The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-20

The amir created much excitement among the clergy
and people. The church and society il Is said,
tain Mr.. Nickersons position, and he viii remain
with them.
The Mysterious New Haven Murder.
From the New Haven Palladium, Dec. 1871
One OF the most remarkable on the criminal
hs ood S
upon the case portion Of is involved in the deepest
mystery.
heretofore published in the newspapers concerning the
disappearance last winter Of Charles Sage from his
home, in Cromwell, Middletown in this State. We
recaptuate the facts briefly they GU, the
tmony.
During Of the coolest mornings OF last winter he
his father the barn feed the cattle The boy
declined going because he bad been threatened with
his horse the barn The father thought the excuse
frivolous and compelled the 60, who departed
in tears This was the las, seen Of him by the family.
Suspicion Of foul play at aroused and Nugent
arrested But the evidence not then deemed
sufficient to commit him. hole was found in the ice in
the river in the Of the barn. and IL suggested
that the body OF the boy had been put through the open
ing into the river. Some time after body was found
on the river bank Lyme, and believed be that
OF young Sage The father upon it several marks
which correspondent with those upon the body of his
The height was precisely same and piece Of the
recognized as resembling the coat by his
In the spring the lining of overoeat, corresponding
with that Of young Sage was found on the banks Of tn,
river near Cromwell Still there positive evi-
dence against Nuget but suspicion grew stronger daily
until at length all doubt removed by the appearance
benson, whose
was direct and positive We give his statement below
il was given during the examination. Nugent was then
re arrested
Benson stated that he passing through Comwen on
the day of the disappearance of young Sage and when
the barn he heard an atercaon He looked in and
Nugent and his wife, and boy whom he de.
scribed and whose description answered perfectly to
that of young Sage Nugent with OATH struck down
the boy with club, and then stabbed him with knife.
As he looked out of he door he the witness Benson
asked him what he was doing there, and finally COM
PEELED him to come in and hello hun to remove the body
han he q ~ itp n
e Benson ADDED that be did not remove the body to
the haymow which he had never seen before or since
He asked what young Sage had on MS feet, and he
answered. pair OF oowhide boots, enc Of which was
worn through at the eide, and The other was worn
through the bal The father said that true, and
that his abe having the boots mended, Blood
found the barr loor aud pieces Of the floor
sawed up and saved Tor the trial Inc lack KNIFE was
pe,e the murder. Benson described the gangway
through which the body carried TO the haymow IN an
adjoining barn. and here tracks IN the snow were remem
bered 10 have been from barn 70 the other.
Benson said he never the boy before the murder,
but he remembered his appearance picked out
in the who had such hair and the father said the
COMPARISON correct No doubt now remained the
mnd of any person in the room OF the guilt of Nugent
When the prisoner brought he eskedf he knew
BonsNn and said No. he had never seen him before"
Benson replied Yes YOU do, Eugen. and you know you
killed that boy and that helped 10 put the body under
the hay Benson then told TO look Nugent in the
and tell the whole story He did so, Nugent all the
while trembling like condemned culpr On being told
that ne in bad scrape, he said 81 know it, but God
is my mamie will get me out Of +"
Nagent then remanded to prison. and his trial,
supposed would take place the present month, but
circumstances have caused delay Benson said that he
Cromwell expressly TO make clean breast Of the
whole aftar-that since the murder he had been ship.
wrecked and was near losing his ehat he had not en-
joyed moments piece Of mind-that he knew that his
confession would mplcae himself and that If he was not
hung As accomplish he would go to State prison for
le~but he did what became Of him If he could
his of the burden which tho dreadful
secret had cast upon it, and which he could not otherwise
ehake OF.
The following is his testimony as taken down at the
time of the examination
john Amos Benson sworn-l suppose am thirty-nve
years old born in Rocky Hill; my mother lives in
wethersaed lived on farm I'll was tweniyone, and
came TO this town last January don't
inter the day, but do recoect that suffered with
cold witness here went back 10 describe very minuely
where ne was and what he did for several days before
He started for Cromwell about 10 O'Clock A. NJ having
spent The forenoon in going from one rum hole TO another
n Mdd,etown) l came 10 Cromwell about where we
now are. 70 Sages barn; heard ;hreshing In
the barn, and turned OFF the road TO 60 To the barn
heard in it; looked through crack IN the big
door and them; Of them the defendant, (Nu
gent the other had seen; could not hear what
they said the wind blowing so hard, but moved
south Of the door and then heard the defendant
say: DIN you, say You have many time taken
the borse, from the place where ! put him" The
other replied al have done as ] was told" Defend
ant then sad: stYou id OF a b, you never
will do Ii again. and he toward Ike
mailman thought he was coming a. me; but ee turned
the barn that time; the first blow struck the back,
but he struck him the second blow on the head, which
knocked iim down the floor defendant then put the
fail in the hay NOW, and coming 10 the turned hun
and gave him jabthen came straight TO the door
with knife IN his hand and bis hands bloody; nc asked
how long had been there; | made no reply; !
afraid bu presently said ST is very cold' defendant
then said, ''came to the house," said would; be
asked II traveller said yes, and that should
like bitters; he then asked me TO help him do
job but did not soy what, and said would; he asked
IL saw his roS there; told him some OF Il; he
then said ''shis job going TO get you TO help
about can get you killed any time II you tell Of it'
told MIN would motel mot tel Of " We then reached , the
took something 10 drnk-dont know the kind Of liquor
and then by the fTeten or fifteen minutes defendant
then asked me out 70 the bare, and we went;
and dragged him to the east door by the col
lar Of his coat defendant then got plank aud put up and
helped TO put tn body On TO the bord and then took
down beside the and defendant got on the now and
lifted the body up ny The collar to him. and he drew up
we then dragged TO the next NOW and lifted again;
then did more after went into the house gave the
defendant % TO more liquor and he Gid he would 20
and get some, but bis wife said she must 60 with him,
and tell the old slst somebody had away; sup
posed II this Sse bad pat on the meU they told
10 20 into the entry and stay I'll they came back dd
~; | stayed there al night did not know when they
came home but seTa some old clothes and blankets
in morning carly got up the folks were US and gave
reakfast defendant me knife IN the morning
iarze 'jackknife dox know what did with The knife;
stAy led for Rocky H and from there 10 my mothers
au ws;hersfed Witness then SPOKE Of several psoes
wer he stopped on the nav These collateral fass we're
correbo-ated by other eNdence) Went IN Meriden:
stayed several days then went 10 Branford then 70 New
Haven there three four days Fleet street. from
thence &c New York; shtHped on board the schooner
Buckspou Capt Brown, 70 Norfolk for pine; Schooner
Wrecs co on Way ana Two persons were
but the other four Of were taken % the wreck; hrst
told what nave stated 20 Edssund Sege; my own guilty
conscience ed God induced ms TO tell this story could
have 20 pcacc Of mind until lad told fhe whole
Gross exarzedI gave NY nsIne a. Jonathan smith al
the Custom House in Mddletowr and called myself jack
FIRST told the facts Of the murder Edmund Sage did
tell OF the day that az the Custom House lid
not want 20 be own there tha. the reason gave
different lame. J know Mr.. samsel Trowbrdge when IN
New Haven stayed in fleet street, think tae murder
committed not FAR from IL O'Clock may he mistaken
when saw the blow struck was cold aud frightened,
and that the did not give the alarm, think
defendant had a cao and coat, don't recolieot the
color OF his nor of his pants and can't h wore
whskers. did not sap TO II sage struggled when
down: blows struck after he fell he dead
wheg went out b. tie barn lying fat his face;
think was thirty ave rnutcs after tho blows given;
there tke floor IN that part, had been
beapeG up; Sage, the deceased, had dark and
coat ire coat had faded b. 'ark vest arah cap: had
on a rel tippei u W.c,e y. ~ and tucked into hts
breast; think he la# rs DESCRIPTION
recorded by D. wtwrut# r# uHsHif correct We