Year: 1877

Many citizens Of the State Of New
York will remember the excitement
created during the summer of 1856, by
what was generally called the "Weathcr-
wax Murder" The arrest, the legal
controversy concerning the jurisdiction,
the final trial, and the howl of dissatislac-
ton which followed the partial ncquittal,
are matters not easily forgotten by those
who then resided near the scene Of the
tragedy.


The circumstances of the case were
substantially as follows:


Captain John G. Weathorwax re-
sided in 1856 near the village Of Platts-
burg, New York He was man of
good character, one of numerous family
Of the same name, the settlement being
known for miles around as the weather.
wax settlement. Captain Wcathcrwax
was, at the time of which we write,
about thirty years of age, and the owner
of small craft which piled on Lake
Champlaiu trading with New York, Yer
mont, and Canada towns along the shore
Ol lHe ldkc,


The crew of this vessel consisted of
himself, his cousin, Andrew Weather
wax, and man named Walter Brown.
In the latter part Of June, 1856 he
left Plattsburg with cargo for Canada
and on the way back stopped on the
Pike River landing, on the Canada
shore, where he was to take on cargo
Of wood for Plattsburg During the
day, while the wood was being taken
on board, a sharp quarrel arose between
Captain Weathefwax and bis cousin
Andrew, and mutual threats we're in
dulged in 1t was soon over, however
but as Andrew bad become intoxicated,
he was rather morose during the entire
day.


So far, everything is plain and easily
understood; but here the mystery be-
gins, and what follows is largely based
upon the statements of the third party,
Walter Brown. He states that after
dark that (the night was very cloudy
and starless) he was standing on the rear
OF the boat, and heard the captain aud
his cousin (who were at the bow resume
the quarrel Of the day. 1t steadily in
creased in violence, threats were ex-
changed, and though be could see neither
Of the parties, he could hear dis
tinctly all that passed The wordy war
waxed hotter, and suddenly be heard a
crash as of blow crushing through skull
and brain. succeeded by heavy fall, and
as suddenly all was still.


The man listened with bated breath
and trembled; his first impulse was to
rush forward and offer assistance to the
wounded man, but fear restrained him,
and he waited the result In a few
minutes the captain came aft, but he was
alone. Brown noticed, Or thought he
did that he was pale and excited


Nothing was said about the quarrel,
and the two men soon retired. Brown,
however, could not Danish from his mind
the impression that a serious crime had
been committed lie arose early and
visited the spot where the alteration
took place, and found Andrews bat, and
near it marks Of blood Still he did not
mention his suspicious to any one, nor
make any inquiries concerning the miss
ing man. 1t appears that he was by
nature exceedingly timid, and sbrank
from tho responsibility of charging a man
with so serious crime, and from the
publicity which the position Of a prose-
cutor would compel him to assume.


The boat proceeded TO Plattsburg and
when Andrews relatives made inquiries
for him, the captain professed total igno-
rance Of his whereabouts, saying that be
bad left him at Pike River, without noti-
fcation, and gone, he knew not whittier.


Matters rested in this condition until
eight or ten days after the occurrance,
when a body was taken from the river at
the identical place where Captain Wealth
erwax's boat bad been moored on the
fatal night


The body gave ample evidence Of bay-
ing met death by violence, as the skull
was crushed as by terrible blow from
some heavy instrument. An inyostiga-