History will show that what occurred was this community’s first  murder and here is the background: Zeba Westcott, one of the players, accused one of the other players, John Smith, of having cheated.  Fredrick Seaver, Franklin County historian, said of the incident “Westcott was slight, sightless in one eye and Smith, a physical giant with muscles like tempered steel, the most powerful man in the locality and said to have been of vicious disposition.  There had been previous bad  blood between the two, and Smith was said to have threatened to “get” Westcott.  Instantly following the accusation, Smith struck Westcott a smashing blow over the eye, cutting a gash from which the blood flowed into the one good eye, blinding him completely.  Westcott drew a knife, and in the striking and parrying which followed Smith’s throat was cut to the windpipe and he expired within a few minutes.....Smith was indicted for manslaughter in the first degree.  His defense was that, having been blinded by blood, he used the knife only to stand Smith off and did not even know that he had cut him until after the affair was over and he was told of it’s fatal issue..The jury returned a verdict of “ not guilty”.....
                
AFTERWORD

Interestingly, 3 years later in 1898, Zeba would become this newly created town’s first constable.  Historian Louis Simmons tell us that “Before a suitable building for detaining prisoners  was built, Constable Westcott had solved the problem of what to do with law breakers by ‘detaining’ them in his home on Wawbeek Ave. until justice could be meted out.  His solution was simple but effective.  A chain, secured by a hasp on the outside, was passed through a hole drilled in the wall.  It ended in a leg iron which clasped around the prisoner’s leg and proved an escape-proof ‘detainer’ “

Perhaps of further interest is the fact that Zeba was Mrs. McLaughlin’s son by a previous marriage which took place in 1850 to Theodorus Westcott, one of our earliest settlers.  Sally, also known as Sarah. would become Tupper Lake’s first bride at 23 years of age.  There was no clergy here at that time and when a passing timber cruiser was found to be also a justice of the peace in St. Lawrence County, the couple grasped the opportunity, rowing out to a little island in Big Tupper Lake near Grindstone Bay, just over the Franklin County line in St. Lawrence County and which is still referred to today as Sally’s Rock.  Mr. Westcott would die only 5 years after that marriage and Sally would marry McLaughlin 2 years later.

Will McLaughlin continued to operate the farm where the tragic murder occurred.  A farm known for its fertile soil, well tilled fields and its large apple orchard.  He also catered to tourists, guides and hunters until his death in 1902, at the age of 95 years.  The farm was then operated by his son, Wallace for several years and upon his death the farm went into the McLaughlin estate.