Sunday, August 4, 2024

Murder of Mrs. Dennison Crandall, Madison County, NY, 1865

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, July 11, 1878

Murder Will Out

The Rome correspondent of the Utica Observer gives the following particulars of the identification of a murderer now confined in the Rome jail [Oneida Co. NY].

It is a very true saying that "murder will out." An instance showing this fact has now come to light, which will prove the unveiling of a mystery of many years and reveal to the public and to the law tribunal the perpetrators of a most bloody and horrible deed.

This crime was committed on the Unadilla River, south of Clarksville, in the town of Brookfield, Madison County [NY], in 1865.  In that vicinity lived an old man and his wife, named Crandall.  The old gentleman's name was Dennison Crandall.  They had lived there for many years, were quite aged and had succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune.  In December 1865, the old gentleman had in his possession a large amount of money.  This fact became known to quite a number.  One night an attempt was made to rob them. At the time the robbers came to the house, there was no one in but the old lady.  The villains demanded the money, threatening her life.  She possessed a pocketbook containing about $30, which was forthcoming.  About the time she had delivered over the amount, the old gentleman appeared on the scene, and they then demanded the remainder of the money from him.  He pretended to the villains that he would surrender it up to them.  He went into an adjacent room after the money, as they supposed.  Instead of returning with that, he returned with a weapon of defense.  He kept a flail swingle in his room, with which he appeared. When they saw that he was prepared for an attack they backed away from him.  While he and the villains were defying each other, someone whom they had not seen came from a place of concealment and dealt the old lady a blow on the head which felled her to the floor.  The robbers then fired on the old gentleman and his wife, and both were left for dead.  It is thought that while a portion of the gang were at work on the inside, others got into the cellar and came up the stairway and dealt the blow on the head of the old lady.  She was found dead.  Either the blow or the bullet would have been sufficient to produce death.  The old gentleman fought bravely, but when he was shot he had to yield to their force, and he was thought to be dead. After they had accomplished what they supposed a work that would prevent detection they made good their escape.

After several hours of unconsciousness, the old gentleman recovered his senses and the news of the terrible deed was spread, which caused the wildest excitement in that vicinity.  A reward of $1,000 was offered for the fiends who committed the crime, and vigilant search was made for them.  Although grave suspicions rested upon parties and a close description was given, yet their whereabouts could not be ascertained.

The old gentleman described one of them - the one who took the most active part in the tragedy - as being slim, with stooping shoulders, large eyes, sandy complexion and curly hair.  This described a young man by the name of George Belville who was stopping at the Loomises at the time, but who was missing immediately thereafter.  He has never been seen in this country since, until last spring.  He then participated in the attempt to dispossess the administrator of the property which was left by Grove.  His arrest for that crime and his confinement in the Rome jail was communicated to Dennison Crandall, and he and his son came to Rome to see him.  Upon entering the jail, the old man picked him out as one of the gang.  As soon as he discovered the old man, he made for the washing place and wet his hair and completed as many alternations as the limited conveniences in the jail would allow.  After this the old gentleman followed him to the cell and interviewed him for some time and upon close inspection, the old gentleman declared that he answered the description perfectly.  Belville denied all knowledge of the murder.  His visitors seemed to be a source of great annoyance to him and he showed signs of great uneasiness after their departure.  Soon after they were here, he made an unsuccessful attempt to break jail.  With his close identification, his attempt to break jail, &c, it would seem that the people have been successful in getting a hold upon another of the worst desperadoes ever known in this vicinity. The old gentleman believes that one of his relatives assisted in plotting the robbery. Belville is a hardened criminal and has escaped justice for many years.  There are other crimes of which he is guilty and for which he will be punished He is watched very closely to prevent his escaping from his present confinement.  The present walls to the old jail are not sufficiently secure to hold him without a constant watch.

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