Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-26
Crime In the Metropolis.
REVIEW OF NEW YoRK's GREAT CRIMINAL CASES
MY. Correspondence Utica Herald.

N. Y. Correspondence Utica Herald.
This city has had some trials which have be-
come historic. In these the mere matter OF
personal villainy is now lost in the mystery
Of deep tragedy, and the thrilling nature
of the crime. Such cases are not oblltera-
ted BY time. They will live while even
more important facts subside into oblivion.
Such a case was the Manhattan well muir
der. Ssventy-fve years have elapsed since
it occurred, and yet it was recently revived
in Harper's Monthly, though not in strict
ly accurate manner. This case was remark
able, for the fact that Aaron Burr ana
Alexander Hamilton were associated In the
defense. Ii was the first important murder
trial that ever occurred in this city, ana IL
was also the first instance IN winch a man
rids himself Of an undesirable enlargement
by slaug entering the expectant bride. Lew
Weeks was engaged to Gulielma Sands.
One night he took her, as it wasalleged, on
a sleigh ride, and she never returned. On
being questioned next day, he denied not
only Der presence with him at the time re-
ferred to but all knowledge Of her condI-
ton. She had told her aunt she was to
take this drive with Levi. but no one saw
her 20 into his sleigh. Within a week her
dead body was found in well, and Weeks
was indicted for the murder. There Is no
doubt of his guilt. TWAS proven that
sleigh had gone up the road that night,
containing two men and woman, but the
witness could not identify the prisoner as
one of the number. This shows that Weeks
hal an accomplice who was never discover
ed. Cries of murder were heard near the
well that night. Weeks had rich brother,
who was determined to obtain his acqulttai.
Hence he retained Burr. Hamilton and
| Brockholst Livingston, the three greatest
LAWYERS in the city. One point IN the de-
| fence was an abb. Weeks was at his broth
er's at certain time, and 1t was alleged
that he could not have made the trip up and
back within the space of time into when
the deed must have been committed. lie
was acquitted, but one Of the Jurors after
ward examined the road, and then told u
| friend of the writer that had he known the
real distance he would have pronounced
" guilty.
! THE PROPHECY.
A very curious incident In this affair was the
prophetic words of the victim 5 aunt when
the verdict was rendered. She proclaimed d.
vine judgment on the judge and lawyers loi
the former had shown great favor to the prs
oner. That Judge was Chancellor Lansing
who died mysterlOusly, and whose late has
never been ascertained. He either fell over
board from the gang-plank of the Albany
boat on the dock, or hanged himself IN the
garrett of the City Hotel. In the latter case
an inquest was suppressed by bribery. anc
his body was secretly buried. IhurloW
Weed is probably the only man who car
clear up this mystery. As for the lawyers
the leaders in the defense soon attcrward:
became ayowed foes. Within four year
one killed the other in duel, and the sur
yivor became vagabond. Brockholst Lly
ingston also killed a man IN a duel, ant
always suffered rsmorse. " eeks lett tn
city, and his subsequent fate Is unknown
Many years aiterward talented novelis
Theodore ;. Fay, made this tragedy TN
basis of d" Norman of Leslie. which wa
re-published by Putnam Tor the oeneht
modern readers. The Manhattan well wa
in Greene street. which then was lar out o
the city. but now ii Is 3" down town, and
the fame Of this murder case will no douO
haunt the spot for many years TO come.
THE NEXT TRAGEDY.
Nearly twenty-five years elapsed oeior'
this city again enjoyed first class murder
A number of fatal duels occurred, but II
such cas-, the clement Of mystery galway
80 iascinating) was deficient. One morn
ing, however, the corpse Ola murdered maj
was found in a sack near the wharf an
this in small and quiet city was cnougl
to create intense excitement. The sack ha'
been dropped by man who was bearing
to the dock with the Intention OF casting
into the river, but whose purpose had Deel
detea ted by the vigilance OF the Waterman
This man IN his flight left no traces, but
search was made in the house nearby, an
in one of these proofs of the crime wer
/ " a 4
lust been .aid off, and the murderer ia
johnson, the keeper OF . saloon boarding
house The object OF the crime was to Oh
tain money, and Johnson wife wa an &C
cessory. johnson was convicted and hang
ed. The place Of execution was rura
spot " hlch Is cow dense with population, AN
the prisoner went TO the gallOws IN an opel
wagon " it'll band playing a dirge. Sac
was the method in this city half centur
ago. Had he reached the wharf with tn
sack he would have escaped detection.
J similar affair occurred few years ago
when several floating parcels done up L
brown paper, were picked up IN the has
river, each containing a part OF huma
body. 1t was mysterious murder who
was proof against Investigation.
JOHN c. COLT.
One Sunday in August. 1872, a crow
was gathered near ship. out OF which
large box marked statuary had been taken
and which was found to contain huma
body, in an advanced state Of GecOmpOs.
ton. This body was that of Samuel Adams
a printer who had been missing Tor thre
weeks He was last seen entering an ono
on Broadway and from that office box ha
been shipped for New Orleans, whittier th
vessel 1.-THE Keiamazoo) was bound. III
occupant of that office was a teacher o
bookkeeping, named John {. Colt, and tn
printer had gone thither for the purpose q
!. collecting pay for printing volume on tina
, subject. The printer was soon missed, an
his absence was mentioned in the papers.
rival teacher of bookkeeping, whose oihc
was directly beneath Colts room, remem
bered hearing a strange noise n the latter
and communicated the fact 10 the police
Colt was arrested, and box which he ha'
: shipped was traced to the Kalamazoo. wher
as | have stated. 1t was found to contai
the corpse Of the printer. Colt was hlgl
tempered and unsteady young man, the so
of a respectable Hartford bank cashier, an
also brother of the pistol inventor. He wa
then thirty-two, and was trying to get
living as instructor in bookkeeping. Ii
pleaded not guilty and was tried In Septenl
! Der.
CHANGES IN TIE BAR.
Since the Manhattan well murder, man
changes had taken place. Chancellor Ian
sing was dead. and Ogden Edwards, VIII
presided az the trial OF Robinson. was Of
the bench, which was occupied by William
Kent, son of the chancellor. The distric
attorney was Jas. r. Whiting. who wa
noted for his sharp and bitter manners. ii
was a small man, with somewhat husk.
voice lie was quiet and seit-possessed
and kept on the track like a bloodhound
Under such circumstances it is not surpris
ing that he should be commonly terme'
Little Bltters." As prosecuting attor
ney he has had few equals. and his peculia
powers were displayed in a striking manne
on this occasion. One OF the most tellln!
points was made by suddenly removing
cloth and displaying TO the jury the identl
cal skull of Samuel Adams, on which tn
death fracture was plainly visible. Ihl
created an intense sensation. The deiens
was conducted by David Graham. who haC
won high rank IN criminal practice. Hi
skill, however, was in VAN. The case wa
too clear, and Colt at last changed his pie;
by making confession. He admitted ;
quarrel and exchange of harsh words
Adams gave him the lie. and the reply wa
a blow with a Ratchet, which was immedl
ately fatal. Had he then announced th'
crime he might have escaped with 4 moder
ate sentence, but the attempt at conceal
ment damaged his case beyond hope. Tn
verdict was " guilty OF murder in the frs
degree" This was altogether too severe
and was by no means warranted by thu
offense. Colt. however. was the victim 0
circumstances, and the acquittal of Robin
son was much against him.