History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 136

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 136

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On the day of the murder Schulte went to New York. He returned at 6.11 P.M., and started to walk home, accompanied by Bucholz, who had met him at the depot. This was the last seen of Selnilte alive. About seven o'clock Bucholz rushed excitedly into the house, and, falling, half fainting, on the floor, cried, "Schulte is dead, dead, down in the woods,- dead ! The tramps have killed Schulte !"

The neighbors were aroused, and, with Bucholz, they went to the place where the body lay. They found Schulte lying on his face near the foot-path. There were two terrible wounds on his head, either of them fatal. They had the appearance of having been made with a hatchet or an axe. In his inside vest-pocket was found a package containing about twenty thousand dollars, mostly in German money.

At the hearing before the coroner's jury Bucholz had little to testify, save that he was walking ahead of Schulte, when, hearing a cry from him, he turned around and at the same time was struck a blow in the face. He then ran to the house. At first he was not the subject of any general suspicion, the murder being laid to tramps. The State Attorney, James H. Olmstead, however, suspected him from the first, and gave orders for his arrest, which took place Jan. 21, 1879. The testimony showed that he had given Paul Herscher, a saloon-keeper, four twenty-dollar bills to keep. These bills bore a series of numbers given in a memorandum found among Schulte's papers. In explanation of his possession of this money, Bucholz claimed that Schulte had paid it to him on the night of the murder. This and some minor circumstances gave the case against Bucholz a black look; the jury of inquest returned a verdict against him, and he was confined in the Fairfield County jail. A true bill was found against him by the grand jury. The first trial began at Bridgeport, Conn., on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1879, Chief Justice Park and Judge Sanford on the bench.

Upon this trial evidence was brought out which produced great sensation. A witness named Ernest Stark, a German detective of Pinkerton's agency, Philadelphia, testified of having been arrested in the city of Bridgeport, under the name of Edward Som- ers, during the month of March, 1879, charged with the crime of forgery. At a preliminary hearing be- fore the City Court he demurred, and was bound over to the Superior Court for trial under bonds, failing to obtain which he was committed to jail, where he soon ingratiated himself into the good graces and gained the confidence of William Bucholz.

In the course of a conversation with him Bucholz disclosed the hiding-place of some of Schulte's money, in the barn upon the Waring premises. Mr. Stark

then procured bail, went to the Waring place, and found the money in the place designated. He then returned to Bridgeport and frequently visited Bucholz in prison. At one of these interviews Stark told him that some one was about to purchase the Waring prem- ises, in hope of finding some of Schulte's money, whereupon Bucholz informed him where another pocket-book was concealed. Stark then, in company with Robert Pinkerton, proceeded to the place, and found it, together with several pieces of gold coin. All the money found hidden amounted to fifty-five thousand dollars. At no time did he admit to Stark of having murdered Schulte.

Bucholz in this, as well as on the two following trials, was defended by Gen. W. R. Smith and Alfred E. Austin, Esq., of Norwalk, and Charles Bolhnan, Esq., of New Haven, the State being represented by State Attorney Ohinstead, of Stamford, and Nelson Taylor, Jr., of Norwalk.

At 4.15 P.M., on Friday, the 19th, Chief Justice Park finished his charge to the jury, and for the first time in the history of the Superior Court of Fairfield County the jury held an all-night session. At twelve o'clock on the following day they at last came out, and returned a verdict of murder in the first degree.

On Oct. 15, 1879, a new trial was granted for the following reason : Joseph R. Lockwood, one of the jurors, had conversed during the trial with one Thomas Bour concerning the case. For this offense both were arrested and fined in the City Court of Bridgeport .*

The second trial began Feb. 17, 1880, with Chief Justice Park and Judge Martin on the bench. The jury retired to their room at 1 r.M., Monday, March 15th, and after remaining until 8.30 A.M., Thursday, the 18th, reported a disagreement, and were dis- charged.

The third trial began April 13th of the same year, with Judge Beardsley and Judge Culver on the bench. The charge was given by Judge Beardsley, and on May 7th the jury returned a verdict of murder in the second degree. Bucholz was senteneed to States' prison for life.

THE DRAWBRIDGE DISASTER.

The following facts are gathered from the Bridge- port Farmer of May 16 and 17, 1853. The most dis- astrous railroad accident which ever occurred in this part of the country took place at the South Norwalk drawbridge on Friday morning, May 5, 1853. The train was the Boston express, which left New York at 8 A.M.

The New York and New Haven Railroad crosses the harbor of Norwalk at South Norwalk, one thou- sand and eighty-six feet east of the depot. On the bridge over the channel of the harbor, and one hun- dred and fifty-three feet from the next abutment, there is a draw, which revolves horizontally upon a central abutment, and leaves, when open, two passages of

* See Conn. Gen. Statute, chap. 5, sec. 10.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

sixty feet each. The bridge was under the care of William Harford, who was in the employ of the com- pany as bridge-tender.

At the time of this occurrence the draw was open, and the draw-tender was just about to close it. It had been opened about fifteen minutes before for the passage of the steamer "Pacific."

The fact of the draw being open was communicated to the train by a signal, which consisted of a red ball clevated upon a polc. Unless this ball was in sight, the trains werc forbidden to go upon the bridge.

The train did not stop at Norwalk, and, being about eight minutes late, was hurrying on its way to make up lost time. The engineer was at his post, the con- ductor in the second passenger-car, and unocccupied. The absence of the ball or signal was unnoticed, or, if noticed, was unheeded. The train passed the depot and around the curve at a rate of not less than twenty miles per hour. When it reached about three hun- dred feet of the draw, two sudden sharp alarms of the whistle were blown ; the engineer, Edward W. Tucker, the fireman, and the brakeman leaped from the train, which rushed on into the open draw. The engine, tender, baggage-car, smoking-car, and two passenger- cars, together with about half of the next car, plunged some twenty fect into the watery pit below in one mass of wreck and ruin. Persons who were near and saw the catastrophe say that the noise of the crash and the wail of the struggling and dying passengers were heartrending to a degree which language is utterly inadequate to describe.

The water being at full tide, nearly all in the for- ward car were drowned. The number of lives lost was forty-four, and twenty-five were rescucd from the wreck alive, but badly injured. Among the killed was Dr. Samuel Beach, of Bridgeport, of whom the Farmer of May 10, 1853, says : "He was a physician of acknowledged skill, and had an extensive practice. His loss will therefore bc felt and mourned by a large circle who regarded him as holding a more intimate relation than that of a mere friend."

Several other physicians, who, with Dr. Beach, had been in attendance at a medical convention in New York, were killed also. These were Dr. W. C. Dwight, of Brooklyn; Dr. John O. Grey, one of the most prom- inent in Springfield, Mass .; Dr. Smith, also of Spring- field ; Dr. Abel S. Pierson, of Salem, Mass .; and Dr. Welsh, the leading physician of Hartford, Conn.

The calamity caused great excitement, and indig- nation - meetings were held, onc at Norwalk, and another at New Haven. The Legislature took the inatter into consideration, and adopted a resolution requiring all trains to stop at least one minute before passing any draw.

HON. CLARK BISSELL.

Hon. Clark Bissell was cighth in line from John Bissell, who was born in 1591, and came from Eng- land to Plymouth, Mass., in 1626 or 1628, removing

from thence to Windsor, Conn., in 1636 or 1637. The traditions are that the ancestors of the Bissells were Huguenots who fled from France about the time of the massacre of St. Bartholomew (1572) and settled in Somersetshire, England. There seems to have been a branch in Worcestershire. The name there was sometimes spelled Byssell and Bysell. The family coat-of-arms is thus described in "Burke's Complete Armory": "Gul on a bend or; three escallops sa ; crest, a demi-eagle, with wings displayed, sa, charged on the neck with an escallop, sa; ten besants,-four, threc, two, one."

Clark Bissell was born in Lebanon, Conn., Sept. 7, 1782. He was eldest of three sons. His father was a farmer in straitened circumstances, and was unable to afford his children any further advantages of edu- cation than were furnislicd by the district schools of almost a century ago. With these his eldest son was not content, and, the village clergyman offering to give him instruction if lic could get time to learn, the lad obtained Latin and Greek grammars, and, in the intervals of labor, at morning, noon, and night, fitted himself for college. When he went to New Haven to commence his collegiate course, his parents gave him a "homespun" suit of clothes dyed with butter- nut, and made from the fleecc by his mother's hands ; and this was all they could give him.

Mr. Bissell maintained himself while in college by teaching in the schools about New Haven, and grad- uated with honor and four hundred dollars in debt. This was in 1806. In the autumn of that year he went to Maryland, and spent about a year there as tutor in the family of a Mr. Singleton, on the Eastern Shore. Returning to Connecticut, he taught school at Saugatuck (now Westport) for another year, pur- suing, meanwhile, the study of law under the instruc- tion of Hon. Samuel B. Sherwood. Having succeeded in paying off his debt, he entered the office of Hon. Roger M. Sherman, where he completed his prepara- tion for the bar, and in 1809 was admitted to practice. In June of that year he removed to Norwalk, and the following extract from a letter written by Dr. Jona- than Knight, father of Prof. Knight, of Yale College, will show at once the manners of the times and the auspices under which Mr. Bissell commenced life in Norwalk :

" Mr. Clark Bissell, who was lately licensed as an attorney, came in town yesterday, and lives with me. He has the character of a reputable young man. R. M. Sherman, Esq., with whom he has last studied, has given liim letters of recommendation to the civil authorities of the town."

In April, 1811, Mr. Bissell was married to Sally, daughter of Hon. Samuel B. Sherwood. For nearly half a century she was to her husband a loving wife, a faithful companion, and a sympathizing friend. She died Feb. 27, 1856.

Mr. Bissell, by unwearicd industry and scrupulous fidelity, rose rapidly in his profession. In 1829 he

HON. CLARK BISSELL.

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NORWALK.

was sent from Norwalk to the Legislature, and at the session of that year was elected a judge of the Su- preme Court of Errors and Superior Court. He oc- cupied this position till 1839, when he resigned, the salary of our highest judicial offices being at that time only about one-third of the income of a respec- table lawyer, and entirely inadequate to the support of a growing family. In 1842 and 1843 he repre- sented the Twelfth District in the Senate, and in 1847 and 1848 he was successively elected Governor of the State. While holding this office he accepted the ap- pointment of Kent professor of law in Yale College, the duties of which position he continued to dis- charge till ill health and advancing infirmities of age compelled him to resign. In 1850 he represented Norwalk in the General Assembly, a controversy con- cerning the lower shire-town in Fairfield County, to which Norwalk was a party, and which was not ter- minated till 1853, being then pending. After his re- tirement from the law school, Mr. Bissell remained at his home in Norwalk, occupying himself mainly in reading and association with his children and grandchildren, till he sank peacefully to rest on Tues- day, Sept. 15, 1857, aged seventy-five years and eight days.

Such is a brief sketch of the life and public services of Governor Bissell. It is not too much to say of him that in every department of duty to which he was called his work was well and faithfully done. As chief magistrate of this Commonwealth his sound judgment, his purity of purpose, his unaffected de- meanor, won the confidence and respect of all parties. As a member of our highest court of judicature, his learning, probity, strict impartiality, and uniform courtesy conferred additional lustre upon the dignity of the bench. In the Legislature, though he seldom mingled in debate, yet the breadth and solidity of his views, his good sense, his keen wit,-sparingly but, if needful, effectively used,-always placed him in the first rank. As a lawyer he deserved the high rep- utation which by commou cousent was assigned himn. He was a most effective advocate before a jury. Ready of speech, earnest and impressive in manner, clear in arrangement, and possessed, withal, of a caustic humor, sometimes playful, but when directed against fraud or falsehood often withering, he had but few equals in forensic discussion. His industry was untiring. He prepared his arguments with great assiduity. He never forgot his client in himself. Those who secured his services were sure of his every honorable effort. And, at the same time, he was faithful to justice. He would not knowingly prose- eute a fraudulent or unjust cause. An anecdote illus- trating the estimation in which he was held in this respect by those who knew him best is this : An em- inent lawyer was retiring from practice; among his clients was one individual a part of whose claim, there was reason to suspect, was tinctured with con- seious fraud. He went to his counsel and said, " As

you are going out of practice, what other lawyer would you advise mne to employ ?" "Well," was the reply, "I have generally sent iny clients to Judge Bissell ; but there is this part of your case," and he mentioned the suspicions portion. "If you go to Judge Bissell, you hadn't better say anything to him about this."

His duties in the Law Department of Yale College were discharged with the same fidelity which charac- terized him in all other relations of life. His lectures to the senior class were of the highest order of that species of intellectual effort. A letter from one of the faculty says, "The lectures which he delivered to the senior class were, in my opinion, the best and most thorough ever given in this country. I wish they might be given to the publie."

It is, however, as a citizen and a man that the mem- ory of Governor Bissell is most highly cherished by his fellow-townsmen. For half a century he was ready with heart and hand in every good work. Was there a public improvement required ? It was unnecessary to ask his assistance; every one counted on his assistance as a matter of course. Was aid sought for some one in misfortune? It was known beforehand that no meritorious appeal was made to him in vain. Were wise counsels needed in muni- cipal affairs ? From no source could they be obtained more surely thau from him. And these things were rightly appreciated by the people of Norwalk. The gathering multitude, the closed stores, the suspension of business, the flags drooping at half-mast on the day of his funeral obsequies, testified to the common feel- ing of a public loss.

Governor Bissell's religious character was a matter peculiarly between his God and himself. He made no parade of piety. For many years a member of the Congregational Church, he adorned his profession with a consistent life aud conversation. As a man he possessed the respect of all, the love of many. His integrity was unbending. He never sacrificed priuci- ple to expedieucy. He had no small arts to win pop- ular favor, yet his character was full of winning traits, A defective vision, making it difficult to distinguish even members of his own family at the distance of a few feet, sometimes gave him an air of reserve to those who were unaware of the defect, and who would oc- casionally meet him without receiving the customary token of recognition ; but to those who knew him well there was no reserve about him. To the younger members of his profession he was ever a friend, ready with counsel and kind words of encouragement. To his family he was all that a husband and father could be. In his sceial intercourse his courteous, unobtru- sive manners, his fund of anecdote, his genial humor, made him always a very agreeable companion. He was especially fond of the society of very young per- sons, and we have heard that in his last sickness, when his mind, wandering from the scenes around him, yielded to the illusions of disease, he fancied he was

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

playing with little children and tossing them in his arms. His memory is the memory of the just, and his rest is with God.

Mr. Bissell was the father of six children,-Samuel B. S., Edward C., George A., Mary E. (Mrs. C. C. Betts), Charlotte Charity (wife of Hon. O. S. Ferry), and Arthur H., who died in infancy.

CHAPTER LV.

NORWALK (Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL.

First Congregational Church of Norwalk-First Congregational Church of South Norwalk-The Episcopal Church-Baptist Church-The First Methodist Episcopal Church-The Second Methodist Episcopal Church.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NORWALK.

THIS church was organized in the year 1652, and as a society separate from the town in 1726. Its his- tory prior to the organization of the society will be found in the town records elsewhere in this work.

The following is a copy of the call for organizing the society apart from the town .*

"To Lt. Matthew Seymond, in Norwalk, Greeting, &c .:

"Pursnaut to an act of ye Gencrall Assembly, passed in October, 1726, entitled an act for directing how societies shall meet and form themselves after other societies are drawn off from them,

" In His Majestie's name you are hereby required to warn all ye inhabitants of ye Prime Ancient Society, in ye township of Norwalk, to meet together on ye first Friday of March next ensuing ye date hereof, at cight of ye clock in ye morning, then and there to act any thing proper and lawful for them to act when so met together.

" JOSEPH PLATT,

" Dated at Norwalk, Feb. ye 27, " Justice Ps.

Annoque Domini, 1726-77."

The society met and made choice of "ye Worship- full Joseph Platt, Esq.," as moderator.

At the same meeting it was voted that measures should at once be taken to supply "ye vacancy of our pulpit : "

" The society, considering ye awfull frowns of heaven upon them for months past, and are still obvious, concludes it their incumbent duty to set apart a day for the humbling and abasing their souls before the Lord by fasting and prayer for redress, by their major vote do appoint Wed- nesday, ye 15th of this instant March, for that solemnity ; and desire Rev. Mr. Davenport, Mr. Cook, Mr. Sackett, Mr. Hauley, and Mr. Stur- geon to grant us their presence and assistance in carrying on ye work of sd day."

Mr. Buckingham's rate duc last year voted to be paid as heretofore, "any act of ye town to ye con- trary notwithstanding."

The following extracts from the society records are given as showing the action taken at various times upon such subjects as came up for consideration :

"March 16, 1726. The society determines to have an Association Quorum, at least of ye Ministers of this county called, and to associate with us on Wednesday ye 22d of this instant, March, to advise, direct, and guide us in ye weighty affair before us."

" March 23, 1726. According to adjournment ye society mct. The Revd Mr. Cook, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Sackct, & Mr. Hauley associated with the society.

"The society, by major vote, desires ye Revd. Association to give them an answer to ye following question, viz., Whether it be proper or expedi- ent that the Revd Mr. Buckingham be introduced into ye work of ye ministry in this society or not."

"The Prime Aucient Society in Norwalk moving this Question for resolution to us ye subscribers associated at their desire iu Norwalk, March 23, 1726-27, viz., Whether, &c.,-We are of opinion that inasmuch as ye Revd Mr. Buckingham hath resigned his pastoral charge here, con- sidering ye distressed circumstances of ye place, and that under the countenance of ye late Council in this place, who also have signified themselves persuaded that the interest of religion and edification of souls are the great ends of ye Gospel ministry, and sorrowfully affected with the consideration of those ends in this place being greatly obstructed and disadvantaged, We are of opinion that it is not proper or expedient that the sd Revd. Mr. Buckingham be introduced into yc work of ye min- istry in this society, for ye reasons above alleged.

"SAML. COOKE, " DANIEL CHAPMAN,

" THOMAS HAULEY, " RICHARD SACKET."

"There was nominated by some persons in the meeting, viz., Mr. Jolin Curtice of Wethersfield, Mr. Gilbert Tenant in ye Jersey, Mr. Dunbar of Boston, and Mr. Chauncey, Jr., of Hadley ; and ye Society crave of the Revd. Association their particular direction concerning them, or any other that they shall see meet to direct to us as a person to be applyed to, with an invitation to a probationary improvement among us in ye min- istry."

"We ye subscribers associate at Norwalk, March 23, 1726-27, being applied to by ye Prime Ancient Society in sd Norwalk for advice and direction, &c., . . . We are of opinion that as to Mr. Tennant now in the improvement in ye ministry in the New Jersey, it may not be so proper to make application to him for the supply of a vacancy here for this reason, viz., Because ye pancity of Gospel labourers in those parts : which requires us rather to wish their increase than to take any methods for ye decrease of their numbers; especially considering our ministry from time to time carnestly solicited to send Gospel labourers unto those parts, more than we have been capable of supplying then with ; and do advise that this society would soon as may be, endeavor to inform themselves whether there may be a probability of obtaining Mr. Dunbar of Boston; and upon such a probability attained, to make application to him for ye purpose afore sd; and if there shall not be a probability of obtaining the sd Mr. Dunbar, we advise that the society make application either to ye said Mr. Curtice or Mr. Chauncey, as upon consulting the ministers next neighbouring cither of them, they may be encouraged.

"SAML. COOKE, " DANL. CHAPMAN, " THOMAS HAULEY, "RICHARD SACKET."

"May 10, 1727. The Society ... determines to send a meet person to Mr. Chauncey Jr. of Hadley, as upon consulting ye ministers neighbour- ing to him he may be encouraged; and in case Mr. Chauncey cannot be obtained, then to apply himself to ye sd ministers for advice to some other suitable person to apply to, and that he do his utmost endeavor to obtain one according to such direction, or to act about ye whole accord- ing to the best of his discretion, to supply ye vacancy in our pulpit, at least for a probationary improvement in the ministry among us.

". . . Mr. James Brown to proceed upon yc business as above ex- presscd."

"June 26, 1727. The Society by major vote agreo to give tlic Revd. Mr. Moses Dickinson a call to supply the vacaucy in our pulpit. .

". . . Made choice of Capt. Joseph Platt, Esq., to go to ye Revd. Gentle- man, aud endeavor to obtain him pursuant to sd vote.

" Made choice of Mr. John Bartlett, Capt. Joseph Platt, and Mr. Thos. Fitch Junr, to provide for, & to treat with ye sd gentleman when he comes."

"July 19, 1727. The Society having had report made from ye late Com- mittee of ye circumstances of ye Revd. Mr. Moses Dickinson, who hath been with us upon a probationary improvement, with which report they are well satisfied as to the gentleman's circumstances; and do hereby give the sd Revd. Gentleman a call to ye work of ye ministry among us; provided ye Revd. Elders now convened in this place give their approba- tion thereunto, voted in ye affirmativo 75, Contra 39."

" The Society determines to move to the Rev. Elders for a resolve re- specting the circumstances of ye Revd. Mr. Dickinson, and whether they advise to the call above sd.

"There being severall persons of this Society under scruples respecting the relation they stand in to ye Revd. Mr. Buckingham, that is to say,

* Extracts from Dr. Edwin Ifall's Norwalk.

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whether sd gentleman be regularly discharged from his pastorall relation to y Chh. and peoplo of this place; the Society taking this matter into consideration, do move to ye Revd. Elders convened, that they would give their opinion in tho premises, that such persons may receive satis- faction in that matter."

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 136

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572