New-York tribune., 1880-02-13
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
COMPOSING A MURDER.

- .r.,,.y sFGR, DESCRIBES HOW THE
FISHERMAN RHODES WAS KILLED AND hoBbhp'
Io,c before the time appointed for the examine
tion of the negro James Seaman. charged WIN 'he
s murder of the old fisherman William knOdes NJ
Hicksvilie l.. l.. in December, 1878, whlch was SET
down for yesterday. the large ballroom al virgins
Hotel Frceport was crowded to its utmost capacity
by the friends and acqnaintances OF tho mui"c'e"
man. as il was expected that Seaman would make
full confession to Justice LOsee, and that his con-
federate would be present to testify Two
da,gb. ers of the murdered man AMI his son were
present. and their gnef was touching when the
prisoner told how their father was killed ana MS
lieless body thrown into the railroad culVer''
Seaman was first called to the stand. He iyGd near
Hicksville IN December 1878, he SAID, ara "'iia"i
Weeks came to his house on December .. .ho
" That evening" continued the prisoner ne
asked me 10 90 to Hicksvillc with hun LOT soine
VIII skcy, aud went. 1t was candle nent Wnen NE o"d mS
started and the night was very cold. On me foaa
In UIcksvlIle we met the Old man Rhodes we got
no whiskey before he was killed. was at the h,hn
part of the wagon when weeks Struck hhouts. ,-
Ge hit him on the head with stake
that he had picked uD near the fence. III war
about three feet long and as large around as nhS my
arm Rhodes when he was struck, cTled Oh;
Weeks then struck HIM the second time, using oo1n M
HANDS 10 WELD the club. When Weeks raised me
stick to strike, Rhodes said. For Gods sake, don
xiii me- Weeks did not speak. looked into the
wagon, and saw Rhodes covered WITH biood: ne
laid stil-wonderfuly so. When weeks wee s.ruc1 sl iIn
MIN the last blow, he ran and caught me Oy tEe
throat. and said that he would kill me on the, spot
if ever spoke word about II. After the horse
was led on the railroad track Rhodes moved ana
Weeks again hit him on the head with large
stone. He threw the stake away who9
me cot on the railroad track. ah9
pulling off his coat blindfolded the horse ana ie1
INN 10 The trestlewOrk of the bridge. He then to0s
the old mau by the legs and whired him ont OF 1he
wagon The horse then fell with his tore legs De,,
tween the ties of the bridge where he struggled
some fifteen or twenty minutes. In ms struggles ne
fore the shafts from the wagon and rolled on Oh the
south side of the track. After Weeks had nuhg
Rhodes out of the wagon, lie went down the DaER
and moved him, placing ms head on a large stone;
I'VE then threw tho wagon oil the eInbankment. l.
then started to run when Weeks caught me again
by the throat and said that if did not help linn ne
would serve me the same way =,
He then searched Rhodes's pockets lie tod me
that he got Sl2 90. Weeks thon with large stone
broke the fish boxes. aud afterward TOOK Oh
RbOdcss overcOat which he tied up IN Dundie WIN
n piece of rope and hid i'll a clump OF bushes py inc
roadside as we were going home. After killing
Rhodes Weeks went TO the village for the wmsKey
and waited near Mr.. Morey's until he returned.
He then asked me 10 drink, but refused until Igos
home That night Weeks did not sleep. but paced
the floor until morning. dld not sleep' as was
afraid he would Kill me-
At the close Of the examination Seaman was com
mitted for the action of the Grand Jury. weeks
will also be indicted, and his pardon asked las lie is
now serving out term III the state frson Tor our
rlary) SO that he may be tried for the murder.