Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles
About Saratoga County New York
September 5, 1809
Submitted by Nancy P.
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, September 27, 1809
Arrestation For Murder
By the following account taken from the Saratoga Independent American, it appears that a man who calls his name Abijah Sterns, and who in two letters, which he has written since his commitment to Stephen Jacobs and Elijah Pain, Esquires, of Vermont, styles himself “Chief judge of the supreme court” of that state, was last week apprehended in the county of Washington, and committed to the jail in Saratoga county, New York, charged with being the perpetrator of a murder committed at a place called Newton, in the town of Halfmoon, about 14 years ago. No account is given in the paper of the causes which have, at this time led to the apprehension of this man [ neither who the person was that was murdered.]
Baliston Spa, September 5, 1809
Murder
Many of the inhabitants of this county will recollect that two Murders were supposed to have been committed in the place then called New Town, in Halfmoon, about 14 years since. The body of one man was fund suspended, or the appearance of having been suspended by a handkerchief or a rope, to a tree or limb; and a dog brought in the calf of another, though we believe the body was never found. Suspicion about that time fixed on a Mr. Flinn, a Tavern keeper near at hand, as an accomplice in the murder. We believe he was apprehended, had his trial, or at least examination, and was acquitted.
A man by the name of Abijah Sterns, taken in the county of Washington, was on Wednesday committed to the Jail of this county, charged with the murders. The circumstances which have attached suspicion on Mr. Sterns are singular; and have thrown some light on the subject, which was never before known. We will relate, as near as we have been informed, his own story; and although we shall not pretend to exactness in every instance, yet shall aim at the substance.
About 14 years ago, he was travelling from Albany to Argyle, and in a piece of woods, heard the cries of a man in distress. Stopping, he saw a man at the distance of about twenty rods, tied to a tree, and another knock him in the head with the butt end of a pistol who then took a knife from his pocket, and cut his throat from ear to ear, he saw the blood stream from the wound. The murderer took a portmanteau lying at a small distance, ripped it open and took there from two linen bags, containing about 800 silver dollars, and a large quantity of bank bills. When this was performed, the robber approached Sterns and demanded his money, 200 dollars tied in a handkerchief, which he refused to deliver up, although the robber observed he had just killed one man for his money and threatened him with instant death. After some parley, they both, side and side walked back, about fifteen rods beyond the place where the man had just been killed. Of a sudden, a lad rushed out of a thicket of bushes with a club in his band, and with cried beseeched Sterns to assist him in securing the robber who had murdered his father. The robber standing between the two, drew a pistol, presented it at Sterns (who begged for his life) saying he should kill him to prevent his appearing as a witness; pausing for a moment, he turned round and shot the young man through the breast, who fell dead at his feet. At this time a man on a black horse who had not before been discovered, rode out of the bushes, and called out to the robber to secure that man (meaning Sterns) who then ran towards Flinn’s. The man on horseback took another path, and attempted to cut off his retreat. Four pistols were fired at him, and in the scuffle was severely wounded. He reached Mr. Flinn’s however, and had his wounds dressed.
This we are informed is the amount of the story relative in the murder, as related by Mr. Sterns. But it is astonishing, that he should have been an eye witness to transactions so horrid, and not have immediately rallied the whole neighborhood in pursuit of the murderers! We believe, however, but little or no alarm was made at the time; the subject some time after created considerable conversation, till finally it died away and was almost forgotten.
Mr. Sterns asserts that he is chief judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont; and has forwarded letters to that state, of which the following are copies. We know nothing of the truth of their contents; they may be true, or he may have a stratagem in view to elude the hand of justice. They however contain all the further information we possess on the subject:
Baliston Jail, Aug. 21, 1809
To Judge Stephen Jacobs, of Windsor
Sir,
I take this opportunity to inform you, that I have been on business to Albany, and on my return to Wateron have been apprehended on suspicion of murdering a man in Halfmoon 14 years ago, the same that was murdered by Williams and Adams, who was convicted before you and Judge Pain, and White and Wilson, on the twenty-third of January, 1809. Sir I intreat you to come and see me as quick as this letter comes to you; for I am suffering in prison for the crimes of Williams and Adams. I was wounded and my life almost exhausted by reason of bleeding. I went to Lansing burg and paid the money for advertising the murderers, and complained to the very same men that have complained of me, and thought myself injured for their neglect. I have left a warrant with Mr. Ward, high sheriff in Sunsbury, in the county of Worcester, and state of Massachusetts; and another in Boston, to commit them to prison - but have been neglected. I am now suffering by reason of the court of Windsor neglecting to -------. Sir, have pity on me and come and let me at liberty; if you come and make known the truth of the business, I can have my liberty, without waiting for any other court. I desire you to come and bring other witnesses of ehir confession. This from your humble servant
Abijah Sterns
Chief Judge of the Supreme Court
To Elijah Pain
Judge of the Circuit Court of the United States
Honored Sir,
I ask this opportunity to acquaint you with my unhappy situation. I have been on business to Albany, and on my return home, have been apprehended in Greenwich, on suspicion of having committed murder in Halfmoon. Sir, I was traveling from Albany to Arguyle about 14 years ago and came in fight of two men who committed murder, namely, Ebenezer Heredall Williams and Bolton Adams. On the 23d January, 1807, they came into Windsor, Vermont, where I saw them and accused them of committing the murder, and the judges of the supreme court called a special court, and they were both convicted of committing the murder in Halfmoon, before judge Stephen Jacobs and judge White, and of the judges of Windsor county, and judge Hunter and a number of the justices of peace and myself. It was proved upon the trial of Adams by the oath of Williams and Polly Pox, that Adams had committed murder in Looningburg, and that both of them had confessed the justness of the sentence, and they were committed to John, to Page and another, to commit to prison, and made their escape. I am now suffering in prison, for the crime committed by Williams and Adams. Sir, I earnestly entreat you to have pity on an innocent man, and come immediately and see me and set me at liberty. I have left my business so that it will be a great damage if I am absent long. Sir, have pity on me, on an innocent sufferer, who always wishes that mercy and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, might be bestowed upon all men both in this world and that which is to come; and who esteems it an honor to subscribe himself your most obedient, very humble servant.
Abijah Sterns
Chief Judge of the Supreme Court
Baliton Jail, Aug. 31st, 1809
October 3, 1878
Standard, Albert Lea, Minnesota
The Union Dime Savings Bank of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has closed. Liabilities $153,000. Cash on hand $3,000. Mortgages and real estate $180,000.
August 29, 1901
The Sandusky Star, Sandusky Ohio
FRAUD ORDERS ISSUED-Washington, Aug. 29-Fraud orders were issued by the postoffice department this morning against Hiram Stokes & Co., and Vance Brown; T.B. Reid; F.J. Bell; J.J. Jones and C.H. James, all of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., who were operating turf investment concerns.