Vital Records, Binghamton, Broome Co. NY, May 1845

 Binghamton Courier, Binghamton, NY, May 1, 1845

Marriages

In Chenango [Broome Co. NY], April 18, by the Rev. C. Darby, Mr. Edward Heald of Choconut, Pa., and Miss Irene Gould of the former place.

In Windsor [Broome Co. NY], on the 21st inst. by the Rev.  H.W. Gilbert, Mr. Peter S. Jones of Conklin [Broome Co. NY] to Miss Caroline O. Thompson of Windsor.

In Colesville [Broome Co. NY], on the 22d inst. by the same, Mr. Samuel Perkins of Windsor [Broome Co. NY] to Miss Hannah Ruggles of Colesville.

Binghamton Courier, Binghamton, NY, May 15, 1845

Marriage

In this town [Binghamton, Broome Co. NY], on Wednesday evening, the 9th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Gregory, Mr. Robert C. Trivett to Miss Louisa G. [Ely] daughter of Col. Oliver Ely, all of this place.

Deaths

In this village [Binghamton, Broome Co. NY] on Wednesday evening, 9th inst., Mrs. Eliza McKinney,  wife of Judge Jacob McKinney, aged 64 years.

In this village [Binghamton, Broome Co. NY] on the 4th inst., of scarlet fever, Louisa Adelaide [Brigham] daughter of Elmer W. and Ruth Ann Brigham, aged 3 years.

In Conklin [Broome Co. NY] on Friday last, after a long and painful illness, Mr. Elijah Wood an old and respected inhabitant of that town, aged 66 years.

In Vestal [Broome Co. NY] April 13, Dolly [LaGrange] wife of Mr. John LaGrange, Esq., aged 47 years.

In Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa on the 17th April, of a cancer, Ira Cooke, Esq., formerly of Lisle [Broome Co. NY] in this county, aged 66 years.

Binghamton Courier, Binghamton, NY, May 21, 1845

Deaths

In Windsor on Friday the 9th inst. of scarlet fever, Wm. Sidney [Knox] son of Hezekiah Knox, aged ten years -- and on Tuesday the 13th, Neely Stratton [Knox] son of the same and of the same disease, aged eight years.

Binghamton Courier, Binghamton, NY, May 28, 1845

Marriage

In Greene [Chenango Co. NY], the 29th ult. by the Rev. C. Darby, Mr. Francis Billings and Miss Annah Houghton, both of Greene.

News Item

Extraordinary Murder

A correspondent of the Argus gives the following particulars of a curious tragedy which occurred recently in the town of Otselic, Chenango County [NY], in which a villain by the name of [Erastus] Coit lost his life at the hands of James C. Griffin of Brookfield [Madison Co. NY].

"It seems that Griffin had resided in Otselic until within a year past, for some ten years.  Sometime in Aprill 1844, Coit seduced Griffin's wife, and compelled Griffin, who is an ignorant and harmless man, to let him have his farm and return to this town, Coit retaining Griffin's wife.  Griffin had endeavored by all legal means during this time, to rescue his wife from her disgraceful situation, but on account of threats from Coit, Griffin dared not go there and even here (20 miles from Coit's). He has been constantly armed, bring in constant fear from Coit.  Some days since, Griffin received a letter from his wife professing penitence and a desire to return to her family in this town.  Upon the receipt of this letter, Griffin, in company with his wife's brother, went to Coit's upon the errand.  But Griffin was afraid to venture into the house except upon the stringiest urging of his brother-in-law, and when he did so, he was prepared with a pistol ready loaded and cocked.  As soon as he entered Coit said, "Jim, I understand you have been armed for the last year, now d--n you, leave the house."  Griffin hastily obeyed him, and after leaving the house in endeavoring to let down the hammer of his pistol, which was in his pantaloons pocket, it discharged, the ball entering his thigh just below his body, and lodged in his knee.  All who were in the house, hearing Griffin Hallo, went out and found him running round crying "Don't let him hurt me."  Coit said "Jim, have you killed yourself."  When Griffin coming round him caught up a whiffletree that lay nearby and dealt Coit a blow upon the back of the head, which literally smashed his skull to atoms.  And after Coit fell, struck him twice more before the spectators interfered.  Coit lived only about two hours.  Griffin did not attempt to escape, but remained there until the sheriff came and took him into custody.

These are the simple facts of the case.  There are various opinions in reference to Griffin.  Most who are acquainted with him thinking that after the accidental discharge of his pistol he supposed Coit would immediately kill him.  To say the least it is a strange affair, coming from so harmless a man."

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, May 7, 1845

Just as our paper was ready for the press, we received intelligence of the commission of a murder in the town of Otselic, in this county, on Tuesday afternoon, the 6th inst. by James C. Griffin upon Erastus Coyt.  The circumstances have been given to us as follows:

About a year since, Griffin prosecuted Coyt for criminal connexion with his wife, but settled the suit for a small sum, obtained a divorce from his wife and left her.  From that time, Mrs. Griffin continued to live with Coyt, in a house about two miles above South Otselic and a little east of the creek.  Yesterday, Griffin, in company with his wife's brother came to Coyt's house and urged her to leave Coyt and go with them. A quarrel ensued between them and Coyt, who ordered Griffin to leave his house. Griffin did leave immediately, and, directly on his going round the corner of the house, the discharge of a pistol was heard.  On rushing out, Griffin was discovered with his clothes on fire, which was extinguished by Coyt, with the help of some neighbors who were present.  It was now discovered that Griffin was wounded in the thigh, just below the groin, by the accidental discharge of a pistol, which he carried with him.  As Coyt turned to leave him, Griffin, "as quick as thought," seized a heavy whiffletree, and struck Coyt a quick, heavy blow on the head and repeated the blow once or twice after he was down, before he could be restrained.  Coyt died in less than two hours, having neither spoken a word or had any consciousness of his situation.  Griffin, though severely, is not dangerously wounded, and is in custody. Coroner Callendar went over this morning to hold the inquest.  Coyt was a single man, about 30 years of age.