The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-02


the woodwork OF the machine mad been burned.
ashes Which had been strewn with shovel about
the grass aud brush, revealed sunory screws,
nails, two little hinges and button, suCa r, ~ y
burned heel OF mans boot and q number Of hard
wood coala This evidence OF the nnding OF the
wooden part OF the machine only increased the IN
terest in the search, but the ironwork OF the grind
ing machine, as well as the gr!ndstone, was miss
ing. With renewed exertlons all hands kept up the
search. and while doing so word came that the
balance OF the machine or the iron part OF It, mad
been found az Coxsacsie; ,, 1870
1t appeared that Mr.. William II. Whitcomb. OF
Catskill, had in the morning been informed that
found at Co xsackie as long ago as the It'll Of May.
and believing 1t might give some clew, he had
up n sad s 5Ss s o. @ ysp .nas
the turnpike, under 2 telegraph pole, there had
been picked up by Mr.. Martin and his son. who
worked on the farm OF Rev. Mr. Dumond, the fol-
Two screw drivers, file or two, vice, broken
several pieces Of scissors and rasors piece q
ash wood painted greenl, with q wire on II, .
leather pocketbook temptyl, and hair watch
The party finding the tools, &C., reported that
when they found them there was standing against
graph wire mad been cut. They also found tackled
on the p0le part the way up, folded paper,
which upon being examined was found to be .
OF letter paper. portion OF the written paper
was in fair running hand, and the greater part
had been carefully drawn or ''prlnted" with
pencil
The last line was written crossways Of the
paper, and black scroll drawn around It. On the
last page OF the letter was The f0ll0wlng:-
There will further mischief done In this vicinity
by us put we shall perform something worthy OF obses
tween Wachusett and Worcester.
The property and letter was delivered TO Mr..
y me n
Ernst OF what he had found. Justice Edwin
Russell, Colonel Jacob H. Meecn, Deputy Sheriff
letter and concluded to follow up the TRAIL They
at once returned to the scene and made search
was that Occupied by Joseph Waltz on the night
OF the supposed murder, and there In small box,
with private papers and books, was found paper
similar to the sheet on which the letter was writ
ten and which had evidently been copy book;
even the thread holes OF the binder in the back
correspondent exactly and the writing was the
same. No further evidence Of the author OF the
letter was needed. and those who witnessed 1t said
the authorship OF the letter was established beyond
afternoon, and, although only known to q few, the
news spread rapidly and shortly became general,
wnen stampede was made for Catskill and Athens.
THE PRISONERS
Throughout the day the prisoners showed trepi-
dalton, and were an ious to know what the people
were doing, but refused to give any Information.
Towards evening news reached the prisoners that
the evidence found was strongly against them,
and young Waltz was visited in his cell by Colonel
j. H. Mech and Others to whom he said, "Take me
up to my home tomorrow morning, and will tell
the morning Deputy Sheriff Bennett and Of1cer
Ernst TOOK the prisoner to the scene OF the muir.
der. Young Waltz looked about the house and
expressed wish to view the farm which he said
Ire would never see again, and was conducted by
the officers, followed by . large crowd OF at least
little. and tried, BY his conversation, 10 convince
the 0d1cers and others that he had been prompted
by what he called ian evil spirit" He Then went
back to the house and in q secret manner
made confession. He stated the deed was
committed about ten O'Clock P NJ. Or little
cupled by Holcher, whom he found asleep, and
struck him three times with the hatchet-the first
SIDE He only groanea and all was over he tnep
took the body to the stone wall where the traces
OF blood were found covered up. There he left it
until the next night, when he took it down In the
orchard and buried 1t. Having learned all they
could the officers OF the county took him out, az
was buried in the orchard He expressed great
FEAR OF BODILY HARM,
but was assured that II he told all. ne would be pro-
Ernst, at ten O'Clock he went about two hundred
yards rom the house. in the plum orchard, in the
OF the trees told Justice Russell to 'try there.'' The
crowd formed ring and Justice Russell at the first
digging and about eighteen inches below the sur
face found the missing blanket which was wrapped
sss sod3 the rass Ssn sa
southwest to northeast, with the head to the
mountain and tribe lower than the Feet He mad
Untn
THE BODY WAS RAISED
the prisoner stood by the scene but showed by his
eonIorted lace. flushed with shame that not all Of
his manhood had left him. When the body had
barn-he informed Onlcer Ernst and our reporter
that he "wanted to reveal all" and would
s1% the coo house 'G roDssa y n ns
He then led the way to the stone fence
o ssS ee the d buraa ooDfs
taken from three school houses in the town, were
marks OF where parties had dug. He said the
other books taken from the school houses, one OF
which mad been burned. He said he did not burn
the wseS set sns building IG left on Ee naa
lately put the books IN the boxes, and buried
them where they were found. The boxes were
insisted upon his telling where the money and
watch were This he agreed to DO II the crowd
wouldn't harm him. Upon being advised that 1t
was
BEST TO TELL ALL,
and acting under advice OF Mr.. Walton Van Loan.
he selected several persons and repaired to the
barn. Here his feelings overcame him, but he was
urged to make q clean thing OF 1t, ana accordingly
asked Mr.. Van Loan to look under the northea asst
corner of the barn. and pull out several stones
and he would find tin box In which was the
s sn waSn AND On og IKE While ME
SCISSORS grinder" he said ''about $50 In ALL" The
box containing the money and watch was found
wanted of the prisoner, he was asked what
prompted him TO the deed-he replied, Il done
spirit was in me and wanted to do something
bad.n the murderer said-'I prayed all night,
last night and the Lord Jesus Christ told to re-
tell the truth now" In regard to the letter. he
said, 81 wrote IL, but 1t was nothing but lies.n
TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
At the February term. 1874 Judge Theodore r.
WestbrOok presiding, ne was placed on trial. The
trial lasted week. and was one OF great interest
from the fact that the question Of insanity was the
prisoners plea. great many medical men gave
testimony, and the trial was the most exciting
ever held In Greene county. He was convicted
and sentenced TO be hanged.
THE INSANITY PLEA.
But few DAYS transpired before the execution
was the subject oil comment throughout the
county OF Greene, and the murderer, II possible,
created more excitement than during the trial.
His demeanor was OF character to excite sls.
piclon as to the reality OF his As the day of
his execution approached Governor DIX was pre-
vailed upon to appoint commission de lundttcO
which he did, consisting OF Dr. John
Ordronaux, New York state Commissioner in
Lunacy, Long Island, and DIR. Gray, OF the Utica