Extracted from the 1869 Oneida County Directory Pages  87 and 415

In Camden Murder of Abbey Elizabeth Sanders by William H Carswell

    April 26, 1868, this town was the scene of one of the most atrocious and cold-blooded murders recorded in the annals of criminal trials. The victim was Abbey Elizabeth Sanders, a girl aged eight years and six months, the murderer was William Henry Carswell, a young man residing in the neighborhood.  The deed was committed in the day tinme and only a short distance from her father's house.  Carswell was tried at rome in November following, convicted and sentenced to be hanged.

    William Henry Carswell was executed at Rome, January 8th, 1869, for the murder of Abbey Elizabeth Sanders.  A large crowd was assembled outside the jail yard, and a few were admitted inside to witness the execution.  The prisoner confessed his crime, declared that he had repented and trusted in Christ for salvation, hoped his punishment would prove  a warning to others to shun his evil course and awful end.  A prayer was offered by Rev. S.C. Vischer, his spiritual adviser.  After the rope was adjusted about his neck, chloroform was administered until he appeared insensible.  The cap was then drawn over his face, the drop fell, and in thirteen minutes he was pronounced dead.  After the corpse was placed in a coffin it was viewed by the assembled crowd and then delivered to the relatives of the deceased, who conveyed it to Camden for burial.