Horrible Affray!
Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, June 27, 1860
On Monday night of this week, some persons unknown, assaulted the dwelling house occupied by Horace Burlison and his family, situated about a mile east of this village, near the old turnpike gate, bursting in the doors and tearing off the roof from the house. A man by the name of Samuel Robinson, one of the rioters was shot in the affray by the occupant of the house. The particulars of the affray are not yet known but will be given as soon as ascertained by the coroner's jury which is about being summoned and the matter is undergoing investigation as we go to press.
The Late Homicide in Oxford [Chenango Co. NY]
Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, July 4, 1860
The deceased, Samuel Robinson, was a resident of the State of Wisconsin, where he has a mother and two sisters left to mourn his untimely doom. Deceased came to this state a short time since and at the time of the happening of his death, was working for John S. White who keeps the old Bush stand about a mile east of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co. NY]. Deceased was a sober, industrious young man of good habits, but like poor dog Tray, he got into bad company. The Coroner, Dr. B.S. Sill of Bainbridge held an inquest on the body of the deceased on Tuesday, the 26th ult. and a number of witnesses were sworn in the matter. It appears from the evidence taken at the inquest by the coroner's jury, that John S. White, Orlando Utter and Samuel Robinson, the deceased, in the night time, on Monday the 25th, ult. having previously blackened their faces and disguising themselves went to the dwelling house occupied by Horace R. Burlison and his family, situated about a mile east of this village, near the old turnpike gate and opening the door of the house, ascended to the chamber floor and commenced tearing the roof off the house, working away with the evident intention of razing the house to the ground. White using an iron bar, prying and knocking off the roofboards, Robinson had an axe and Utter held a lantern for them to work by. While they were at this work, the occupant of the house, Horace R. Burlison, shot deceased through the body killing him almost immediately. The gun used was loaded with a bullet and forty-two shot. It appeared on the examination before the coroner that John S White had said the house of prisoner should come down. It further appeared that prisoner was asked if he could see to take deliberate aim. He said no, I have shot the wrong man.
It is alleged that Burlison, who is a poor man with a large family and lives from hand to mouth, kept a house of ill fame, which was a nuisance and a pest to the neighborhood. That persons of bad character were in the habit of visiting there. The coroner's jury brought in their verdict that deceased was murdered by Horace R. Burlison. After rendition of the verdict by the jury the coroner issued a warrant against Burlison, who was brought before him, by virtue thereof and an examination of the prisoner was held before the coroner the 27th ult., and after hearing the evidence given in the matter and due deliberation thereupon the coroner committed the prisoner to the common jail, there to wait the action of the Grand Jury. The prisoner did not call any witnesses, only cross examining the witnessed produced by the people.
On Friday last in the daytime, the neighbors collected together to the number of about 14 and razed the house to the ground, destroyed the barn, filling up the well, leaving not a vestige to mark the place that once there was a dwelling. We understand that the 14 have been sued in the Supreme Court in action of trespass and the end is not yet.
Grand Jury Results
Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, September 12, 1860
Horace R. Burlison was discharged from custody, the grand jury having failed to indict him for fatally shooting a person who was engaged with others in demolishing his house in Oxford.
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