New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-01
THE RECENT MURDER At WATERFORD

THE RECENT MURDER At WATERFORD
o'"''p' SARATOGA, July 30, 1860.
The nasseueers who, in their pursuit Of recreation
and Measure took the quarter past five o'clock train
from Troy. for Saratoga, on Saturday last, had an
exciting ride. At Waterford the Sheriff OF saratoga
Couuty came aboard the train, having in his custody
the person of Vanderwerken, the man who hsd the
night before disturbed the quiet Of the village Of Wa
terford and filed its inhabitants with excitement BY
cooIy and with devilsh generalization, numbering at
his very door Mr.. Sherman, one OF the most widely
known and esteemed inhabitants of the place. large
crowd, lees excited apparently, than shocked and
stunned the inhuman act was at the depot awaiting
the coming of the train and eager TO zee
ken in his new character Of murderer IL took but
few minutes to transfer the man from the depot to the
car but all aboard were familiar with the cause
of the thropg at the station. He was seated in the
front seat Of the first car, and was curiously
regarded by his fellow:passengers. Many gentlemen
from the other cars endangered their safety by Cross
ing the platform the train was moving on, to see the
unhappy man. But there was no ungentlemanly curl
osity displayed far as could see and from the lady
travellers, there were many expressions OF sympathy
for the old man who had committed unnatural and
violent an act. Vanderwerken was handcuffed, and
dressed in good suit of black brosdcloth, with not
old beaver hat His face was pale and sallow, and
was rough, with the growth of a two days gray
beard. His cheeks sunken his mouth firmly set, and
his blue eyes fixed and somewhat wild IN their sx-
tsiop, He showed the effects Of strong nervous
exci0 6ent, appearing in many respects, like man
just up from heavy drinking spell; he dld not speak
reached Balston which place he was carried to be
confined in the county JAIL to await his trial At Ball.
stop he was expected for large crowd was collected
At the station Tie sheriff took him hastily Oft the car and
walked with him through the crowd to the JAIL which
=. hat Oh
some faint shouts of Lynch him y String him NJ!
Hang him on the spotH and two or three men had
ropes with which they not very vociferousy proposed
to effect an impromPtr execution nu. was eVtdens
crowd as was there collected So he suffered nothing
more than the severe ordeal of passing through the
mas of people, and hearing the numerous expressions
of adherence for his honid act The OF
the death sre such to leave no doubt OF the author OF
il. Harrison Sherman, the murdered man, was the
trackmaster of the Rensselaer, and Saratoga Railroad
at Waterford. Ysnderwerken, the alleged murderer,
president of Waterford and next-door neighbor OF
Sherman. The cause that induced him 10 commit the
act is one 30 slight, that it shows him TO De
man far gone in malice, and TO be possessed OF
a real murderers heart. Mr.. Sherman was
one of the Trustees of the town of Waterford and as
such it hi duty TO inspect and superntend the In
Of the village to zee that the streets Were
kept in proper condition, and to attend to other like
ofeess 1t seems that the streets and the cutters In
front obs own house and that OF Vanderwerken were
in defective condition, and required repairs. He re-
ported the same and Wander werken was informed of
the fact and given notice 10 remedy the defect or be
subject TO having il done by the town authorities and
at bis expense. He did MT make the required repairs
and 30 about three weeks ago the town did the work.
and he was forced to foot the b-a mat er of but $40
or sl5. Regarding Shermsn.as the OF this CON-
PEELED expenditure and jealous Of bis authority he
cherished for him the most Tevengefn feelings, aud
openly threatened to take his life Sherman heard Of
these threats but did not believe the anything
he har nm Of tied apdo
sionste man, although he knew Vanderwerken TO be a
hard dIinker and violent and malicious Though he
often intoxicated, il is said the day of the muir
der he was entirely sober. He borrowed shot
i hoot d pover. 's He took { home end ehsrgsd
well with shot, and at six o'clock on Friday evening
while it yet light day, he went out of hsh house.
is next to that of the deceased and saw Sher
nan come out of his door and throw something into
he street. Vanderwerken approached and spoke
ew words to him, without receiving any reply. sher
nan soon II rned and passed toward his house. When
10 was near his door Vanderwerkens son called out
hat his father was going to shoot him; and Sherman
urned half around and the father Immediately fired
odgiDg the whole contents of the gun in his victims
leart As be was close by him, the charge took terri
lie effect and the poor man fell instantly dead SIEVE.
al persons who were near saw the whole proceeding
)ut the murde rer the nearest one to him at
be time he fred The whole thing was so rapidly
lone that could have had time to interfere had
he purpose of the inhuman man been known to them.
1anderwerken was Immediately arrested. He said to
he people who gathered around, GO said I'd do it,
and you didn't believe me; but You see l meant
what said" He also remarked that there were
other Persons in Waterford whom if he could shoot
he would be willing to die.
He was confined during the night, and the case was
Examined on the following day by a Coroner's Jury.
The facts have related were in substance testified TO,
md Vanderwerken was committed 10 the County Jail
await trial for the murder. AS have before said,
e was conveyed thither in the train which passed
through Waterford at about o'clock on Saturday.
Harrison Sherman was under the employ of the !
Rensselaer, and Saratoga Railroad as matchmaker,
nd was man generally respected, of quiet manners,
md in no wise overbealiDg He was 80 years Of age,
nd leaves wife and family Of four young children.
William T. Vanderwerken ia at the advanced age of
years, and has not borne good character. He was
ven to ntoXicati9n and drew often upon the gener-
sty of his relatives for his support. lie has a wife
nd several grown up children BY her he is related to
ne of the wealthiest men of Waterford. His son is
laced in that most unhappy of positions where |
q will be obliged TO bear testimony against his own
ather. With such facts as these have related test
ed TO by eye-wtnesses there be doubt of Van
erwerkens guilt. He will be tried, doubtless, at the
eptember term Of the Court which will sit at Ball
ton.
The most intense excitement exists throughout the |
Whole country hereabouts and the bloody transaction
general topic of conversation among the pleasure
eekers here at Saratoga. The people seem to lament
tent, and in the heat Of their excitement cry blood
u blood" 1t lie one of the most cool booded, afro
ous murders ever recorded-committed in the almost
road daylight, and in public street of considerable
,wn and on pretext so slight that were not for
assertion that the murderer was sober during the
hoe day Of the transaction could be inclined TO
ink the man mad. But il was the madness of a man
Tho harbors aud cherisbes revengeful and murderous
eliDgs, and who claim exemption Oh that scole
ON the penalty which justice afiixes to his crime.
We are informed that the steamship City of WASH
gton. which rived on Tuesday, was of Cape Race
ON a. m. to a. IN. Of Friday last. 1t viii be re-
embered that the news.boat of the Associated Press