Year: 1867


A MAN "KNowN TO HAVE BEEN MURDER


ED" IN 1856 NOW APPEARS IN THE
VILLAGE OF PLATTsBURGH.


PLArrsBUReH, N. Y, Oct. 16, 1867.


left Albany, my place of residence, on
Monday last to come to the village OF
Plattsburgh. The facts which ! have to
relate, seem TO me to present a case not
surpassed by those noted cases SO often
cited by counsel upon a defence, when
they seek to show the probable fallacy of
circumstantial evidence, however conclu-
sive it may appear.


l have TO turn backward eleven years
in the history of this town, and to the con-
sideration of a capital case, the main
points of which still linger in the memory
of quite number of citizens. 1t is from
those who were the principal actors in the
courts of justice here at the time, that i
have for the most part gained my informa-
tion.


Six miles southerly from the village of
Plattsburgh, but within the limits of the
town, there now live and long have dwelt
several families by the name of Weather
wax. They constitute neighborhood or
clan, all related to one another, such as is
not unfrequently found in country districts.
Their general position, character and con-
dition now, is substantially as it was eleven
years ago, at which time the facts of this
case take their rise. In 1856 the Wealth
erwaxes were a numerous, widely known
connection of hearty, vigorous people,
rough, daring and energetic, and engaged
for the most part, in the ordinary pursuits
of laborers. The monotonous labor of the
farm was not well suited to the character
and natural disposition of some of their
number. Unusual physical power, and
that restlessness of spirit which is impa-
tient of regulating influences or of control,
inclined them to pursuits in which some
thing of hazard and danger could be found,
and which would give some opportunity
for rowing life. Some of them turned
their attention to boating upon Lake
Champlain as the pursuit which most
readily met and gratifed in a good degree
their natural tastes and preferences. Oh
this number was Captain John G. Wealth.
erwax, a man described to me as a type
of his class, hale, hearty, fearless fellow
Of fine physical proportions and dauntles
spirit, that would not brook contradiction
He was the Captain and probably tn
owner of lake boat which he piled be
tween this and other ports on the Ney
York and Vermont shores, and dow
the lake across the line, to the ports o
Canada.


There was another of the boatmen, An
drew Weatherwax, cousin of the Cap
tain. At the date of which am writing
Andrew became the employee of Captain
John G. Weatherwax, and aided him il
the navigation Of his vessel.


I 1t was in the latter part of June of tht
year 1856, as / have gathered the facts
that Capt. W., attended by his cousin
sailed from Plattsburgh for Canadian
port. In the course of the cruise, having
it would seem, discharged his cargo, ht
came with his boat to Pike river, stream
or estuary that empties into or connects
with Lake Champlain, just beyond til,
Canada line and upon the east side of th'
lake. Here Capt. Weatherwax was Il
obtain lading of wood, with which Il
freight his boat and return to Plattsburgh
And here occurred the tragedy which con
stitutes the body of the crime in this re
b markable case.


The boat was lying at the wharf, an
the loading of wood had already commenc
ed. In addition to the captain and bi
a cousin Andrew, there was third ma
It upon the boat, who was an employees
IS This third man became the important vii
ness in the case. During the day Will
they were loading the boat, this witness
as he afterwards testified, observed tn
captain and his cousin in violent quarre
There were high and passionate word
and threats employed without stint G
! measure. The quarrel and wranglingc cor
tinued at intervals, and the angry feeling
of the parties did not appear to subside
n all as the day wore on, but seemed rathe
to increase than diminish, and the quarr'
was at its height near nightfall. At ev'
I'd ming. while the captain and his cousl
were near the bow of the boat, the witne:
stood alone at the stern. Darkness ha
settled around him, and the summer nigt
was disturbed only by the alteration
which, if it lulled at all, had again broke
out between the captain and his employee
the cousin. As time passed on, although
nothing could be seen by this man at tn
"a stern of the vessel, the noise of word
conflict and threats of violence continue