= do1-I beside 'he NOW ard cefenosnt g9.on
r' and lifted tie bedy Up by the coilsr 70 num-
- 49, n Nd eetnea dragged utoSne eeVWoS,