Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-12-19


Many citizens Of The State of New
York will remember the excitement ere.
ated during the summer OF 1856 by what
was generally called the "Weatherwax
Murder" The arrest. Tho legal conirc-
versy concerning jurisdiction. the final
trial, aud tho howl of dissatisfaction
which followed The partial aoquit,al, are
matters not easily forgotten by those who
then resided near the scene of the trag.
edy.
The circumstances of the case were
substantially as follows: Captain John
G.. WealherwaX resided in 1856 near The
yillsSe OF Plaltsburg, New York. lie
vas man OF good character. lone OF a
mum. rouS family OF the same name. the
settlement being known tor miles around
as the Wea,herwax settlement Cspiai in
Wea,herwaN was. at the time Of which
We write. sbou; thirty years oil age. and
the owner D. . small al. which Piled on
Lake ChamplAin. trading with New York.
Vermont and Canada towns along the
shore OF The lake
The crew OF this vessel consisted OF
himself, his cousin. Andrew Weather
wax. aud man named Walter Brown.
10 the latter part OF June. 1886. he left
Z attsbGrg with = cargo tor Canada, and
on the way stopped at Pike River land
Ing. on the Canada shore. where he was
to take on cargo OF wood for Plaits-
burg During the day. while the wood
was ing taken on board. q sharp quar-
rel arose between Captain Weatherwax
and his cousin Andrew. ard mutusl
tbreAts were INDUCED in. 1t was soon
over. however. but as Andrew had be-
come intoxicated. be was rather morose
during the entire day.
81 lar. everything is plain and easily
understood; but here the mystery be-
gins, aud what follows is largely based
upon the statements OF the third party,
Walter Brown. He states that after dark
(the night was very cloudy and starless)
ne was standing on the rear of the boat.
and heard the captsin and his cousin
(who were st the bow resume the quar-
rel Of the day. Il steadily increased in
violence, threats were exchanged. and
though he could see neither OF The par
ties, he could hear distinctly all that
passed. The wordy war waxed hotter.
and suddenly he heard a crash as of 3
blow crushing through skull and brain.
succeeded by a heavy fall. aud as SUD
denlY al was still.
The man listened with bated breath and
trembled; bis first impulse was 10 rush
| forward and ofIsr assistance 10 the
wounded man. but fear restrained him,
and be waited the result. Ia few min
utes the captain came aft. but he was
alone. Brown noticed. or thought be
did. that he was pale aud excited.
Nothing was said about The quarrel,
and the two men soon retired. Brown,
/ however, could not Danish from his mind
the impress on that serious crime had
/ been committed. He arose early and
vIsied the spot where the alteration
took place, and found Andrews hat, and
near i, marks oil blood. Sill he did not
mention his suspicious to any one, noE
make any inquiries concerning the miss
\ ing man. l. seems that be was by nature
exceedingly timid, and shrunk from The
responsibility OF charging man with SC
serious 4 crime. and from the publicity
which the position of prosecutor would
compel him 10 assume.
The boat proceeded to Plsttsbnrghr
/ ard when Andrews relatives made In
q1iries tor him, the captain prolessed
total ignorance Of his whereabouts, say
inc that he had left him 81 Pike River,
without notification, and gone, be knew
not whittier.
Matters rested in this condition until
eight or ten days after The occurrence,
when 8 body was taken from the river al
the identical place where Captain Wealth
erwax's boat had been moored on .he
fatal night.
The body gave ample evidence of hay
ing met death by violence. as the skull
was crushed IS by terrible blow IRON
some heavy instrument. An lnvesiigs'
ton was held. and captain OF a vessel
living near to Captain Weatherwax's On
the night in question. recognized tae
body as that of q man be had seen Ell
Moved on Weatherwax'S boat. tie lur'
iber testified 10 having heard quarrel
on that night, ending win seuffle and
bloy. after which all was silent. HE
alteration, be thought, proceeded lro 4
Weatherwaxs tOat, and ne dis'inctly
heard Westherwsx's voice in the quarrel