The New York herald., 1872-08-30
TRAGEDY IN NEW JERSEY.
Mike sandford, an Old TurHte, Shot by His Son.
The Deed Done In Defence Of Mother
The Parricide in the Jail at Nor
ristown-Dreadful Result Of
the Local Option Law.

Madison. one OF the most charming and sau-
brious OF Jerseys suburban districts, located ON
the line OF the Morris and Essex Railroad some
twenty-five miles from New York. was the scene ar
frightful tragedy on Wednesday night in which
there were three actors-a father, In his sixty
eighth year; son, In his twenty second and q
mother going ON her septuagenarian period.
About two years ago Michael Sanford, the
well-known Jersey turtle, removed from
Newark, with his family. to Madison, and
at once proceeded to run the waverIey
House, the ancient hostelry OF the village for many
years occupied by one Colonel Hunting. Scarcely
had Mike put his house In order and fairly begun
the establishment OF q thriving business when the
local option movement, since pronounced unconsti-
tutiona by the highest State authority was started
by some temperance zealots, foremost among
whom was one George Shepherd Page. A law
was passed by the Legislature placing the town.
ship of Chatham. In which Madison Is stu
ated, under the local option rule, the
principle OF which Is that majority
Of voters In place can declare by ballot whether
malt liquors shall be sold or not. The first vote
taken was anti-liquor and Mike was ordered to
stop selling. Now this was virtually ordering
mine host to take the bit out OF his
month. Rather than do so he went to law, and In
the end was discounted Since then Mr.. Sandford
has been at times very mOrOse and given to fire.
quent sprees His business was ruined. He kept
some boarders, but they scarcely paid expenses.
Mike quarrelled with his family tOO In his old age.
THE BLOODY DEED IN THE KITCHEN.
On Wednesday Mr.. Sanford visited Newark his
ity. He met many friends at the PARK House and
elsewhere. and by the time he started for Madison
a. -four 70 aaa On tns % head 81
quarrelled with his family and was out of humor
all the evening. The particulars of what followed
pear AS near as could be gathered from the neigh
bors and the authorities In Madison by the HERALD
sSa s na bis bis
aged a wife were We IN the kitchen he busy cooking
s for otsf The pair sDs Ssye
sad S%st from as habits aS Just
the kitchen door he observed his father
plunge Ins at S'A' his 40 mother with knife
the ola man held IN his hand Melville had
ried and shot his father
THE BALL ENTERED
piercing the left lung. and the old man dropped to
the floor at once, while hisson rushed into the road
Van Wagener were promptly on hand, and after
probing the wound pronounced II fatal. the
G eveS Se local me
the County JAN at Morristown to await
to the local Squire Justice M. b. Monroe, who
issued the warrant. Since then he has been ex-
tremeIy reticent, but says what was done was done
n defence OF mis- mother: mother the pistol with which which
Young Sandford thinks he threw 1t away when
he rushed out. Mrs. SandfOrd, well Indeed al
all the family, was the object Of deep sympathy yes
terday. She sat In her room ceaselessly CRYING as
II her poor old heart would really burst. The son.
too, In his CELL evinced deep emotion az intervals.
THE OLD MANS CONDITION
From the time Of the fatal shot Mike has been un-
conscious Yesterday besides the doctors named,
there were DR.. Nichols, from Newark; Flagler, from
Morrlstown, and Anderson of Madison (fve in all),
in attendance on him; but all their EFFORTS cannot
save him, as they say themselves. When
the HERALD reporter let Madison last even
ing the poor old turtle was breathing heavily,
as II his hours, perhaps minutes were numbered.
DR.. Nichols believed he could not live through the
night. It Is little singular thing that Mr. Sand
ford's brother or cousin, Oscar Sandford, formerly
of the Halfway House, on the Newark plank road,
met with violent death q few years ago. He was
ground to death on the railroad.
The occurrence at Madison has created great
excitement there, as well as in Newark and Hudson
counties, where Mike was well known His ances-
tors were among the first settlers OF Lodi and were
very respectable people.