Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-24
DETECTEDTHRoUGHAD DREAM.
Death of Notable Convict in New Ha-
ven After 81 Years Imprisonment.
Ven XareR aSpeeinL


ye1o Karen Special.
The death at the Wethersfield State
prison recently, after an incarceration of
% years, of a cOlOred prisoner. Isaac Ran
dolph, recalls the circumstance that the
detection of his crime, the murder of his
wife, was due to a dream. The murder
was committed in this city in Nav. 1886.
Randolph, then about 45 years of age. lived
with his wife in house rented from Will
liam futile at Washington street and
Howard avenue. Mrs. Randolph was a
daughter of Robert Coe, who resided near.
in Putnam street. The couple had re-
moved to New Haven from Waterbury
shortly before the tragedy, Randolph
working at his trade as a stOne-mason.
He was man of powerful frame and un-
common strength. His wife, Mrs. Mary
Ann Randolph, was jealous of a white
girl named Lizzie Costello, and this made
trouble between the married couple.
Quarrels of violent character were fire.
quent, Randolph on one occasion
while living in Waterbury, putting a
rope around his wife's neck to strangle
her, but relenting in time to spare her
life. This was the state of affairs, and on
the LIST of May Mrs. Randolph called at
the house of her brother, George NJ. COe.
saying she was about to cut some green's
for dinner, but she must hasten, as she
had to do her washing at home. None of
her relatives saw her alive afterward
Three days later Randolph called at the
house of his wife's mother, saying he
wished they would send her home, as he
needed her services. He said that Mary
Ann had run away, taking all her cloth
ing. The Coe family then visited Ran
dolph's house and found it deserted. There
was an appearance as though the bricks
of the cellar floor had been recently
cleaned but this was not deemed of any
consequence in determining what had be-
come OF the missing woman.
Randolph was arrested, however, on
suspicion, but was discharged for want of
evidence, Justice Bennett, who heard the
known facts, advising that he be kept un-
der surveillance. George NJ. Coe, brother
of Mrs. Randolph kept watch of the
house at nights, and found that Randolph |
and the Costello girl were often inside |
drinking and laughing together. In july |
Mr.. COe, the father of the missing wo-
man, had dream which he could not for |
get. He appeared to be spearing cells in |
a swamp in the rear of the futile house. |
This missing daughter came to him with |
his shoes, telling him he would take cold |
without them. In his dream he followed |
her to the barn, near the house, and in a
moment heard her utter an agOniZing |
cry. She then faded from his sight. In
speaking of this the old man said: ''That |
dream means that my daughter is muir
dered and buried near the farm" Feeling |
sure of the Interpretation of his dream, he
the same night went to the spot and dug !
in several places near the barn. Randolph |
had ut this time gone to Waterbury. |
Shortly atterWard George NJ. COe, the
wOman's brother, concluded to dig up the |
whole garden. Some objection was
made by futile, who did not want the |
trees and shrubs disturbed, but COe |
threatened to employ twenty men to dig |
If permission were not given him. With a |
long rod he sounded the earth in spots |
where it appeared soft to the depth of
about three feet. Presently, something |
was reached that felt like cloth, aud on |
eXcavating the earth the headless trunk !
of the missing woman was found. More |
digging brought to light the head, readily |
recognizable, and in other places other |
parts of her body were found. The hands |
and feet were not discovered; Randolph |
had burned them, intending to dispose of |
all the remains by fire. Finding it not |
feasible, he had changed his method and |
buried what had not been consumed.
randolph was arrested in Waterbury
and was tried and convicted of murder, |
though denying his guilt. He was SEN
fenced to death. James l. Reese, his
counsel, in asking for Communication of
sentence, made use of the argument that
Randolph was strong and good work
man; and as the State prison was about
to have an addition built he could be util-
lied in the work. The Legislature changed
the sentence to one Of Imprisonment for
life. When in jail, and after the trial,
Randolph made confession, saying that
on returning to his home at midnight he
had dispute with his wife, who struck
him with poker. He had then checked
her, but without intending to take her
life. He said: 81 checked her longer
than l meant to; when L lOosened my grip
on her neck l found she was dead. There
was nothing for me to do except to get rid
of the body" The case at the time
caused great excitement in New Haven.
Randolph, while in prison, was set tasks
which no one but a person of great
could perform, but for several
years he had been almost helpless from
paralysis.