[Yale University Murder-Crocodile Club 1856-58]. W. H. Anderson....

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[Yale University Murder-Crocodile Club 1856-58]. W. H. Anderson. Eleven autograph letters signed ("W.H. Anderson"), 1-2 pages each, New Haven, CT, 30 June 1856 to 24 March 1858, to his mother and father; with original envelopes. Members of the Yale Crocodile Club murder a fireman and plead the fifth all of which is justified in intimate details from a Croc member to his parents in personal letters. A fascinating set of letters written by W. H. Anderson, a member of the Crocodile Club, discusses the trial of the men accused of murdering a fireman from Engine House Number 2, in New Haven, Connecticut. On 9 February 1858, members of the Yale College Crocodile Club in New Haven engaged in an altercation with firemen on High Street. A feud was brewing for some time, because the firemen remained upset with the boys who continually walked by the station singing college songs. A scuffle ensued and two bullets were fired from the crowd of college men. A bullet hit 25 year-old fireman William Miles who died the next day. The letters herewith chronicle the beginnings of the Crocodile Club and end with the trial of the men, who were not convicted because each man involved evoked their 5th Amendment right and remained silent on the stand. The beginnings of the club are first outlined in a letter dated January 1858. The Crocodiles are flourishing. I think I can safely say that it is now the most popular club of all. No one leaves...Ironically, Anderson mentions a party where they had a large fire near the college and recalls how I laid in bed and looked at [the fire] it. A fireman was killed here New Year's Day. There was the largest funeral on Sunday that I ever saw. Lucien has got a club started and will get on well with it now I think as he has got a good place, convenient and a good set of fellows. Yet, that good fortune would soon run out. In his next letter, dated ten days after the murder, Anderson explains to his family the unfortunate situation all the boys found themselves in. Worried that his father would see the story in the newspaper, he begins, Last week on Tuesday eve. An affray occurred between my club and some firemen immediately after supper. One fireman was shot and died...Of course we were all brought up before a court...to testify what we knew about the matter. Suspicion of course fell upon the club and perhaps justly and we were all implicated and one is as much guilty as the other in the eyes of the law. Anderson assures his father that the men have sought council. I was called to testify, being the first, as steward of the club and coming alphabetically first, counsel advised me not to answer anything that would show I was there... In refusing to answer questions, Anderson was put in jail for the evening and his counsel filed a "writ of habeas corpus." The incident was argued within a few days and he was released. However, the trial continued. A letter written 21 February 1858 explains how more people have testified in the case and the faculty has advised the club to disband. Anderson states the club decided to disperse the next day and explains how the faculty is scared that an attack will be made. He goes on to state the faculty is meeting to either "request" or "require" club members to testify before the court. Anderson says it doesn't matter what the faculty decides because if they are forced to testify, the men do not know who shot the firefighter and the court will find out little more information than they already have. A 3 March 1858 letter explains how the firemen attacked the boys. You must not think that we, that is the club, wanted to fight or made any demonstrations toward one, we were coming home from supper in the same manner as we have done for three years and were assaulted by some rowdy firemen. He pleads with his father to believe his claim that he was not the one to shoot the fireman. In the end, no person was charged with the murder. Eventually, the engine house was bought by the University and turned into a house for Yale faculty. A fine set of letters on a scandalous crime that started an age-old tension between Yalies and Townies.