, 1872-12-24
A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.

A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
Reappearance of q nla1 Supposed to
Havc Eeen Murdered.
cenrer ome,dqos c. -; Il K;k pff WsrS 49, Correspond
Never since the discovery OF the Cardiff giant
in this county has anything occurred in its boun-
daries to attract such general interest in this
vicinity "a the return to his home in the Town Of
Dewitt, near the Village Of Collamer, Of an old
Turner named Blodgett,, who, it vas supposed,
tally murdered by unknown assassins one night
about five years ago.
Blodgett, who has suddenly appeared amcng
his old neighbors, formany years owned and lived
on a fine farm Of about one hundred and hfty
acres mile or so from Collamer. He was gen
orally considered wealthy, and had tho entire
confidence Of trust in the town, being Assessor
at the time OF his disappearance.
Five years ago he left home one Friday even
ing to 20 to Conamer, where he was to get
workmen tho next night who we're con-
structing building for him. He did not
return that night nor the next day, and
his family became alarmed messenger vas
sent to Collamer to ascertain if possible hiR
whereabouts. Tho messenger went to the place
where Mr. Blodgett was to get his money, and
WAS Informed that tho old farmer had drawn the
money and departed, apparently for home. This
ueWH WAS ClfE1tu ~ 1uo VI lAV AAA6oAAES
man, and it was at once suspected that he had
been murdered. The suppositlon that he WAS
murdered became almost q certainty by the story
of Mrs. Joseph Breed, living near the village of
Collamer, on the road to Blodgetts, and at
day or so afterwards, Of the disappearance
OF Mr. Blodgett, stated to the family
that somewhere about 10 or II o'clock
on Friday night. about the time the old man
would naturally be passing her house on his
no ha- 1aft G01intnar at fata
hour, che WAS awakened by a noise in the road
directly in front of her house. Listening, she
became convinced that it Was caused BY party
Of men stEuggl9g in the road She h921a
him in the head; quick" She then heard 2
of gnrgle, as II some one WAS being atrangled.
Shortly afterwards the footsteps Of two or threo
we're beard and then all was silent;
Mrs. Breed was too much frightened
to make any attempt to see what was being done
in the road, but after the men had gone away
she looked out Of the window, but it was too
dark for her to SEQ anything. She Tas afraid to
go out to the sceno of the struggle at the time,
but went out in the morning and discovered evil
dence Of q severe contest. There was no blood
on the ground nor anything to lead to a knowl-
edge who the contestants were. She was conf
dent, however, that murder had been commit
ted, and when sho heard Of the sudden disap-
pearauce Of Mr.. Blodgett there Was no doubt in
her mind that he was tho victim. Di1igent
search WAS made for the body Of the murdered
mnn and traces Of the murdeTers we're sought
On every hand but all to no purpose.
One of the men who was suspected of being
leader in the supposed murder OF Mr. Blodgett
was bad character named Carey. Some time
was arrested On suspicion Of being the murderer
OF one Johnson in Collamer. Hew convicted
of the crime and sentenced to be hanged, which
sentence was commuted to imprisonment for
life in the Penitentiary at Auburn. This
strengthened the belief that he was the murderer
Of the old farmer.
A year or two after the supposed murder, the
skull and other pnrts Of human skeleton we're
found On the shore Of Oneida Lake, on the up
erboundnry Of this county. This Was believed to
| thought that he had been thrown into that body
OF water or stream emptylng into it, III order
! that his murderers might battle detection.
If there remained the shadow OF doubt that
Blodgett was dead this dspelled it, and the heirs
OF the old farmer petitioned the courts for tho
appointment OF administrators OF the estate.
They we're appointed, and the property. remain
ing after the settlement Of the old nuns e1airs
] was divided among the children.
The astoniehment OF tho Blodgett family may
! be imagined when they received 9 letter some
| two weeks ago from Il man in the oil regions pur-
porting to be the supposed murdered man,
ordor that ho might return home,
! as he was penniless and did not
wish to dio away from home: Ona of
the sons Was sent to Pennsylvania to make q
personal investigation, and after considerable
search found the writer, and he turned out to be
Mr.. Dlodgett. Although hey greatly, changed
the BOD found no difficulty in recognizing him,
| the farm. Blodgett Gays that no attempt was
ever made On his life, but gives no reason for
his unceremonious going away, or no account OF
his life during the five years he was absent. The
Affairs of the family are somewhat mixed up BY
the appearance Of The old farmer. His property
! had been divided among the heirs, and they
we're in possession Of their respective shares.
An nmicable adjustment will probably be made,
as the Blodgetts are al warmly attached to each
other, and are overjoyed at the return Of their
father.