Murder- It is rare indeed that the inhabitants of any part of
Litchfield county have been witnesses to such an atrocious act as was
perpetrated in Norfolk on Saturday last. We have not learnt the
full particulars--nor would it perhaps be proper to publish them now if we had, as a judicial investigation will undoubtedly be had at the next term of the Superior Court in this town. Suffice it to say, that an aged man name Amos Root was on Saturday last most horribly beaten by a club or some other weapon, which must have caused his almost immediate death. A young man of the name of Jeremiah Octon, about 25 years of age, we understand, at a gathering of a number of people to raise a coal pit, in the south-west corner of Norfolk, near the Canaan lie, had had a quarrel with a son of Mr. Root, at which he interfered adn separated them. On the breaking up of the party, Orton, who was armed with a heavy club, asked old Mr. Root to go off with him on a different path from the rest of the company, to come up with them in a short time, which the former did, but without the latter. Root no returning home that night, nor Sunday, on Monday morning search was made, and his body found near the by-path with his head mangled as above stated, and his neck broken--and marks of blood discovered upon the ground where the body appeared to have been dragged a few rods. Orton was apprehended, underwent an examination before Judge Pettibone, and has been committed to prison to await his trial in February next. Both parties at the time of the alledged transaction it is said were in a state of intoxication. [Litchfield Enquirer, Nov 8, 1831 - Transcribed & submitted by Nancy Washell]
Dr. Shew, of the Middletown insane asylum, appeared before the committee on humane institutions, Thursday afternoon, in favor of the release of one John Evans of Barkhamsted, where he was convicted in 1868, of murder in the second degree, sent to state prison and subsequently transferred to the insane asylum. Dr. Shew represents that he is not now insane, and that his brothers in England, who are wealthy are desirous that he may be released and go to that country. His wife is yet living in Barkhamsted, and has remarried. [Daily Constituition, July 10, 1875 - Transcribed & Submitted by Nancy Washell]
The Course of True Love A Burrville
widower has been seeking a wife in Barkhamsted of late. A prepossessing widow pleased him,
and he agreed to give her $1,000 and the deed of a farm, which she accepted; but unfortunately
her daughter put in an appearance and was so much more attractive that the ungallant wife seeker
offered her $2,000 and the farm, backing down from his offer to her mother. Being repulsed,
he renewed his attention to the mother, who indignantly spurned him. Since then all the widows
within a radius of two miles have been approached with offers, from the deed of the farm and $500 up to
$2,000. [New Haven Register, May 5, 1879 - Transcribed & Submitted by
Nancy Washell]
Edwin Plant Kills His Wife and Babe
and Later Shoots Himself.
CANAAN, Conn., May 4. - Edwin Plant, of Clayton, Mass. three miles from
here, to- day shot and instantly killed his wife and then fired a bullet into the breast of his
two-weeks-old child, killing it. Plant fled to a swamp near Karkapot river and was surrounded by
a posse. He refused to surrender, and for a time held the crowd at bay,
but after a lively
exchange of shots with his pursuers, Plant killed himself. He was married April 16, and the same
day his wife gave birth to an infant.
[The Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wednesday, May 6, 1896; pg. 5](Contributed by Candi H.)
All data on this website is © Copyright 2009 by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters. |
