The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-02
THE LAST ASSASSINATION.
NEwBURG's TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
Funeral Of tho Murdered Mantle Murderer'e
Antecedents- Counsel Volunteers
to Defend BufPum.

to Defend Buffum.
NEwBURG, Sept. i, 1870
At i've O'Clock this afternoon the funeral OF Mr.
John L. Seaverns, who was murdered on Tuesday
evening, was held at his late residence, ITO Grand
street. In this city, The attendance OF citizens was
very large, only small part OF the number being
able to obtain entrance to the house, and both SIDES
OF the street for a considerable distance up and
down were crowded by citizens.
THE REMAINS
were contained in an e.egant rosewood casket
silver mounted. A plain silver plate on the upper
surface Of the casket inscribed with the name,
date OF birth and death Of the deceased On the
coffn were two wreaths OF immortelles. The SER
vices at the house conducted after the Epseo-
pal form, by the venerable Rev. DR.. Brown. rector
OF st. Georges, assisted by the Rev. Hobart Chef
WOOD, rector Of ST. Paus The services were intro
duced with the following brief t
REMARKS BY REV. Mr.. CHETwOOD.
could not find any words more suitable for a text,
were to take one, than those which 1t is recorded
the venerable Robert Hall turned to find chapter
and verse for and could not discover them In the
sacred pages-they are only not inspired-'In the
midst Of life we In death" Only not inspired;
and, oil, enforced to-day how solemnly Twice
within the week l have stood by the coffin OF
one who has been called or most suddenly-before
by natural cause, and now by q violent death.
brethren, Christian friends and neghb0rs, that we
could learn the lesson which Gods voice speaks to-
in behalf not only Of my venerable as.
sociate whom represent here, but also
that the hearts OF all melted with warmest sym
patty toward this afflicted household Need 4
not yet made their peace with God, who have not
yet prepared themselves so that no death, In one
s can be sudden n to s nss they
lie we are in dearh9" that they should henceforth
SET about making their peace with God break or
now In order that the words of Scripture and prayer
which seem to me to be the test to break the sleuce
OF this occasion, may conclude the services mere.
REV. DIR. BROWN
then read the Scripture lesson from the fifteenth
twentieth verse, after which he onered the prayer
from the Episcopal burial service This concluded
the ceremonies at the house.
THE FUNERAL CoRTEGH
then took up the line OF march Tor st. Georges
Cemetery, the family having changed their purpose
OF removing the remains to Worcester, Mass for in~
terment. The following named prominent citizens
Of Newburg performed the offices Of paA.bearers:-
David Carson, Peter Adams, J. De Witt Walsh. VIM.
w. Carson, Erastus Ide, George W. Townsend.
The remains were carried BY four OF the men en-
ployed IN MI. Seaverns' paper machinery works. The
funeral procession was Very long. On its arrival at
st. Georges Cemetery the funeral service was read
by Rev. DIR. Brown and the remains were temporal
lily deposited in the receiving vault.
THE DECEASED
90 niYe c e @ 70 20
ter lunatic, now confined in the Worcester Mass
Insane Hospital whittier lie was taken on Wednes~
day.
An Account OF the Assassin.
Robert Burum the murderer, was born at Salem
Mass, IN 1928, and is therefore forty.two years Of
age. A brother of his is now occupying q
positions in the Custom House at that
place. In 1858 Robert went to Kansaa
and figured in the troubles which afflicsed that
'beedng" portion OF our national domain. At the
commencement OF the rebellion he enlisted In Com
Captain Milo Cation. He was soon afterward se-
lectcd 10 act as scout for Which position
peculiarly fitted him. Sent out on special duty In
1863 with twenty-one others, the entire party was
captured by the rebels, who forwarded them to At
lanta, Ca. They were confined here many months
ana suffered terrible privatOns. When Buf1um was
released BY exchange he was So reduced that ne
home
on the subject of murder, and says that ne was CON-
stantly beset with desire to XIII some one But he
held himself in check, recovered his PHYSICAL
alter alter; 0' BatinIn returned to his home Il
his monomania had become so decided that his.
three children. caused her husband to be conveyed
to the lunatic asylum at Worcester, where he re-
asa mS aga ne
tanned great control over him. About two months
ago
sEAvERNs MADE HIS ESCAPE
from the asylum, probably with Buffums assistance,
and since then has lived with his parents at News
ium he - Immediately came to Newb1s 70
visit his friend Joseph. he was welcomed
By ae socety o to &
son. But the guest turned out to be q dangerous,
desperate man Under whose tuition tne son was as
should get rid OF Buum forced Itself upon the atten
ton OF Mr.. seaverns.
NE lnI-T
and in SO doing reused the revengeful anger OF his
sons guest. and fell victim to 1t.
j. HallOcK Drake, of Newburg, has volunteered ia
act as counsel for the murderer, with single con%
diton, which is that he shall become satisfied Srom
ter asylum that Bufluin was insane. otherwise he
will not attempt to stand between the prisoner
have Been written to by HIM for Information con-
corning Bunum's antecedents. Upon their reply
THE FATE OF THE PRISONER.
The hearing Will take place on Saturday morning.
when the prisoner will probably be committed to
await the action OF the Grand Jury.
Bufum has come out OF the stupidity and indlffer-
ence which he manifested after the murder ana now
feels keenly alive 10 the terrors of his situation. On
the night OF the murder and tho day following he
very retlceni, speaking only In answer TO ques-
tons and then in monsyables. On returning to his
cell after being called before the coroner's jury he
gave orders that nobody should be
Admitted TO VISIT HIM.
On Thursday, however, he was more cOmmuMCas
tive, and conyersed freely with all VINO came TO see
him. On being asked whether Joseph Seaverns had
yet heard OF his fathers death, Bunum burst INTO
+ tears and said:-
ayes, he knows it, but what does he care ~
The prisoner seemed to realize painfully the ma.
tnre OF the crime he had committed, and sobbed
and wept for some time He still adheres to the
declaration which he made on Wednesday, that ne
COULD NOT HELP
committing the murder, and that he feels as sorry
when the killing mood Is not upon nm) as any OF
those who deiest MIN and his crime Public opinion
IN reference to the sanity OF the murderer and his
accountability for the CRIME Is about equally divided
In Newburg. 1t Is generally conceded, however
that the city narrowly escaped on Tuesday night
one OF those laWess exhibitions or
POPULAR VENGEANCE,
10 which Judge Lynch has given his name. F0rtu.
nately, the crowd gave The prisoner the benefit OF
the doubt which then existed as to his sanity and
did not summarily execute him, as was strongly