The Republican journal., 1871-02-16
From the New York Hefald, Feb. I.
THE STEVENS SUICIDE.

At An early hour Yesterday morning the
officials at the Tombs Prison were thrown
into a state of great excitement and con-
sternation in consequence Of a report that
one of the prisoners had committed suicide.
Everybody questioned everybody else as to
who the man could be, but nothing definite
could be ascertained until Warden Stacom
came to the rescue. 1t was then ;tscertaincd
that the unfortunate individual was Samuel
S. Stevens, of Belfast. Me. The story in
with this mans incarceration Is
as follows On the 10th of October, 1869,
Stevens came on to New York, from Belfast,
with one George w. Buckmar, of that place,
with view of purchasing some United
States bonds He was introduced to Buck
mar previously by Axel Hayford, Mayor OF
Belfast, the latter telling Buckmar that
Stevens would be of great use to him in ne
gotiating some bonds of the Moosehead Rail
road Company, of which Hayiord was the
President. 1t was, moreover, alleged that
Mayor Hayford had entrusted Buckmar with
large amount Of the bonds, to negotiate
them in New York at the rate OF eighty cents
on the dollar for United States securities.
The manner in which the business was done,
at least as stated on the trial OF Stevens. sub
sequently seemed to reflect somewhat upon
District Attorney declared that no imputa-
ton could be attached to him. Buckmar and
Stevens both took up quarters at the Aston
House. and on the Dist of October, 1869, the
former gave the latter
$4,000 IN DRAFTS AND CHECKS,
desiring him to get the cash for them from
the National Trust Company, 33G Broadway.
This he did, and handed in the full amount.
Buckmar stated that he put this money, with
- 800 additional, into a satchel, in his
room, and put it on the table, near his bed
Being sick, he was then confined to his room
in the hotel, and Stevens came in, after he
had handed in the money, and sat talking
with him upon various subjects, part Of
which referred to their immediate business
in New York After Stevens had been in
conversation some time he said: "Buckmar,
this exchange OF bonds business has slipped
up,'' and became greatly excited about
THE PURCHASE OF SOME STOLEN BONDS
he had intended making at fifty cents on the
dollar. Buckmar then left his room to 60 to
another part of the building, leaving Stevens
in the room where the satchel containing the
money was lying, and when he returned he
stated he shook hands with Stevens, bolted
and locked his door, but Immediately alter
wards discovered that his satchel had been
opened and his money gone. Samuel
lst of February, 1870, at Quincy, H.. on
A HEQUIsITION FROM GOV. HOFFMAN.
He was taken to Chicago, and when his
trunk was searched five bonds of the Belfast
city stock, each of the denomination of $500,
were found therein. At the trial Maine
lawyer denied that he had stolen the money,
but that it was handed to him by mutual con-
tract, and said that Mayor Hayford, Buck
mar and Munroe Young (Buckmars son-in-
law, were conspirators, designing against
Stevens, whose family connections were
highly respectable and whose name had
hitherto remained untarnshed. The deceased
was formerly in business in Maine, st. Louis,
came to New York he had $4,000 in gold
with him. 1t was alleged that he once tried
to leave Belfast nailed up in dry goods box,
but this was vehemently denied. His trial
on the charge Of stealing the $500 occupied
two days in the Court of General Sessions,
viz, 21st and 22d December, 1870. After
the jury had returned verdict of guilty he
was remanded to the Tombs to await SEN
tence, where he has since remained.
BEING A MASON OF GOOD STANDING,
we'll known to many persons in this city, he
was constantly visited by members OF the
fraternity. In fact, the Warden observed
that he was constantly receiving visits from
persons of the highest responsibility in this
city. Stevens was an intelligent, good-lool-
ing man Of five feet nine inches in height, 4
thick-set well-developed frame. dark com
plexion, and having q heavy beard and
moustache. During the time he was CON
fined in the Tombs he was melancholy and
detected, constantly reiterating the statement
concerning his innocence of the charge for
which he was convicted. He sometimes
complained that the cell was too close, and
said that as he was a very nervous man, the
confinement, combined with a scarcity of
pure air, was driving him mad. In conse-
quence of his application he was allowed to
have the inner door of his cell open during
the day and night both, favor that is not
granted except under extraordinary clrcum-
stances. Yesterday he was to have been
arraigned for sentence. Stevens, however,
who possessed very sensitive nature, Sc
cretly determined that he would not suffer
THE IGNoMINl OF INCARCERATION
in the State Prison, and accordingly resolved
on self-destruction as the only remedy to re-
lieve himself from that lasting disgrace on
his good name. On Tuesday evening. Mr..
Stevens appeared better than usual, and SO
expressed himself to Deputy Keeper Bailey,
who had a brief conversation with him.
Nothing more was seen Of Stevens till one
o'clock Yesterday morning, when Night
Keeper Orr, in going his rounds among the
prisoners to see that all was right, accord
ing to custom, peeped into his cell, and was
startled by seeing u white cloth hanging
against the inner door Mr.. Orr cried out to
his associate (kennedy) saying, ''There is
something wrong here" In Il few moments
the door was opened and
STEVENS WAS FOUND DEAD,
he having hung himself to the top Of the cell
door by means of strip from sheet on his
bed, which he had torn for the purpose.
After securing the strip around his neck,
Stevens, as he could not suspend himself,
sank to the floor, and his weight SO frightened
the apology for a rope as to produce strangu-
lation. When found Stevens apparently had
been dead for two hours or more. On
searching the cell occupied by deceased,
were found among other things, q letter adj
dressed to Warden Stacom and another di-
rected to Bailey, deputy keeper 1t will be
seen by perusing the letter to the Warden
that in
Ills DYING STATEMENT
he protests his entire innocence of the charge
of which he had been convicted.
ToMBs, Feb. 7. 1871.
Mr.. WARDEN STACOM, City Prison, New York =
DEAR SIR-BetOre another morning dawns
shall have gone on that journey from which nc
traveller returns that we have any authentic ac
count of. Ny brain for the last ten days has been
under fearful excitement. and came to the resolve