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Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe

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Gilbert Horton. Goshen, September 4, 1820

On Thursday morning last, a man by the name of Gilbert Horton, about forty-four years old, of the town of Monroe, was brought to Goshen jail, charged with having committed a murder, twenty years ago!

A great variety of particulars in relation to this affair are already in circulation, and we deem it no infringement of the sights and privileges of any of the parties concerned, to publish the most correct statement we have been able to collect-our readers will expect it-we shall therefore give it to them.

In the year 1800, a man named Amos Wood, living at or near Butter Hill, in the Highlands, died very suddenly: he was well in the evening and in the morning was found dead. We do not learn that any suspicions of murder were entertained at the time, or that the body underwent any examination. A report was prevalent, that Horton had been intimate with Mrs. Wood some time before Mr. Wood's death; but for the proof of this we cannot vouch. It is, however, true that soon after the death of Mr. Wood, Horton and Mrs. Wood lived together as man and wife.

Some time after the death of Wood, (how long we are unable to say) circumstances were unfolded which caused Mrs. Wood to be apprehended on charge of having murdered her husband. It was said she had been to Newburgh or New Windsor, and procured arsenic with which she poisoned him.

She accordingly was arraigned at the circuit court in this county, and after the District Attorney had gone through with his testimony, the presiding judge told him if he had nothing more to offer against her she must be discharged, and she was accordingly set at liberty. This woman has been dead several years. If our recollection is correct, some suspicion was attached to Horton at the time, as having had a hand in the death of Mr. Wood, but he has never been apprehended for it until now.

About five or six years ago, Horton was apprehended in the town of Monroe, for breaking open and robbing a house or store in Sussex county, New Jersey. He then appeared terrified at the idea of going to state prison, (and as the story goes, but this he now denies) he called two of his acquaintances aside, and told them he had been once to the state prison, and that he had rather be hung than go there again, at the same time asserting that he alone poisoned Wood. He then requested them to go before a magistrate, qualify to his declaration and have him apprehended for murder. This was, however declined. In what manner he got clear of the robbery we are not informed; report states that he turned state's evidence and exposed his accomplices, but this he denies.

It seems that Mr. Wood left a son, who has been absent from this part of the country for several years; and soon after his return heard the confession of Horton. He immediately resolved to have him brought to justice. Horton was accordingly apprehended, but made his escape. Mr. Wood, however, resolutely pursued him, and after faithfully, traversing the mountains about a week, he discovered him near the mouth of his subterranean hiding place among the rocks. He was taken by surprise, and had no opportunity to defend himself. Mr. Wood presented a gun to his breast, telling him the moment he attempted to stir or make any resistance he would blow him through, whilst another person in his company secured his hands. He had in his hand a cane with a sword or dagger in it, and a knife was found on him when he was brought to jail.

Horton was convicted of manslaughter sixteen years ago, and went from this jail to the state prison, but was pardoned at the solicitation of his mother, when his term had about half expired. The circumstances of this transaction are briefly these: One James Mapes was deputised, or about to be deputised, to arrest Horton on some legal process. Horton was determined not to be taken. He seized a club, and warned those who were around him to stand off--but Mapes, approaching rather too near, received a blow on his head, which fractured his scull, and was considered the cause of his death.