Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-27
THE CONNECTICUT CRIME.
An Insane Mans Terrible Act and Be-
havior in Presence of His Victim.

An Insane Mans Terrible Act and Re
havior in Presence of His Victim.
The brother Of John Harding, who was
beheaded by Henry Ely, the lunatic. on
Friday, says Hartford, Conn, special to
the New York World, arrived Saturday
and took charge Of the remains. They
were taken to Brooklyn for burial. The
scene IN the room where the mutilated
corpse lay was a painful one.
In the front room of the house lay the
body Of the murdered man, the head
bound to the trunk with bandages and
covered by a sheet. Seated with his feet
on the stove in the kitchen, and in plain
view of the body, which might be seen
through the open door, was Henry G.
Ely, the murderer, sullen and I'M
concerned. He kept his hands in his
pockets and did not utter a word to
any of the half dozen other men who sat
by guarding him. About 5 O'Clock
Deputy Sheriff Albert 81. Gillette ap-
preached him with a pair Of handouts
and told him he would have to take him
away. As the Sheriff attempted 10 put
the handouts on, Ely struggled violently
and resisted every attempt Of the officer.
''DOn't put them on" he said; s'whO are
you, anyhow ] don't know who you are.
What authority have you got to do this
l tell you you are in dangerous country,
and warn you not to put them on me-"
One of the bYstanders went to the asss-
lance of the Sheriff, and as they succeeded
in getting enc OF the handouts on. the
prisoner struggled again, saving: That's
not right. / don't think you'd better put
them on. You shouldn't take me away
from here, don't you know. ! am afraid
somebody will hurt Whit Mr.. Cowles) J.,
don't you know. Don't take me away
| killed him, and if you take me away
they may think want to kill him again."
At last the handouts were placed upon
his wrists, but it was found necessary to
take them off again in order to put on his
OvercOat. AS he stood mp the blOOd1Of
the murdered man could be seen covering
his shoes and parts of his clothing.
When the Sheriff attempted to put the
handouts on again, he resisted even more
violently than before, and twisted ar Ound
in his chair. saying to the officer: g |
don't see how you can come down from
Canada and arrest me like this. / amt
! Charlie Jackson. Where's your warrant?
The Coroner's jury should acquit me
right away" And as the Sheriff sue
/ ceeded in getting the handouts on, he
shouted:
''Hold on! make them lOoser. Pve been
mOOnstruck, l tell you, and Pm afraid
they will kill me. How is it, Whit?
! Have they authority to take me away?
Well, | suppose its all right if Whit says
so, but remember, sir, | will discharge
you for air you have done in this coun-
try" He was on the point of going with
the sheriff when he spied a man standing
near the door and shouted: THAT'S Gu
sick, and Pm afraid he'll kill me. | won't
go till Cusck is gone" and Mr.. Cusick,
an lnOitenSlve marketman, of TarritfVille.
was obliged to leave the room. Finally
the prisoner was placed safely in a car
riage and taken to Sheriff Gillette's house,
in CRANKY, where he was kept last night.
Coroner Sperry took the sworn statements
of DR.. Edwards. Mr.. Cowles and three
other men who were on the scene of the
tragedy shortly after its occurrence. Mrs.
CoWles was so Frustrated by the affair
that she was unable to leave her room,
and the sight of her brother chOpping at
Harding's body was a severe shock to her
nerves. Mr.. COwles also seemed very
nervous, and his voice trembled as he
told the Coroner what he had seen. 1t is
probable that Ely will be ultimately sent
to the insane asylum, as DR.. Edwards
says there is no question as to the mans
insanity. Ely's mother died in an insane
retreat, and he has a sister who is at
present confined in a similar institution.
/ Other persons in the family have also
shown signs of being demented, and it is
said the weakness dates back for a gener-
alton.
Ely was formerly of New York city,
was possessed of property valued at from
/ $4,000 to 100000 in his own right, and
held a seat at one time in the New York
Produce Exchange. Some years ago he
was partner in the firm of Jolly & Co.,
distillers, OF Williamsburg. His mind
gave way then, and he had to retire from
I business. For two years he was con-
fined in a private asylum, but he became
so apparently harmless that he was taken
to his sisters at Tarrifyille. lie is a
brother Of the late Seth Ely, New York,
and another brother, John, still lives in
that city. Harding had been his keeper
for five years, but left on January / and
returned Friday on a visit.