Biography

James H. Beadle's murder was sensationalized by several Auburn newspapers from the year of his murder in 1856 until 1859; Frances (FMS) and Lazette (LMW) were both following the investigation and trial. In one such occurrence, the Auburn Weekly American titled a piece "Dreadful Tragedy! Highway Robbery:: Atrocious Murder!!!" and recounts the macabre details of Beadle's death, discovery, and growing list of suspects. The Auburn Weekly says that two young boys found his body "in the Clark-st. gravel bank, on the left hand side of the street, horribly murdered and quite dead." Only one hour after the discovery of the body, the Weekly states that there were over 1000 people "flocking tither" to see "where the body lay" and catch a glimpse of the "sickening sight." Beadle was a stereotyper "in the establishment of Miller, Orton, & Mulligan, and had been engaged in that capacity for several years." The Weekly also includes commentary on his moral character, suggesting he was a "sober and steady man, of industrious habits, and possessed of much skill in his trade." Beadle was a twenty-eight year- old bachelor, residing at Mrs. Rossiter's on Church Street in Auburn, New York at the time of his death. By March 17, 1858 the murder had not been solved by local authorities, which resulted in the mayor posting a reward of five-hundred dollars for "information that should lead to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer or murderers of James H. Beadle." Mr. Galen O. Weed and Miss Davis received the reward of five-hundred dollars after locating new witnesses to the case: two children. The list of suspects was growing and Allen Weed had just been discharged due to lack of evidence connecting him to the murder when Galen O. Weed arrived at the Auburn Orphan Asylum to question a suspect's recently orphaned children. Sarah K. Wilcox was a teacher in the city's Orphan Asylum and recalled Galen O. Weed coming to the asylum to question "Lib. Woodruff's little boy and girl." Woodruff owned a boardinghouse that doubled as a house of ill-fame; Woodruff and Michael Brennan lodged at the boardinghouse and were suspects to the murder. Galen coordinated efforts with the Asylum's Matron, Miss Altana Davis, asking her to question the boy and girl instead of himself--believing they would be more comfortable with a friend than a stranger. The children exposed their mother and Brennan, stating that the murder did occur within the house; the children were lodged in the room next to the scene of the crime. Michael Brennan was sentenced to death by hanging on 18 December, 1857; he was later pardoned and sentenced to life in the Auburn State Prison.