An article entitled MURDER "Hawthorne New Jersey 1664-1964 Tercentenary Souvenir Book" One of the most brutal murders that occurred in this part of the state took place on January 9, 1850 when Judge John S. Van Winkle and his wife Jannetie were literally hacked to death in the bedroom of their home on Goffle Road. Judge Van Winkle, descendant of one of the pioneer families in the county, was the owner of much of the farm property at the Goffle and consequently employed a number of farm hands. One of these was John Johnston who had been reprimanded and fined by the judge for being drunk. Johnston being familiar with the layout of the house, secured a ladder and a meat cleaver to carry out his foul deed. Climbing up to the bedroom window on the outside he entered the room where the couple was asleep and proceeded to hack them to pieces. Mrs. Van Winkle died instantly but the Judge managed to struggle with his assailant and eventually Johnston leaped out of the window and tried to escape by going over to the brook which ran in front of the house. He wandered north as far as Rock Road where he left the brook and headed for the Erie station at what is now Glen Rock. the agent here, sensing that something was wrong, delayed the murderer long enough, as no train was due, so that the aroused neighbors of the Goffle following the footprints in the snow soon caught up with the culprit and took him to the County Jail in Paterson. Johnston was tried and sentenced to be hung, which was carried out on April 30, 1850, in the yard of the Passaic County Jail. A gallows had been erected and large number of witnesses were present to see the first hanging that took place in Passaic County. ekk comment: Justice was swift in those days. 'Dastardly Deed' occurred on January 9, 1850. Three and a half months later, on April 30, he was hanged. Regards, Ethel Kay Konight ======================= ORIGINAL QUERY In a message dated 6/10/2008 9:30:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, nancyterhune@optonline.net writes: You wrote: <Included in the records was a double murder: "Murder committed on the body of John Van Winkle and wife Jan 9 1850." Then later: "Johnson executed for the murder of John Van Winkle and wife April 30 1850" Does anyone know anything more about these murders? ================ Hi Nancy, > I was born in Hawthorne, Passaic County and the local story was of > the Van Winkle murders. Yes, there was a murder in the very old sandstone house on Goffle Road opposite the 'duckpond'. From memory, it was an elderly couple murdered by the 'handyman'. > > If you find the story, please put it on line. > > Regards, > Ethel Kay Konight > > **************Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg00050000000102)