1836 Utica, NY stampless HORRIBLE AXE MURDER DESCRIB (10/07/2011)...

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1836 Utica, NY stampless HORRIBLE AXE MURDER DESCRIBED!

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1836 Utica, NY stampless HORRIBLE AXE MURDER DESCRIBED!

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Sold Date: 10/07/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Stamps

Postal History

Astounding content in this 2.5 page stampless folded letter written January 3, 1836 by (last name Babcock) with a letter header of Bridgewater (New York) and a postmark of Utica. It was sent to a relative - Mr. Jacob Babcok in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.

The writer describes the horrible murder scene that claimed his uncle's youngest son -Augustus Babcock.

Here's the excerpt:

"It is with no ordinary senations that I now take my pen to give you a description of the most awful and horrible transaction that every occurred in this country, I cannot think of language strong enough to convey my feelings, we heard of scenes of horror with melancholy surprise and wonder at the (depracity ?) of human nature. We can read of murder and suicide that is committed at a distance and among entire strangers with little emotion and memory of the event passes like a dream. but I have witnessed a scene the recollection of which time can never efface while memory and reason hold their empire in my bosom.

On sunday last at about 8 oclock in the morning I was called to witness the dead bodies of 3 person who had been murdered about 2 hours before (to appearances) and one of them was Augustus Babcock, Uncle Asa's youngest son. Now for the circumstances, Augustus had become the (profection ?) of most of the farm in Paris which Uncle Asa used to own and being a single man he had hired an Englishman who had been married but a few months to come and occupy his house that he (Augustus) might board with them. Varndall (for such was the man's name) had a few days previous to this transaction expressed himself jealous of his wife and associated Augustus with several other young gentlemen in this neighborhood in her quilt....

His wife however was as inocent in all probability as any person living. It is supposed he arose at about 6 oclock built a fire brought in water and them himself and wife set down and smoked their pipes (as they were warm when persons arrived) got into a quarrel or dispute and he became enraged, went into the room adjoining Augustus bedroom where he usually kept his axe took that and went into Augustus room and inflicted three blows on the right side of his head, with the head of the axe he appears to have been asleep and not to have moved a muscle he was undoubtedly killed the first blow. He then went into his own room where he left his wife and inflicted a blow on the top of her head it is supposed which knocked her down and then hacked her head in pieces with the edge of the axe. It appears that he then went to his chest which was in the same room took out his his clothes pocketbook hat etc then probably dispairing of an escape he took his razor and closed this awful tragedy by cutting his own throat. A coroners inquest was held and the conduction was as I have stated above. A girl about 14 years old slept in the same room in which he murdered his wife and himslef and was not awaked by thte noise. On awaking about daylight she first discovered him on the floor bleeding on raising herself in bed she discovered his wife, she sprange from the bed and ran to alarm Augustus whom she found also dead then gave the alarm to the neighbors. His funeral was attended on Wednesday last after Leander had arrived from Oswego. The collection was the largest that I ever saw at a funeral, all deeply sypathiczing with poor Leander who is the only remaining member of his fathers recently prosperous family......."

Rest of the letter has family and local news - interesting but certainly nothing as dramatic as you read above !

Postmark is a fancy oval red Utica with diamonds and an 18 3/4 cents manuscript rate.

The letter is written on larger legal size paper and difficult to fit on my scanner, so I took a couple camera photos to give you an idea. The address panel is scanned.

Letter fully intact and in great shape

Terms $1.00 postage in the United States, and only $ 2.00 elsewhere. We combine postage for multiple purchases. Postal insurance and registration extra. We're members of the Ame...