Boorman murdered in U. S. (1865)

Post date: Mar 26, 2013 12:34:19 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telgraph 27th May 1865

WATERINGBURY.-MURDER IN THE BUSH. -

Some few years since Frederick Boorman, of Wateringbury, and Frederick Lee, left this place for America, and after sojourning for some time in Canada, repaired to the United States. Lately a letter came from Lee to Boorman's friends, stating that Boorman had fallen victim to murderous villain, who for a small sum of money that he had with him allured him into the bush and there shot him twice; one ball pasted through the kidneys, and the other the heart, which in all probability finished its deadly errand instantaneously The weapon used was aseven-barrelled revolver. All he had was four five dollar Canadian bills, and an old George the 4th sovereign, which the murderous wretch charged in the town the same day, obtaining American money for it, Canadian money being worth more than American money at the present time. The murder was perpetrated by a fellow named Ducalon, who was captured, and has been hanged.

The following letter from Lee was received by Boorman's friends:— "Toledo, State of Ohio, Sept 8th, 1864. Dear Charles,—It is with feelings the most intense agony that I now write to inform you that your poor brother and my beloved friend, has met with a most untimely death; yes, fell victim to a murderous villain, who for the sake a small sum of money that he had with him allured him into the bush and there shot him twice one ball passing through the kidneys, and the other the heart, which in all probability finished its deadly errand instantaneously. The weapon used was a seven-barrelled revolver. 1 am, however, thankful to say that the wretch who did the deed is taken, and can safely say will soon meet his well deserved end—the gallows. Poor fellow; all he had was four five-dollar Canadian bills, and an old George the 4^th sovereign, which the murderous wretch changed in the town the same day, obtaining American money for it, Canadian money being worth more than American at the present time. At the examination on Monday last, everything was clear against the murderer, and the witnesses are bound over in 500 dollar bonds to appear at the trial on the 4th October. I can fully enter into your feelings upon the receipt of this, and God knows I feel for your poor father and mother in their loss of a dear son in a foreign land; but I saw him interred in a beautiful valley. with two small elevations on either side covered with flowers. No stone slab, but a beautiful weeping willow, marks the spot and mourns for my poor lost brother? for such he was; —we both agreed, and it was his wish that if it should please God to take either of us, that some lonely romantic spot should be our resting-place, and I have carried his wish out, for indeed this it a Garden of Eden, at the end of which the wide forest spreads for many hundred miles. " One thing comforts me; we never had an angry word since we left dear Old England. Truly, in the midst of life we are in death. [The writer here goes onto express his own feelings]. The murderer was boarding in the same place with poor Fred, and committed the deed on the 1st September (1864) in broad daylight, between 12 and 3. Fancy my feelings, I have the charge of a gang transferring freight from one railroad to another, for the Michigan Southern Company. I returned home the fatal day to tea, after which walked out as usual to spend the evening with him ; and returned home about 10 o'clock rather uneasy. Upon my arrival home the boarding master informed me that a young man had been murdered, and that he had every reason to believe from the description given, that it was Fred. I felt confident directly it was he, and, distracted, I rushed out the house and found the officers outside looking for me, and one of them came up, and truly from my excited manner had a just right to suspect me. I then had the strength of a lion and floored him as I would a child, and served the next the same; and from that time I was insensible; and when I awoke it was to find myself in a dungeon, accused of the murder of my unfortunate friend, and everyone thought me a justly condemned murderer, in a foreign land and not friend to speak for me. At that time it was the impression of the authorities that the murder bad been committed on the last day of August, late in the evening, and it was known that I was with him as late as nine o'clock that evening, and we were both seen to start home together; everything seemed clear against me. He had not been long in the town consequently many did not know him. With these thoughts I gave myself up as lost; but thank God, they found out that poor Fred was home at his boarding-house to breakfast on the 1st September, and went out with Henry Brown, about half-past 9, and was seen by several persons going towards the wood. Brown previously had borrowed a revolver from another boarder named Woods, on pretence of purchasing it. They went to the freight house where I was employed, and where I was at work at 7 o'clock that evening. Of course I was let free, and everyone sympathised with me for the heavy loss I had sustained, and the severe trials I had undergone.'

A letter addressed by deceased to Lee was enclosed, exhibiting the affection existing between them. Several letters were afterwards addressed by the friends of deceased to the authorities at Toledo, to which no answers were returned Mr Greenfield, of Maidstone, took the subject up, and addressed the following letter to the Post master at Toledo;-

" Maidstone, Kent Eng., Feb. 25th, 1865. Sir,—Will you, for the sake of anxious and affectionate parents, kindly procure and forward me any information you may get relative to the death of one Fred Boorman, of Wateringbury, near this town, who is alleged to have been murdered in the bush, in the outskirts of Toledo, for a small sum of cash known to be in his possession. We are informed this occurred about August, 1864. It is said one Henry Brown was arrested for the crime. Here our information ceases, nor can we obtain any further tidings in the matter, notwithstanding many letters of enquiry have been addressed by the friends of poor Boorman. About the end of September, 1864, a letter was received by Mr C. Boorman, of Wateringbury, the brother of the murdered youth, from F. Lee, his friend and companion, announcing the sad event. He states, that on the finding of the body he was cast into a cell as the accused murderer, and from the circumstances many considered him the guilty party. However, he states that he was soon released, and was exerting himself to bring the real culprit to justice. However this may be, we can get no further intelligence of Mr. Lee, and his friends believe that he must have departed this life, or they should have heard of him. You will thus, Sir, see the cause of my addressing you, being tbe only means; and I assure you that any information to clear up this sad mystery will be most gratefully received, and acknowledged by his mourning and afflicted parents. "I am, sir, yours most respectfully,

Geo. Greenfield."

The authorities of the Toledo post office replied to that letter as under:— -

" Toledo, State of Ohio, U.S A., March 24, 1805. " To G. Greenfield, brewer, Maidstone. "Sir, —Your letter to the post-master of Toledo, inquiring about the death or Frederick Boorman, was placed in my handa to-day, it having just arrived here. You have been correctly informed ; Frederick Boorman was murdered on the 1st September, 1864, in a piece of wood within the limits of this city, by a person who had gone by tbe name, Henry Brown, but whose real name was Henry Ducalon, and he this day suffered the penalty of his crime by being hung in the county jail. The facts of the case are these. Boorman and Lee landed in Canada June 1st 1863, having come from England together, and remained some time together in Canada working, when Lee came to this city and went to work about the month of June,1864. Frederick Boorman came here and also obtained employment, both of them sustaining good characters. For two or three days prior to his death Boorman had not been at work, owing to the fact that his employers had stopped work for day or two. Ducalon and Boorman boarded at the tame time at a respectable boarding house in this city. Ducalon had worked here two seasons, and nothing was known against his character. Boorman was sitting near his house about 10 a.m., and Ducalon came along, and the two at the latter's request, went for a walk, and that was the last seen of Boorman until his body was found murdered about 2 p.m. The police commenced arresting all who had been with him, and among the rest Lee; and by doing found that had left with Ducalon as stated, and he was arrested about 2 o'clock next morning; and it then appeared that they had the right person, and all the rest were discharged. Ducalon was duly examined before the magistrates and held for trial thereby, there being no doubt on the part of the authorities that he was guilty, although he strongly denied it, and tried to swear it on the other parties; but Lee was entirely free from suspicion, and had no more to do with the crime than you or I. At the November term of Court, Ducalon was put upon his trial and was convicted of the murder, and sentenced to be hanged to day, and that sentence has been carried into execution ; he confessed to tbe crime upon the scaffold, and to the sheriff a short time previous to the execution."

The letter, which was signed by George Hayes, prosecuting attorney for the county of Lucas in the State of Ohio, also expressed great regret at the lamentable occurrence, and assured them that Lee was innocent of the crime.