The New York herald., 1872-12-22
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
A Thrilling Romance-A Farmer Supposed to
Have Been Murdered-The Remains Of An
other Buried and Tablet Erected Over
tho Grave-The Property Duly Di-
vided-sudden Return Of the Sup
posed-To- Be-Dead Father.


About i've years ago the citizens OF Dewitt
township, In this county, were horrifed to hear
that a wealthy farmer named Blodgett living near
the village OF Colamer, in the above township, had
been murdered by some unknown persons in
lonely spot on the road leading from the farmers
residence to Collamer. He had left that village
about ten O'Clock one night with several hundred
dollars In his possession, and, it was supposed,
had been waylaid, robbed and murdered, as he
never reached home, and deadly struggle be-
tween several men had been heard on that night
in the road at the Joseph Breed place, near Col
lamer, about the time that
MR.. BLODGETT
should have passed Mrs. Breed heard distinctly
terrible threats made by some one OF the party,
subsequently the cry OF murder, and then the re-
treating footsteps OF two or more men down the
road Too terrified to alarm any OF the neighbors.
none OF whom lived very close by at that time,
Mrs. Breed, convinced that terrible crime had
been committed, spent the remainder Of
the night In the intensest agony. The
next day she heard OF the disappearance
Of Farmer Blodgett, and then lost no Time In tell
ing what she had heard. That the man who had
cried murder the night before was the missing
farmer there was no doubt in any mind, and the
most urgent measures were adopted to trace his
murderers and find find his body. Cicero swamp,
north OF Collamer was searched for days by anx-
ious and earnest men, and every piece OF woods In
the vicinity secured for miles around Rewards
for the recovery OF Blodgett's body were offered
and for the apprehension of his assassins. For
months the search was kept up, but not trace
could be found or
THE MURDERED MAN
or the murderers. Strong suspicion rested on
man named Carey and two or three of his associ-
ates, but no evidence could be found against him
strong enough to warrant his arrest. When some
time afterward Carey was convicted OF the wilful
murder of a man named Joseph Johnson, at Cola
NOR and sentenced to be hung, 1t became settled
conclusion that he was also the murderer Of old
Mr. Bodgett. Carey by the way, was not hung.
HIS sentence was commuted by the Governor to
imprisonment for life in the Auburn State Prison.
DIVIDING UP
When there remained no longer the possibility OF
a doubt in the minds OF the Blodgett family that
the old farmer was dead they took steps towards
closing up his affairs, and having administrators
appointed by the Court for that purpose. Mr..
Blodgett was po assessed Of considerable means and
splendid iarm as he was about sixty years OF
age at the time Of his supposed murder, and
had led life OF industry and economy.
The administrators were appointed as pettioned, no
opposition being made and the property divided
faction OF all. About this time human skeleton,
supposed to have been washed ashore, was found
by party OF bathers on the beach Of Oneida Lake,
near the mouth Of Butternut Creek. This Is some
ten miles from Collamer, but 1t was
BELIEVED THAT THE REMAINS
were those OF the missing Mr.. Blodgett, and were
taken to his late residence. They were inferred by
the family, and monument was placed over them
in memory OF the deceased.
Time flew by, and the events OF that night five
years ago were almost forgotten by those not d.
rectly concerned in them. The Bodgetts pros
Old man left, and they never thought of him other
than as dweler among the dead 1t is no exag-
geration to say then that there never was such
sensation created Ia any family as that caused
among the Blodgetts, two weeks ago, by the receipt
LETTER IN THE wELLKNowN HANDWRITING
of their father, stating that he was still in the land
OF the living, in very destitute circumstances, in
tne the OF III regions OF Pennsylvania and requesting
come home. This letter was like a message from
the dead and it took the family most completely
was very like the long-mssed Old farmers, that
the signature was the exact counterpart OF
his. Yet they thought 1t might be the work OF a
clever swndier and they determined to have per-
sonal investigation made OF the matter. One of
the sons proceeded to the oil region, and found
murdered father. He was reduced to beggary al
most and no words can express the delight he
WHEN HE BEHELD HIS SON.
He was brought back to his old home, and has
been for days the all absorbing topic OF converse
tiOn the country rOund the residents OF which
have called in hundreds to see what they call the
"dead man who has come to life." Blodgett says
ance, and refuses to give any reason Tor his sngu-
lar and extraordinary act of leaving comfortable
home, q fine family and splendid prop
erty, after living most pleasantly with |
and enjoying the confidence Of all, without word
or parting to single one. But the sensation
mongers are determined to have 1t that murder |
was committed In front Of Mr.. Breeds on the
night Mr.. BlOdgett went away, and their reason
ing Is not altogether unpausbe. In fact, it is
cepted as true by the people hereabout. The VIC
tim OF the deadly assault that night and whose re-
mains were washed ashore by the waters of Oneida |
Lake a year or so subsequent to the murder, was |
JEW NAMED JULIUS OPPENHEIMER,
or Openheim, who made periodical visits to this
previous to the time Of Bl0dgetts dis
appearance. The supposition that he was the mur-
dered man Is based upon the TACT that since then
he has not been seen in any OF the villages there
about. That he was murdered by some Of the des-
perate characters OF that part OF the county to OBJ
tain money that he was supposed to carry, and his
body buried in the lake, is now belief so strong
In the upper towns that only the appearance of the
Jew once more among them can possibly shake
And who can say that 1t is not true ?
STATISTICS ON PORK.