Amasa Mulock

Amasa Mulock is my 3rd great grandfather...

Reference the google book search on details of the murder trial for Henry Gardner, a union soldier who murdered Amasa motivated by robbery.

https://books.google.com/books?id=6f82AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA175&lpg=PA175&dq=Amsey+Amasa+Mulock&source=bl&ots=-iw-MqE55s&sig=NVjRS18OYlsxydE9CwupRKk-QnY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAWoVChMI35Cb-fqyxwIViaYeCh1kUgE8#v=onepage&q=Amsey%20Amasa%20Mulock&f=false


http://www.chemungsheriff.net/index.asp?pageId=247

The first hanging at the Sheriff’s Office occurred on March 1, 1867.  It was the first execution here for a capital offense since 1730 when an Indian chief had his head cut off and stuck on a pole as a result of a murder.   

Henry Gardner, a soldier of the 12th U.S. Infantry who was stationed at the old Pickways Barracks in Southport, used the butt of his gun to slay Amasa Mulock. 

The motive was robbery.  Just before his death, Gardner was asked if he had any last comments.  He spoke to the crowd of his misdeeds and told them that “liquor is the ruination of any man.” 

His hanging was described as bungled, horrible and revolting as he had to be dropped through the trap door three times. 

The Gardner case was unusual in another aspect as after his death the body was mummified and embalmed and turned over to Dr. P.H. Flood, a local physician, who kept it for many years in a glass case in his office.  Eventually the body was moved to the cellar of the Flood residence and then to a barn. 

One night a group of boys found the body, dragged it away and placed it in a vault at a brewery at the foot of E. Water St. 

 The group of boys then burned the corpse and when the charred remains were found there was considerable conjecture on the identity of the “murder victim.” 

However, it was finally established that the corpse was that of Gardner and the investigation ceased.