Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1877 — A New England Tragedy. [ARTICLE]

A New England Tragedy.

One of the most horrible murders ever committed in Berkshire county, occurred in the north part of Sheffield, about four miles from Great Brrrington, recently. David Stillman and his wife, both about 70 years of age, who lived alone on their farm in a retired road, were murdered by a negro with an ax, their heads being horribly mutilated. The old man lay upon a lounge, with three deep gashes on his head, and blood spattered upon the wall and ceiling over head. Mrs. Stillman was found lying on the cellar bottom at the foot of the stairs. She was evidently struck ou the head with an ax, laying open her temple and imdoubtedly killing her instantly. The indications are that she fell upon the top stair and tumbled thence to the bottom. The boy who did chores for the old people left about 5 p.m., and met a colored man named John Ten Enyck, who inquired if the Stillmans had any butter, and if they had company. Being told they had no company and the boy not knowing about the butter, the negro went on. The boy, on going over to do the chores next morning, discovered the murder. On the table was a pail of butter and the steelyards, showing that Mrs. Stillman had got some butter out to sell, and was then murdered. The murderer was arrested and brought to the place, and the body of the murdered man shown to him, and he denied ever having seen him before, but Ten Enyck had blood on his pantaloons and had about sls in money, while it was proven that he had none before. Great excitement prevailed, and the Sheriff’s posse with difficulty restrained the excited citizens from lynching the prisoner. The Stillmans owned the farm on which they lived, and were well-to-do people. One son is a Methodist minister, preaching in Connecticut, and another is a miller in Sheffield village. The town has been terribly excited by the tragedy, but is getting quiet now, as it is thoroughly believed the officers have secured in Ten Enyck the perpetrator of this shocking crime. —Boston Herald.