Person Page - 479

Law Reports.
Court of General Sessions.
Curious Case of Perjury.
     Jacob H. Mott, having been arrested for complicity in the Erie Bank forgery case, in February last, was admitted to bail, a Mr. E. Belcher Sackett becoming his surety. Sackett swore before Recorder Barnard that he was worth $5,000 in real estate, and gave a description of his property. It has subsequently appeared that he swore falsely, being without property of any kind. He was consequently arrested and indicted for perjury, and was called up for trial yesterday, having been himself bailed in the sum of $10,000 by Samuel E. Briggs. When called to appear, he responded, but the Recorder stating he could not sit on the Bench to try the case, as he was a witness subpoenaed by the District-Attorney for the people, Judge Russell was sent for. Some little delay occurred before the Judge made his appearance, during which time the Recorder vacated the Bench in readiness to be sworn, to the effect that he administered the oath to Sackett as to the value of his property. However, on Judge Russell coming into Court, the Clerk called Sackett again to appear at the bar, but he did not answer. He had taken advantage of the slight suspension of proceedings, consequent on the sending for the City Judge, to walk out of Court. Judge Russell took his departure, and the Recorder resumed his place on the Bench. A bench warrant was immediately issued for the arrest of Sackett. Officer Ward, an attaché of the Court, succeeded in finding him during the afternoon, and he was committed to the Tombs, the Recorder properly refusing to admit him to bail a second time.

—The New York Times, New York, New York, 15 Oct 1859, p 2

Jumped From The Third Story.
     Elisha B. Sackett, 84 years old, an inmate of the Old Men's Home, No. 414 West Twenty-second-street, jumped out of the third-story window yesterday morning and was instantly killed. Sackett was insane, and had attempted suicide several times before.

—The New York Times, New York, New York, 23 Jun 1884, p 5

Suicide.
     New York, June 22.—Elisha B. Sackett, aged 84 years, committed suicide to-day by jumping from a third-story window of the Samaritan Home for the Aged. He was formerly a merchant and retired from business with $75,000, which he afterwards lost in stock speculation. A year ago he tried to drown himself in the lake at Central Park.

—The Times-Union, Rochester, New York, 23 Jun 1884, p 4
—Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 23 Jun 1884, p 1

Aged Elisha Sackett Kills Himself.
     Elisha B. Sackett, an inmate of the Samaritan Home for the aged in West Twenty-second street, leaped out of the third-story window of the Home early yesterday morning and was killed by the fall to the sidewalk. Mr. Sackett was 82 years old.
     In December, 1883, he was found by a Park policeman breaking the ice on the lake in Central Park. When asked why he did that he replied:
     "Because I want to drown myself. I have nothing to live for. My family and money are all gone."
     He was removed to the Presbyterian Hospital, and on Feb. 24 was admitted to the Samaritan Home, upon application of his brother, Justus R. Sackett, who is a Front street commission merchant. Elisha was once a commission merchant also, but falled some years ago. He was born in Greenwich.

—New York Herald, New York, New York, 23 Jun 1884, p 4

A Determined Suicide.
An Old Man Jumps From A Third Story Window And Is Killed.
     Elisha B. Sackett, eighty-four years old, an inmate of the Samaritan Home for the Aged, No. 414 West Twenty-second street, at a quarter past eight o'clock yesterday morning jumped from the third story window to the sidewalk, and died in half an hour afterward. He was born in Greenwich, Conn., and was at one time a merchant in this city. He was admitted to the Home in May last. A few days after his reception he went to Central Park and began to undress by the side of the pond. A policeman asked him what he meant to do, and as Sackett did not give a clear explanation of his behavior the policeman took him to the Presbyterian Hospital. He remained there one week, when the superintendent declared him perfectly harmless. The old man was thereupon returned to the Home. Mrs. Jane Sikes, the matron, was averse to his return, but Mr. Chandler Robbins, one of the managers, assured her that it would be all right.
     Sackett had in his possession some razors, and those were taken from him. On Saturday he attempted to throw himself over the bannister, but was restrained by another of the inmates.
     He slept in a front room on the third floor. The other inmates of the apartment were Walter Hyer, an ex-policeman, and an old man who is an imbecile. Sackett arose yesterday morning and dressed himself. Mr. Hyer, as was his custom, said, "All on deck," and started down stairs to breakfast. Sackett made a pretence of following him, but stealthily retraced his steps, and, throwing open the window, crept out on the coping. A servant girl in a house across the way saw him seemingly attempt to cross from the coping of one window to that of another. His foot seemed to slip, and then he appeared to throw himself foorward. He struck in the middle of the sidewalk. The police were notified and a physician was summoned. Sackett died a few minutes after they arrived.
     His wife is dead. He leaves no children. His married sister, Mrs. William H. West, formerly lived at No. 2108 Third avenue. His brother, W. H. Sackett, lives at No. 17 East Eleventh street, and T. R. Sackett, another brother, lives at No. 108 Henry street, Brooklyn.

—New York Herald, New York, New York, 23 Jun 1884, p 6

Greenwich.
     Elisha B. Sackett, who committed suicide last Sunday by throwing himself out of a third-story window in New York, was a native of this town. He has been insane several years. He was 82 years of age.

—The Port Chester Journal, Port Chester, New York, 26 Jun 1884, p 2

Died.
     Sackett.—On Tuesday morning, Feb. 15, Amanda Harper, wife of William H. Sackett, in the 61st year of her age.
     The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from her late residence, No. 314 East 9th-st., on Thursday afternoon, at 3 o'clock.

—New York Times, 17 Feb 1870

Died.
     Sackett.—On Thursday, Jan. 29, W.H. Sackett, in the 79th year of his age.
     Funeral services at the Collegiate Church, corner of 4th-st. and Lafayette-place, on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 3 P.M. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Kindly omit flowers.

—New York Times, 31 January 1885

Will of Sarah E Sackett, widow of New York City.
Abstract
Date: 18 Jun 1889.
Proved: Surrogate's Court, New York City, 7 Oct 1897.
Testator: Sarah E Sackett, widow of New York City.
Beneficiaries:
Son States Mead Sackett in trust, all real estate with income used for benefit of invalid son Howard Mortimer Sackett.
After death of Howard:
Son States Mead Sackett, $5,000 or 5/18ths of total estate.
Other children, Hannah Caroline Harper, Charles Edgar Sackett, Julia Sackett Chesebro, Lydia Amelia Muir, Adeline Sackett Morgan, 1/5th each of residue after States' share.
Executor: States Mead Sackett.
Witnesses: Foster Debevoise, Arthur P Baldwin.