New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-04
RELIGIOUS FANATYCISM AND MURDER
A FATHER KILLS HIS DAUGHTER.
Fron TIE Tyoy Tymes. Nav :

TIE quiet Sabbath was broken in upon Yesterday
by the commission Of horrid murder in the town Of
Sandake, about ID miles from Troy of daughter by
her father and only surviving parent about 20
years of age, named John Bedding The scene of the
homicide Is about four miles east Of Sters tavern
and near the steam saw-mll on the Sandake road
The parties lived IN little house, in which the father
earned livelihood for himself and daughter by fol-
lowing the trade of a shoemaker The daughters
name was Christina. She is about l9 years of age
and is described by the neghbors Is quiet and well
behaved girl. She had been unwen for some time
and, il il said had been under the of female
doctress residing in Berlin, in this county, named
Weaver. Her mind, 1t appears, was somewhat af
some other cause we are unable to say She labored
under the impression that the devil had possessed her.
and used to pray very frequently for deverance from
his grasp. A day or two before the MURDER the old
man and daughter went over to the house of David
Horton, who resided opposite the Belongs, when
Christina said she had taken medicine Of Mrs Weaver
and il made her feel if 1.-THE devil in her. and
she would scratch him off but that she had thrown
fthe medicine away, and drove the devil away, too.
The old had not done much work recently, as il
affected the girls head and is supposed that in
sequence Of his Of her, want of Sleep &C., his
own mind had become temporarily affected and while
under the deuson that Dena," as he calls her, was
the devil, he killed her.
The account which Bedding gives Of the affair is
that he the devil lying the bed, and he struck
il in the face. The girl 1t APPEAR lying down in
the back room. Bedding followed her from that room
to the front room, in which the murder was committed
petey smashed to pieces. Portions of the hair
Scattered about the room and pieces of the skull were
lying the floor. Her face, too considerably
bruised, but marks of violence discovered on
the other parts of her body. Bedding says he thought
she the devthat she appeared to him to be four
times large as Dena'-that her face was too
large for " Dena'-and from his previous and subse
quent conduct there scarcely be doubt that the
Old man magnes he hat fight with the devil, or, as
be expresses IT, with three devils and he had all he
could do TO kill them They lived alone in the house
Ii is supposed the murder was committed about l23
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The first person who dis
covered the murder Nicolas Ryerniller who first
saw the old man outside the house. He appeared very
much excited, and told Ryernier that he had killed
the devil, and it was lying in there pointing to his
house. Ryermiller looked in and discovered the dead
body Of the daughter. He asked the old if it
not 1' Dena" that he had killed. Bedlng replied that
he did not think it was. Belongs hands and shirt
sleeves covered with blood. Ryermler testified
before the CorOners jury that the father and
had lived with him about six months previously to
their residing in the house where the murder
mitted and that they always appeared happy together,
and the witness expressed it, never had any crazy
times" Christina was quiet, good girl.
Coroner Madden, of this city, notified Of the
MURDER and at O'Clock last evening proceeded to the
scene Of the tragedy. He found the neighborhood in
great excitement. Bedding raving like maniac
when the Coroner arrived. Coroner Madden sum-
moned a jury-Joel b. Peck, foreman-and proceed
ed to investigate the Several witnesses were
examined-their testimony being in effect above
giyen-and the jury rendered verdict that In their
opinion said Christina Bedding to her death on
Sunday, May l. 1852 from fractures of the skull, and
said injuries were inflicted with hammer in the hands
of her father, John Beding-he at the time abOring
under temporary alteration of mind" Coroner Mad
den placed Bedding under arrest and late last night
rived with him in this city and placed him in jail here.
dose Of morphine quoted the nerves of the old man.
and rendered his conveyance here comparatively easy
and safe.
The Grand Jury sit to-day. The evidence in the
case will be handed to them for their action at
Tbavxx hail 70 n
investigate the sanity of the murderer and if he is de-
cared insane will send him to the Lunatc Asylum; or
they will indict him for murder, in their opinion the
evidence warrants.
The neighbors give both Bedding and the daughter
ago ID character. The old sober and indus
trous and his delusion the result of some cause
other than drink. DIR. Barber, of Poesenki, believes
IL 10 have been caused by his ncessant care aud atten
fop In his sick daughter.