MAD MAN'S WICKED DEED

I don't even know what this article is about, as soon as I read the headlines I knew I had to transcribe it. That has got to be a testament to the artistry of the old headlines. ... Ok, I have now read and transcribed this article and, yup, it's pretty bad. I was actually shocked as I read it, sounded like something in a horror film - which of course hadn't been invented yet when this occurred. I don't think you could even find anything like this in fiction of that day.

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The article:

Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) - February 24, 1884

THE INSANE MURDERER

Examination of Henry C. Ely for the
Killing of John Harden

HARTFORD, Conn., February 23
The hearing in the case of Henry C. Ely, the insane murderer of John Harden, was held at East Granby this morning. The witnesses were B. W. Cowles, Ely' brother in law, and William F. Johnson, a farm hand. The prisoner, on being asked if he was guilty or not arose and answered that he was not guilty, and addressing himself to the Judge added: "Sir, I was justified in killing Harden." Then he sat down and, letting his head fall upon his shoulder, fell asleep. The prisoner was bound over for trial and was lodged in the county jail. The father and brother of the murdered man arrived in Tariffville last night and took the body in charge. It was shipped to Brooklyn this morning.

Arrival of the Remains in the Eastern District

The remains of John Joseph Harden, the victim of the insane rage of Henry Ely of Spoonville, one of the suburbs of Hartford, Conn, were taken to the home of his father, Mr. Patrick Harden, on Third street, near North Second, last evening. The body was attired in a rich habit and arranged in a casket, so that a casual observer could not detect that the head had been severed from the body. The casket rested int eh center of the parlor of the second floor. The face wore a calm expression as if in sleep, and they only external mark on it was a bruise on the right side. During the evening hundreds of people who are acquainted with the family called and viewed the body and spoke words of condolence to the bereaved parents. The funeral will take place Monday at 9 AM. The remains will be taken to St. Vincent de Paul's Church, on North Sixth street, where a requiem mass will be celebrated. The internment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Mr. Thomas C. Harden, a brother of the deceased, who accompanied his father to Spoonville, stated to an EAGLE reporter last evening that they could obtain but few, if any, additional facts about the tragedy. Mr. Ely's sister, Mrs. Cowles, seemed very reticent, and the family generally were uncommunicative. Mr. Harden said that his brother took charge of Henry Ely at the request of MR. John Ely principally, since no other person seemed to be able to manage the lunatic so well as he could. As stated, in yesterday's Eagle, a strong attachment existed between Henry Ely and John J. Harden, and when young Harden tired of keeping vigil over Ely about two months ago and quitted Spoonville, the insane man seemed to feel it keenly. Harden secured an interest in the cigar factory of Mr. Conroy, of Hartford, a relative of Ely, and endeavored to drum up a business in the Eastern District. Harden did not like the business, and at the request of Mr. Cowles, proprietor of the St. John Hotel, Hartford, went in there last Thursday week with the intention of arranging matters so that he could purchase an interest in the hostlery. He stopped at the hotel and settled up his accounts with Mr. Conroy. Last Thursday evening a son of Mr. Cowles, Henry Ely's brother in law, a man aged about 22 years, invited Harden to visit his residence and too Mr. Ely. Harden assented, and after reaching Spoonville he ordered Ely, at the request of his sister, to change his clothing. The lunatic at first defied him, saying that Harden had not charge of him any longer, but when ordered sternly to do as he was requested he begged to have the matter postponed until the next morning. Harden consented.

At 8 o'clock Friday morning Harden went ot the extension, or, as it is called, the woodhouse, fromt he fact of the wood being chopped up there, to wash himself. While his head was bent over the basin Ely secured the dull ax near by, and, with the first blow probably, killed Harden. The unfortunate man fell on his back and the infuriated lunatic continued to rain blow after blow on the neck of the prostrate man until the head was completely severed. A singular circumstance is that neither Mrs. Cowles nor her son made any effort to stop Ely while engaged in his savage work. Mrs. Cowles stated afterward that she locked herself and her son in the house, fearing that Ely would injure them. Mr. Patrick Harden and his son got a permit from the Coroner to remove the remains.

Chester Times (Chester, Pennsylvania) - February 25, 1884

VICTIM OF A MADMAN'S RAGE

The Headless Body of Mr. Harden Brought from Spoonville

BROOKLYN, Feb. 25 - In a rich habit the remains of John Joseph Harden, whose head was severed from his body on Friday at Spoonville, Ct., by Henry Ely, a lunatic, reposed in a handsome coffin in the parlor of his brother's house on Third street, Williamsburg. The undertaker had so skillfully arranged the body that no one could detect that Ely's axe had cut the head from the trunk. The only mark noticeable upon the face as a bruise on the right side, while the features had a peaceful expression. Mr. Harden, a brother of the dead man, said that the latter took charge of Henry Ely at the request of John Ely because he seemed to be best able to manage the lunatic. Ely seemed strongly attached to the keeper, and when young Harden tired of keeping vigil over him two months ago and quitted Spoonville the insane man seemed to take it keenly. Harden returned to the place on a visit on Thursday, and in the evening, at the invitation of Mr. Cowles, a brother-in-law of the lunatic, went to see him at the former's house. White there he ordered Ely, at the request of his sister, to change his clothing. The lunatic at first defined him, saying that Harden had not charge of him any longer, but when ordered sternly to do as he was requested, he begged to have the matter postponed until the next morning. Harden consented.

At 8 o'clock Friday morning Harden went to the extension, or, as it is called, the woodhouse, from the fact of the wood being chopped up there, to wash himself. While his head was bent over the basin, Ely secured the dull axe near by and, with the first blow, probably, killed Harden. The unfortunate man fell on his back, and the infuriated lunatic rained blow after blow on the neck of the prostrate man until the head was completely severed.

The funeral took place at 9 o'clock this morning from St. Vincent de Paul's Roman Catholic church.

New York Times (New York, New York) - February 25, 1884

The body of John J. Harden, whose head was cut off with an axe by Henry C. Ely at Spoonville, Conn., on Friday, arrived in Brooklyn yesterday and was taken to the home of his father, in Third-street, near North Second-street. The funeral will probly take place to-day.

Newark Daily Advocate (Newark, Ohio) - February 25, 1884

MAD MAN'S WICKED DEED

HIDEOUS BRUTALITY REVEALED

The Details of One of the Worst Cases
of Cold-Blooded Brutality on
Record --- A Bad
Showing.

HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 25. - Henry Ely was some years ago one of the firm of Ely Brothers, wholesale liquor dealers of New York City, but fast living impaired his mind and he became a lunatic. His friends placed him in various asylums and finally employed John S. Harding, of Brooklyn, to take care of him. Last fall Harding and Ely went to live with the latter's sister, Mrs. Whitfield B. Cowles, at Spoonville, a little manufacturing hamlet about eight miles from this city. Ely was generally quiet, but his friends warned Harding that he would have to watch the lunatic at all times. Early in the morning Harding and Ely were about the stable. Harding was doing some chores for Mrs. Cowles. When he had finished he bent over a pail of water to wash his face. The lunatic crept quietly towards him and taking up a sharp axe which was against the barn, suddenly brought it down on Harding's outstretched neck. The head fell forward on the man's bosom, but was not entirely severed from the trunk. Ely again raise the bloody axe, and with one blow separated head and body and rolled the trunk to one side. Dancing in his insane glee, he kicked the head about the yard, while uttering wild, frenzied shouts.

Mrs. Cowles ran to the door of her house when she heard the noise, but was driven back with horror when she saw Harding's bloody head rolling towards her. "There, I guess I've fixed him now," said the lunatic throwing the axe to one side and clapping his hands.

When Mrs. Cowles saw what frightful work had been done by her brother, she fled from the scene and ran to the house of her husband's father, at some distance, and gave the alarm. Her son William was there, and he was the first one to appear on the scene. He found Ely coolly serveying the work he had done. He readily showed where the axe was with which the deed had been committed, and appeared perfectly calm, and without any apparent concern or excitement. Mr. Edwards, the town Coroner, soon appeared at the scene, and immediately telegraphed to the Country Coroner Sperry, of this city, information of the affair.

Ely has been insane for some years, and insanity seems to have been hereditary in his family, as both his mother and sister have been insane at different times, the sister having been released from the Retreat for the Insane in this city only a few days ago. She resides in Bloomfield. The family is a respectable one and is in good circumstances. Harding was about twenty-eight years old and Ely about thirty. Of late Ely fancied that Harding had a grudge against him, and this is supposed to have been the motive.

Standard (Albert Lea, Minnesota) - March 5, 1884

Henry C. Ely, a prominent merchant of New Haven, Conn., who has been insane for seven years, murdered Jacob J. Harden, who was visiting him.

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Documents:

Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut - April 6, 1860
1860 United States Federal Census

Seth Ely - m 24, merchant, born Connecticut
Jane Ely - f 18, born Connecticut
Mary N. Cornish - f 50, born Connecticut
Henry Ely - m 11, born Connecticut
Kate Daniel - f 22 - machine operator

East Granby, Hartford, Connecticut - June 4, 1880
1880 United States Federal Census

Cowles, William B. - wm 67 - farmer - b. Conn
Cowles, B. Whitfield - wm 38 (son) - farmer - b. Conn
Cowles, Jane E. - wf 37 (daughter-in-law) - keeping house - b. Conn
Cowles, Rollin - wm 15 (grandson) - b. Conn
Harger, Isabella - wf 53 - b. Conn
Phelps, Gilbert - wm 24 - has consumption - b. Conn
Ely, Henry C. - wm 30, bourder - b. Conn
Hardeen, John - wm 21, bourder - b. New York

Connecticut Hospital for the Insane, Middleton, CT - June 8, 1900
1900 United States Federal Census

Ely, Henry C. - patient - wm 50, single, born in Connecticut

Connecticut Hospital for the Insane, Middleton, CT - April 28, 1910

Ely, Henry C. - boarder - wm 60, single, born in Connecticut