Sunbury American And Shamokin Journal

Murder of Suydam.

A few days since, Mr. Suydam the President of the Farmers and Mechanics of New Brunswick, N. J. disappeared very suddenly. It was at first supposed that he had absconded. It will be seen, however by the following letter to the editor of the United States Gazette, that he has been basely murdered.

"New Brunswick, Monday, 8 P. M.

I can think of nothing else just now than the murder of Suydam, whose body I have seen this evening, and whose murderer is secured. I will, therefore, detail the circumstances that have transpired for your edification, not doubting they will be interesting to you. S. sold sundry lots to men in moderate circumstances, and assisted them to build upon them, to encourage the improvement of the neighborhood of his lots, taking a bond and mortgage to secure the payment of his advances. In this way he assisted Peter R. Robinson, a poor carpenter, to build on New street, about half way between the foot of the drift land and the Trenton Railroad. On the morning of the disappearance of S. he told Carman he had an appointment with some man previous to Church. Mrs. Auten, who lives in Bayard, the next street this side of New, said early in this business that she saw S. over in New street, from her window, about 2 o'clock. Except the hour there was quite a chain of evidence to the spot. In the hour she has been mistaken. It seems his appointment must have been with Robinson, on pretence of paying off his bond. Safely in his house, Robinson knocked him over with his axe, and buried him in his cellar. In the excitement arising from his disappearance, R. joined with apparent innocence, lamenting that his bond might get into hands not quite so lenient as those of S, and his house be taken from him. Poor fool! In a week he forgot his lament, sported a gold watch, and bragged that his bond and mortgage was paid off, and his house clear; and at the same time, said he was afraid to have the cancelling noted on the records now, lest they should say he had murdered Suydam! He was arrested this afternoon, and told such a crooked tale, that he was committed, and our citizens en masse took possession of his house. It was so full, nothing could be done until they appointed a committee of twelve, and the balance stepped out of doors. The committee proceeded to the cellar, tore up a new made floor, found a loose place in the earth beneath, and about dark, lifted out the lifeless body of Abraham Suydam, with his clothes on! He has been killed by a blow or blows on the head, with an edged instrument. Thus you see the conviction expressed in my letter of this morning, that he had not absconded, is fully confirmed. When I saw the corpse, they were carrying it down to the Court House, to hold an inquest. The night was set in, and it was accompanied by a great crowd, several of whom, around the body, carried torches. Every voice seemed muffled, only being elevated enough to be heard above the heavy tread of the multitude by the individual addressed. The scene was awfully solemn. After the inquest, and a comparative dispersion of the crowd, the corpse was taken to his late residence.

What an awful moment for his family! The wife and brother of the murderer are also in prison."