OF A MURDER COMMITTED BY MR. J---- Y----, UPON HIS FAMILY,
IN DECEMBER, A. D. 1781.
(_Concluded from page 20._)
At the noise of my feet upon the dry corn stalks---she turned hastily
round and seeing me exclaimed, “O father, my dear father, spare me, let
me live--let me live,--I will be a comfort to you and my mother--spare
me to take care of my little sister Diana--do--do let me live.”--She was
my darling child, and her fearful cries pierced me to the soul---the
tears of _natural pity_ fell as plentifully down my cheeks, as those of
terror did down her’s, and methought that to destroy _all_ my idols, was
a hard task---I again relapsed at the voice of complaining; and taking
her by the hand, led her to where her mother lay; then thinking that if
I intended to retain her, I must make some other severe sacrifice,
I bade her sing and dance---She complied, terribly situated as she
was,---but I was not asking in the line of my duty--I was convinced of
my error, and catching up a hatchet that stuck in a log, with one well
aimed stroke cleft her forehead in twain---she fell---and no sign of
retaining life appeared.
I then sat down on the threshold, to consider what I had
best do---“I shall be called a murderer (said I) I shall be
seized--imprisoned--executed, and for what?--for destroying my
idols---for obeying the mandate of my father---no, I will put all the
dead in the house together, and after setting fire to it, run to my
sister’s and say the Indians have done it---“I was preparing to drag my
wife in, when the idea struck me that I was going to tell a _horrible
lie_;” and how will that accord with my profession? (asked I.) No, let
me speak the truth, and declare the good motive for my actions, be the
consequences what they may.”
His sister, who was the principal evidence against him, stated---that
she had scarce got home, when a message came to Mr. J----n, her husband,
informing him that his mother was ill and wished to see him; he
accordingly set off immediately, and she not expecting him home again
till the next day, went to bed---there being no other person in the
house. About four in the morning she heard her brother Y------ call her,
she started up and bade him come in. “I will not (returned he) for I
have committed the unpardonable sin---I have burnt the Bible.” She knew
not what to think, but rising hastily opened the door which was only
latched, and caught hold of his hand: let me go, Nelly (said he) my
hands are wet with blood---the blood of my Elizabeth and her
children.---She saw the blood dripping from his fingers, and her’s
chilled in the veins, yet with a fortitude unparalleled she begged him
to enter, which--as he did, he attempted to sieze a case knife, that by
the light of a bright pine-knot fire, he perceived lying on the
dresser---she prevented him, however, and tearing a trammel from the
chimney, bound him with it to the bed post---fastening his hands behind
him---She then quitted the house in order to go to his, which as she
approached she heard the voice of loud lamentation, the hope that it was
some one of the family who had escaped the effects of her brother’s
frenzy, subdued the fears natural to such a situation and time, she
quickened her steps, and when she came to the place where Mrs. Y----
lay, she perceived that the moans came from Mrs. Y----’s aged father,
who expecting that his daughter would set out upon her journey by day
break, had come at that early hour to bid her farewel.
They alarmed their nearest neighbours immediately, who proceeded to Mrs.
J----n’s, and there found Mr. Y---- in the situation she had left him;
they took him from hence to Tomhanick, where he remained near two
days---during which time Mr. W--tz--l (a pious old Lutheran, who
occasionally acted as preacher) attended upon him, exhorting him to pray
and repent; but he received the admonitions with contempt, and several
times with ridicule, refusing to confess his error or _join_ in
prayer---I say _join_ in prayer, for he would not kneel when the rest
did, but when they arose he would prostrate himself and address his
“father,” frequently saying “my father, thou knowest that it was in
obedience to thy commands, and for thy glory that I have done this
deed.” Mrs. Bl--------r, at whose house he then was, bade some one ask
him who his father was?--he made no reply---but pushing away the person
who stood between her and himself, darted at her a look of such
indignation as thrilled horror to her heart---his speech was connected,
and he told his tale without variation; he expressed much sorrow for the
loss of his dear family, but consoled himself with the idea of having
performed his duty--he was taken to ALBANY and there confined as a
lunatic in the goal, from which he escaped twice, once by the assistance
of Aqua Fortis, with which he opened the front door.
I went in 1782 with a little girl, by whom Mr. Bl-----r had sent him
some fruit; he was then confined in dungeon, and had several chains
on---he appeared to be much affected at her remembrance of him, and put
up a pious ejaculation for her and her family---since then I have
received no accounts respecting him.
The cause for his wonderfully cruel proceedings is beyond the conception
of human beings---the deed so unpremeditated, so unprovoked, that we do
not hesitate to pronounce it the effect of insanity---yet upon the other
hand, when we reflect on the equanimity of his temper, and the
comfortable situation in which he was, and no visible circumstance
operating to render him frantic, we are apt to conclude, that he was
under a strong delusion of Satan. But what avail our conjectures,
perhaps it is best that some things are concealed from us, and the only
use we can now make of our knowledge of this affair, is to be humble
under a scene of human frailty to renew our petition, “Lead us not into
temptation.”
May 27, 1796.
[[Sources:
This is believed to be the original publication of the narrative.
The author may be Margaretta Faugères, daughter of Ann Eliza Bleecker
(“Mrs. Bl----er”)