The Austerlitz Cannibal
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Killed by a Hermit—Body Chopped Into Pieces and Beheaded—Cremated in a Cabin Stove—Discovery of the Murder—Flight of the Murderer.
The details of one of the most terrible crimes perpetrated in this locality since the Canaan child murder, by Jos. Brown, reached this city last evening. The locality of the murder is not far from the scene of the Canaan tragedy, in the adjoining town of Austerlitz, in this county, and near the dividing line between this State and Massachusetts.
There resided in the town of Alford, Mass., for three years past, an old man named S. A. Vandercook, who boarded with Harrison Calkins, a farmer living in that locality. He worked out, chopping wood and doing other labor. On Tuesday last he started for a wood lot half a mile distant, in the vicinity of a cabin of one Oscar F. Beckwith, an old man about 65 years of age, who has been working a supposed gold mine, and lived alone. Since then nothing has been seen of Vandercook, and Beckwith, with whom Vandercook had some trouble, is missing, having left Wednesday when he admitted to Vandercook’s having been in the cabin Tuesday, and said that the latter had gone to Green River, and would not be back until March.
Vandercook’s mysterious disappearance created a suspicion that a crime had been committed. Mr. Calkins, who had been giving testimony before the grand jury in Pittsfield, returned home on Wednesday and went in search of his missing boarder. He found Beckwith at his cabin, and he admitted that Vandercook had been there, but said he had gone away. Mr. Calkins’ suspicions were aroused at that time by the
about the cabin. He remembered, also, a previous threat by Beckwith to kill Vandercook, as the two had had some trouble over the mine near the cabin. He organized a searching party, composed of Walter Almstead and constable Russell Harvey, and visited Beckwith’s cabin on Wednesday. The owner had fled, and
was revealed when the hovel was broken open. The shanty, a rude board structure twelve by twenty feet, was built partly under a rock. There was no furniture excepting a stove, a bunk, and two stools. The dim light from two small windows shone upon a pile of human flesh. The intestines and bowels were discovered in a basket with a part of Vandercook’s blood stained clothing, and charred bones and portions of a human skull were found in an old stove, where the murderer, to conceal his crime, had attempted to
of the unfortunate Vandercook, whom he had killed with an ax. The remainder of the body, headless and without hands or feet, cut up in chunks, as we have stated, were found in an almost unrecognized condition.
The motive for the crime is believed to have been a business difficulty between the parties, growing out of mining privileges in which they had transactions and dealings together. Vandercook having purchased of Beckwith land, and in payment for same had given him mining stocks, which Beckwith claimed were worthless.
Beckwith, finding that suspicion was aroused at the disappearance of Vandercook, took flight on Tuesday night, using an old horse he owned for the purpose of aiding him. The horse was found on Wednesday on the Green River mountain where it had been abandoned by its owner.
When the news of the horrible tragedy became known the most intense excitement prevailed and hundreds of people flocked to the spot to look upon the sad work the hand of the assassin had wrought.
The murderer is a man about 65 years of age; stout built; red face; no beard to speak of; about five feet and an inch in height, and stoops slightly.
The murderer, who is still at large, is a man of bad repute. He has not only done the State considerable service for stealing, but is charged with arson in burning buildings in the vicinity of his abode, stealing sheep and fowls and committing other depredations of various kinds.
Of the murdered man but little is known. It is claimed he came from Dutchess county, but of this there is no certainty. He has boarded for three years past with Harrison Calkins, at Alford, and only about half a mile from the scene of the tragedy.
Coroner Waldron, of this city, was notified, and left last evening for the scene of the murder, to hold an inquest, which was commenced to-day.
The Troy Telegram of this morning throws some additional light upon the life of the murdered man whom it calls “Simon Adolphus Vander Cook.” It also informs us that he was formerly a resident of Lansingburgh, and had some connection with the “gold mine” that was attempted to be developed on the Fake farm in Pittstown. After his removal from Lansingburgh he married a young lady of Waterloo, N. Y., and his wife still resides at that place.
Hudson Evening Register. January 13, 1882: 3 col 3.
TROY, Jan. 13.—The father, brother, and sister of S. A. Vandercook, murdered at Alford, Mass., live in Lansingburgh and this city. Vandercook left Lansingburgh [10?] years ago. Lately he claimed to have discovered a gold mine, but as far as his relatives know, he was not worth any money and the motive of the murder is unaccounted for. Charles Beckwith of this city is a son of the supposed murderer. Last night a man rang the door bell at the son’s former boarding-place and enquired for him. It is suspected that he was the fugitive.
Buffalo Morning Express. January 14, 1882: 1 col 8.
A Hermit’s Awful Deed.
A Crazy Old Man Chopping Up a Murdered Man and Burning His Remains, At Alvord, Mass.
National Police Gazette. January 28, 1882: 8.
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STATE OF NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, on the 10th day of January, inst., in the town of Austerlitz, county of Columbia, in this State, Simon A. Vandercook, a resident of the State of Massachusetts, was murdered, as alleged, in an atrocious manner, by some person or persons not yet apprehended;
Now, therefore, a reward of Five Hundred Dollars is hereby offered to be paid to any person who shall cause the arrest and conviction is this State of the party or parties who committed the murder of the said Sumon A. Vandercook.
Given under my hand and the privy seal of the State, at the Capitol in the city of Albany, this twenty-sixth [ t. s.] day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
(Signed,) ALONZO B. CORNELL,
By the Governor.
HENRY E. ABELL, Private Secretary.
$250 Reward.
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I, the undersigned, Sheriff of Columbia County, offer the above reward for the arrest and delivery of OSCAR F. BECKWITH, the supposed Murderer of SIMON A. VANDERCOOK, at Austerlitz, Columbia County, N. Y., on the 10th day of January, 1882.
DESCRIPTION.—About 73 years of age, but has younger appearance; 5 feet 8 inches high, short neck, round shoulders, head leans forward when walking, weight about 100 pounds, red smooth face, dark hair sprinkled with gray, hog eyes. Information regarding him may be addressed CHESTER MILLER,
Sheriff Columbia County, N. Y.
Dated Hudson, Jan. 26, 1882.
Hudson Evening Register. January 30, 1882: 3 col 4.
ARRESTED.
Hudson, Feb. 24.—A special from Gravenhurst, Ont., to the Register, says: Oscar F. Beckwith, the murderer of Simon A. Vandercook at Austerlitz, January 10th, 1882, was arrested in the Perry Sound District east of Georgia, Sunday by ex-Sheriff Thanor of Hudson. The prisoner was in the wilderness, one hundred miles from civilization. He was conveyed to Toronto and lodged in prison awaiting extradition. Beckwith burned the body of his victim, and saved portions of which he pickled for food and escaped.
Lockport Daily Journal. February 24, 1885: col 5.
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NEW FACTS ABOUT THE COLUMBIA COUNTY HORROR.
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How Beckwith, the Alleged Butcherer of Vandercook, was Caught after a Chase to California and Back—A “Journal” Reporter Interviews the Detectives—Terrible Evidence of the Crime Extent—A Diagram of the Scene.
A stream of curiosity-seekers surged through the barroom and gentlemen’s parlor of the Hanor house, Hudson, yesterday and to-day. The news of the return of Sheroff Hanor, proprietor of the Hanor house, and John F. Guildersleeve of Kinderhook, after running down and capturing Oscar F. Beckwith, alias Charles White, a recluse, who murdered [Simon] Vandercook, spread rapidly. Ex-Sheriff Hanor had brought from the South river district in Canada, as souvenirs of his exploit, seven fine deer heads, a quantity of jerked venison, the moccasins and snow shoes worn by Beckwith and various other relics, all of which were hung in conspicuous nooks about the bar. The populace of Hudson and a contingent from the surrounding country and adjacent counties converged to see the exhibition and hear Hanor’s romantic experience.
In order to better elucidate the circumstances connected with the inhuman murder of Vandercook, a diagram of a section of the town of Austerlitz, Columbia county, is appended, and some of the leader facts are recounted:
U—Upper Green River village.
H—Minerva Beckwith’s home.
L—Lower Green River valley.
MM—Mountains. P—Aunty Peck’s cabin.
F—Beckwith’s log cabin. B—Bunk.
S—Stove. D—Door.
C—Calkin’s home. G—Green river.
Albany Evening Journal. February 27, 1885: 4 col 2. (Cropped and edited from scan by Fultonhistory.com)
Beckwith lived alone in his cabin, burned charcoal in the mountains, rarely ever ventured beyond his humble habitation, and was looked upon as a “bad man” by his few neighbors and relatives. Beckwith was reared in the wilds of Columbia county, and was once imprisoned for horse-stealing. Vandercook lived with Harrison Calkins. He visited Beckwith one pleasant afternoon in January, 1882, and when he failed to return as usual to Calkins’ domicile, the latter was alarmed and went to Beckwith’s cabin.
He detected a sickening smell on nearing the place, and when the recluse opened the rickety door cautiously the stove was red hot and the odor was stifling. “Phew! what’er you burn’n, Oscar?” demanded Calkins, queriously. “Pig rind, that’s all,” retorted the other, as he closed the door. Calkins went home. Vandercook never returned. Calkins went to Beckwith’s cabin again in the morning. The door was bolted and Beckwith had fled.
Subsequent search revealed a ghastly sight. Upon Vandercook’s body were several scars. The right hand and foot were deformed. These parts had been chopped and hewn from the trunk and burned in the stove, together with the entrails. The remaining parts were cut up, as butchers would a hog ready for salting, and were found under the bunk.
The inhabitants of the town of Austerlitz thought Beckwith a veritable cannibal, and gathered facts tending to show that he killed and ate “Aunty” Peck, who mysteriously disappeared several years before. A reward of $500 was offered for the capture of the murderer.
A woman who was visiting friends at Hillsdale, Columbia county, where the crime was committed, subsequently returned to her home in California, and was startled to see in a village paper the announcement of the return to that place of an old miner named Beckwith. The description given corresponded with that of the perpetrator of the Austerlitz horror.
John P. Guildersleeve of Kinderhook has been all over the Union. He is the manager of a mustang and “Texas Jack” sort of a show. He is about 60 years of age, with a florid, smooth-shaven face and a sponge-like, rubicund nose. He said to a JOURNAL reporter to-day:
I went to a California to look for Beckwith. We went up the mountains to a mine in the night. Beckwith gave us the slip. When we came down the mountain road the outer wheel of the stage run within six inches of a ledge over which you could look down from 300 to 400 feet, and see a stage dangling in the top of a tree. Well, we found our man in San Francisco a ‘workin’ in a ship yard. I was about to arrest him when I discovered it was not the murderer, but a cousin who looks very much like him. I felt chaffed and have since been quietly lookin’ for ‘im.
About 18 months ago Edwin Humphrey of Great Barrington, Mass., went to the home of the alleged murderer’s niece, Nanerva Beckwith, whose husband it is alleged is now in the Pittsfield jail for stabbing his son, and after spending several days in good detective work succeeded in getting possession of a letter written by one Charles White, dated Nipaink Lake, Canada. The writer of the letter admonished its recipient to observe profound secrecy and asked what had become of Oscar Beckwith.
After procuring a sample of Nanerva’s handwriting the shrewd detective [oscillated?] between upper and lower Green river villages and corresponded with Charles White in the woman’s name. He satisfied himself that White was the murderer Beckwith, and conferred with District Attorney Guardineer of Columbia county June last. Humphrey it is alleged let Guardineer into the secret, and Guardineer in turn “let the cat out of the bag.” Ex-Sheriff Hanor and Deputy Sheriff Traver got hold of Beckwith’s whereabouts about the time Humphrey conferred with Guardineer. Traver said to a JOURNAL reporter yesterday relative to how they ascertained where Beckwith was hiding.
When Beckwith wrote Humphrey just before the latter lost the trail, Beckwith said he was going to move. He went to South river. You would naturally surmise that they (Hanor and Guildersleeve) intercepted that letter.
Guildersleeve and Hanor are reticent and will not say how they learned of Beckwith’s whereabouts. Guildersleeve says Calkins has a part of Vandercook’s body containing a scar which was not burned. He will be the principal witness and will testify as to the mangled remains being the body of Vandercook. Beckwith will be brought to Hudson jail in about a week. Detective Humphrey thinks Guildersleeve and Hanor should have compared notes with him before proceeding in the case. The supervisors of Columbia county at the last meeting raised the reward $250 to be paid for Beckwith’s apprehension.
Albany Evening Journal. February 27, 1885: 4 col 2.
Chatham Courier. April 29, 1885: 2 col 6.
Oscar F. Beckwith, accused of the horrible butchery of Simon A. Vandercook in Amsterdam, Columbia county, was detected yesterday in an attempt to escape from the Hudson jail. The shackle had been cut from his leg, and a hole about fourteen inches square had been dug in the wall of his cell. He said he cut the shackle with a piece of a jews-harp. He has been unruly of late.
Troy Daily Times. July 24, 1885: 3 col 5.
Beckwith’s Reception Days.
Alex. Carter, turnkey at the jail, desires to give notice to the public that owing to the great number of callers to see Oscar Beckwith, he is compelled to set aside days which he called “Beckwith’s reception days.” These days are Tuesday and Friday of each week. Upon all other days the public will not be accommodated. On the days named he will devote his entire attention to Uncle Oscar and friends.
Hudson Daily Evening Register. March 19, 1886: col 2.
The uncertainty as to whether the cabin in which Simon Vandercook was murdered by Oscar F. Beckwith, as is alleged, was in Colymbia county or in the state of Massachusetts, has been settled by a survey made by State Engineer Sweet, who fixes the scene of the tragedy in Austerlitz, Columbia county. The expense of Beckwith’s trial will consequently fall upon Columbia county.
Troy Daily Times. June 3, 1885: 3 col 6.
Won’t his honor Mr. Oscar Beckwith formerly of Austerlitz practice that little Iscariotean scheme and go out and hang himself!
Chatham Courier. December 1, 1886: 4 col 2.
—An old, repulsive, weather-rusted stove lies on the ground in the well-known spot where Oscar F. Beckwith had his cabin in the Austerlitz mountains. It served as a heater and cook-stove and the brutal murderer consumed in it a portion of his victim, the luckless Vandercook. It appears to have escaped, to some extent, the eyes of curiosity seekers and souvenir hunters, and even the nomadic junk-dealer has refused to take possession of this silent witness of a dark tragedy.
“Local Sheaves.” Chatham Republican. February 11, 1887: 1 col 4.
Beckwith Meets His Fate.
Simon A. Vandercook’s Murderer, Just Before Suffering the Death Penalty at Hudson, N. Y., on the Morning of March First.
National Police Gazette. March 17, 1888: 13.
Life of Beckwith.
The life and career of Oscar F. Beckwith has just been published. The author is John M. Varney of Amsterdam.
Columbia Republican. October 30, 1890: 2 col 3.
Life and career of Oscar F. Beckwith, from cradle to grave: one of most noted criminals ever born in Columbia County. http://nyheritage.nnyln.org/digital/collection/p16694coll8/id/480/ (cover image only)