BCDA (Objects)

Title

Sandy (Alexander Beck) - NY-GARD4

Identifier

NY-GARD4

Subject

African Americans--History, African Americans--History--To 1863, Artisans

Source

Long Island farmer, and Queens County advertiser. : (Jamaica [N.Y.]) 1826-1862

Date

April 21, 1840

Trade

Gardener

Gender

Male

Home

Hempstead

Home Location

Long Island, New York

Item Type

Article

Notes

Pg. 2, full name found in September 22, 1840 edition, pg. 2

Transcription

SHOCKING EVENT!—On Thursday morn-ing last, the usual tranquility of our village was interrupted by an occurrence of the most melancholy and shocking character.—Mrs. Catharine B. Hall, one of our most respected inhabitants, an aged lady, became the victim of one of the most unprovoked and wantonly cruel assaults we have ever known. She had in her employ as gardener, an old negro, named Sandy, to whom she was giving some directions with which he seemed to be dissatisfied ; when as she was leaving him, he struck her a most violent blow upon the head with the edge of a spade he was using, which felled her to the earth ; and before she could rise, repeated the blow. She succeeded, however, in getting up, but while retreating towards the house, he followed her and struck her two more blows with the spade, which again brought her to the ground. By this time some of our citizens reached the spot, then she was carried in and Medical assistance sent for. The phy-sician, Dr. Webb, arrived in a few minutes ; but she was beyond the reach of human aid. She uttered but a few words, and died in about two hours after the assault took place.
According to testimony of Dr. Webb be-fore the Coroner, the wound upon her head was the one which undoubtedly occasioned her death.
The negro man never attempted to leave the place, and when arrested by the officer, was dancing and singing “Glory! Hallelujah!”—He was taken at once before justice Mc-Neil and committed. When asked the rea-son for his outrageous conduct, he replied ‘the Heavenly King told him to do it,’ and continued singing, apparently in triumph, until he was removed. His deportment was that of a man acting under strong mental hallucination, but whether real or assumed, we will not determine.
The deceased was a lady of the most amiable and exemplary character, much re-spected and esteemed by a large circle of friends and connexions here and elsewhere, and her sudden departure in so shocking a manner, has spread a gloom over our com-munity, which will not speedily be removed.
——Hampstead Inquirer.