The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-01-13
another followed this occupat
past.
Murderer Hoyt's Knife.

Ex-sHERIFF SANFORD PRESENTS 1T TO
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BRIDGE
PORT POLICE DEPARTMENT COLLECTION
CONTAINS A KNIFE EXHIBITED FOR
EIGHTEEN YEARS AS THE ONE WITH
WHICH HoYT CUT KIs FATHERS
THRoAT.-wHICH Is GENUINEa
Former Sheriff Aaron Sanford Of New
town has just presented the county
commissioners with the ominous looking
knife with which Edwin Hoyt killed his
father in sherman, for which crime he
was hanged May l3, 1880, at the county
jail, in this city.
This gift TO the county commissioners
would not perhaps be worthy Of more
than passing Thought, were it not for
the fact that sne police department has
priced in les collection of weapons q long
ugly knife which has for is years passed
as the knife used by the murderer. That
knife occupies prominent place in the
cabinet In the sCperintendent's office,
and its genuInsness has never before
been questioned. When Sup1 Birming-I
ham heard that the commissioners had
what was claimed TO be the knife with
which the crime WAS done, he was natur-
ally surprised, but he could not gouch
personally for the police relic, inssmuch
as he was not at the head of the depart
ment when the murder occurred
/ The county commissioners were in
Newtown few days ago granting .licen-
ses, and former Hugh Sneriff Sanford be-
came reminiscent ID talk with them.
They were discussing the days when MIR
Sanford was sheriff, and conversation
finally drifted TO the Hoyt murder.
II saw the knife that Hoyt used, ~
Commissioner Miller remarked during
che talk.
"You've never seen that knife," Ex-
Sheriff Sanford said positively.
Mr. Miller then told the former official
that the knife was on exhibition in the
police collection iE Bridgeport, and Mr
Sanford laughed.
why I've had that knife in my safe
all these years." the sheriff added. He
was high sheriff at the time that Hoyt
was hanged, and preserved The knife and
che black cap used &C the execution.
Sheriff Sanford went to his home and
brought back the weapon, sn old fash
ioned butcher knife. The blade wac
wrapped in two pieces of paper, which
when unfolded proved co be the trial
list Of the Superior court for the Febru-
ary term, 1880. The former Sheriff told
the commissioners that he had retained
possession Of the knife since the crime,
and there could be no mistake about it..
The blade Of the weapon shows signs
OF having been grouEd, shortly before it
was used. The blade is somewhat rust
ed and the point is duiled where the
murderer cut against the bones. There
are dark spots upon it, resembling blood
spots.
Mr. Sanford made the commissioners q
present OF the knife and they now have
it at their office in this city.
The other knife is at the police station.
Ii is longer and heavier than the one
which the commissioners have, and it too
was covered with spots said TO be human
blood. Superintendent Birmingham said
that Former Chief w. E Marsh received
the knife from Mr. SANFORD at the time of
tne crime.-[ bridgeport Farmer.
HB-Note--In reference to the above
Sheriff Sanford says Mr. Marsh is most
certainly in error IL he states that, he re.
ceived the aforesaid knife from him.