The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
ISAIAH BELFIELD'S TRIAL.
REVITTNG THE HISTORY OF A CELE-
DRAFTED OANG OF OUTLAWS.

Accused OF Murder Committed Fourteeu
Years nEo-A cquitted ny the Jury md Re-
arrested for Assault with Intent TO KIN.
MoRR1svILLE, n. Y, May 1.-THE trial OF
Isaiah Belned for the murder Of Phoebe Gram
dali. In Brookield. Madison County. on Dec. T.
1865. which was begun on May g. was ended to-
day. The jury went out at ?. NJ. and returned
at so with a verdict OF acduitta. The prisoner
WINS rearrested on an indictment for assault and
battery with intent to kill Henry d. Crandall.
the husband OF the murdered woman. The case
will be tried in December. The chief interest in
this case aside from the long interval IA yearsl
between the commission Of the crime and the
arrest and trial OF Belneld is that 1t revives the
history Of tho Loomis gang OF robbers. who
had their headquarters in the Chenango valley.
and who for twenty years maintained them
selves in central New York. and SO terrorized
the communities about them that their immu-
nifty from arrest became n byword. Belneld 10
said to have belonged to this gang. The head
quarters OF the eastern circuit OF the outlaws
was house owned by Grove Loomis. built in
sort OF basin on top Of ridge running west OF
the Unadilla River in the town OF Brookned
ABOUT two miles below this house, but on
another road, lived Henry d. Crandall and his
wife.
This aged couple we're alone on their premises
on Thanksgiving evening. 1865. The story OF
what followed is taken from the testimony
given by Mr. Crandnll now a very old man, In
Belheld's trial, on "Wednesday. May T. About
and went into the kitchen. There he saw two
men standing by the table. One OF the men de-
mnnded the old mans money and bonds. The
Witness identified the prisoner as this man.
When Crandall refused TO give uphls money the
robber sprAng upon him, and tussle ensued,
which resulted in Bencd's being thrown on
the noor nnd held there long enough for the old
man to obtain q good view II his features; The
other robher then came To- the rescue, and thero
was terrible struggle between the desperate
old man and the young desperadoes. In the
struggle pistol shots were fired, one Of which
took effect IN the back OF Crandall's head. Be-
coming exhausted. the old man told them that
they let him 90 into a hallway leading 70 the
sitting room. While he was in the hallway tho
door was pushed open, and pistol Yves. fired
instant and again opened long enough TO fire n
shot. The old man had grasped club. which
kept in his bedroom He rushed at the robbers
WIN thls weapon. and another hand-to-hand
fight iS ens1ed HI: Tiie called out to hi% 70 give
looked Mt each other" said the old man In his
testimony; then l lost my. senses, When
vainly 10 get up several times IL was very cold
weather. Igroped aooutand touched my wifes
feet and called - her. She did not answer. /
managed 10 light n lantern. and then / saw that
she was dead. placed my headache stick in
lis proper place, and started for my brothers to
1t was strongly suspected that the two men
whom the old man mentions in his narrative
tuu WIN WIS conctTntu III Tue
were Isaiah Beneld. young Joe Crandall.
nephew o. the old man. and a fellow named
Curtss-all members OF the Loomis gang. A
spiritess sort OF search was made for them,
but II soon died out. Old man Crandall married
again, and reared in his senility a fine family
OF children. who all live TO adorn his octo-
genarian existence.
In the spring of 1878 Isaiah Belneld. under
the name Of George Belvllle. was arrested for
Jail recalled him as a member OF the Loomis
gang. From that to recollecting him In connec-
tiOn with the Crannall m rda uaa hut afa
and in last July the venerable husband OF the
murdered woman went to Rome jall and identi-
fled him positively. He was indicted for the
crime at the next court here. and brought 70
this village for trial.