Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1884 — A Secret of the Dead. [ARTICLE]

A Secret of the Dead.

More than half a century ago Chancellor Lansing, of New York, a man holding a high position both in social and professional life, disappeared in a sudden and unaccountable manner. To strengthen the theory of suicide, which was advanced, it was asserted, says the New York correspondent of the Troy Times, that his business affairs were in great confusion. It has often been said that Thurlow Weed was the only man who could solve the mystery. The latter was aggravated by its connection with the Manhattan well murder, which was also deeply mysterious. Chancellor Lansing presided at the trial of Levi Weeks for the murder of Gulielma Sands, who was found dead in the Manhattan well in the suburbs of the city. Weeks was no doubt guilty, but escaped justice. When his acquittal took place one of the friends of the murdered girl (Mrs. Comfort Sands) arose in court and denounced both the judge and the prisoner’s lawyers, and said that divine justice would follow them. Strange to say, before the lapse of four years one of these lawyers shot the other in a duel, and henceforth became so accursed that the very name of Aaron Burr makes one almost shudder. The Judge, who was thought to have unfairly favored the defense, disappeared in the above mentioned manner. Now that Thurlow Weed is gone, the matter will never be solved.