The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-11-08
A NARROW ESCAPE.
A Story OF Circumstantial Evidence

many clIlZenS OIL the State OF New
York will remember the excitement cre-
ated during the summer of 1856 by
y what was generally called the weather
wax Murder" The arrest. the legal
controversy concerning jurisdiction, the
final trial, and the howl of dissatis-
faction which followed the partial &C
quittal, are matters not easily forgotten
by those who then resided near the
scene of the tragedy.
The circumstances of the case were
substantially as follows Captain John
It. Weatherwax resided in 1856 near the
village Of Plattsburg, New York. He
was q man CT good character, one of a
numerous family of the same name, the
settlement being known for miles
around as the Weatherwax settlement.
Captain Weatherwax was, at the time of
which we write, about thirty years of
age, and the owner of q small craft
which plied on Lake Champlnin.
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, and a man named Walter Brown.
In the latter part of June, 1855, he left
Plattsburg with cargo for Canada, and
on the way back stopped at Pike River
landing, on the Canada shore, where he
was to take on a cargo of wood for
Plattsburg. During the day, while the
wood was being taken on board, a sharp
quarrel arose between Captain Weather
wax and his cousin Andrew, and NUT ual
threats were indulged in. It was soon
over, however, but as Andrew had be-
come intoxicated, he was rather morose
during the entire day.
30 I r, everything is plain and easily
understood but here the mystery be-
gins, and 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) he was standing on the rear of
the boat, and heard the captain and his
cousin (who were at the bowl resume
the quarrel Of the day. It steadily in
creased in violence, threats were ex-
changed, and though he could see
neither OF the parties, he could hear dis
siIcsiT ali that passed. The wordy war
wa1ed hotter, and suddenly he heard q
crash as OF O blow crushing through
skull and brain, succeeded by heavy
fall, and as suddenly all was still
The man listened with bated breath
and trembled; his first impulse was to
rush forward and offer assistance to the
wounded man, but fear restrained him,
and he waited the result. In few min.
utes the captain came aft, but he was
alone. Brown noticed, or thought he
did, that he was pale and excited.
Nothing was said about the quarrel,
and the two men soon retired. Brown,
however, conld not Danish from his
mind the heimpression that o serious crime
had been committed. He arose early
and visited tho spot wher the alterca-
ZION took place, and fonnd Andrews
hat, and near it marks of blood, Still
he did not mention his suspicious to
any one, nor make any inquiries con-
cerning the missing man. It seems that
he was by nature exceedingly timid, and
ahrunk from the responsibility of charr
Ing man with 30 serious q crime, and
from the publicity which the position
OF prosecutor would compel him to
assume.
The boat proceeded to Plattsburpk.
and when Andrews relatives made in.
quiries for him, the captain professed
total ignorance of his whereabouts, saw
ing that he had left him at Pike River.
without notification, and gone, he knew
not whittier.
Matters rested in this condition until
eight or ten days after the occurrence,
when body was taken from the river at
the identical place where Captain
Weatherwsx's boat had been moored on
the fatal night.
The body gave ample evidence of
having met death by violence. as the
skull was crushed ss by terrible blow
from some heavy instrument. An inves-
sigstion was held, and captain of o
vessel lying near to Captain Weather
wax's, on the night in Question. recoo.
nised the body as that Of q man he had
seen employed on Weatherwax's boat.
He farther tsstihed 10 having heard .