Wealthy Cranesville recluse murdered among his clocks and guns
By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette, 10-22-16
Two women from Glenville went to pick up a clock being repaired by former town of Amsterdam Justice of the Peace William Eugene McLachlan late in the afternoon of July 23, 1907. McLachlan fixed clocks and guns even though he was later described in a newspaper story as the “richest recluse in this section of the state.”
Emma Fort and Catherine Gardiner, accompanied by McLachlan’s neighbor George Brewster, found McLachlan’s body inside his Cranes Hollow Road home in the hamlet of Cranesville. The 62-year old had eight stab wounds.
Authorities and a private detective hired by the victim’s brother focused their investigation on Italian-Americans from the nearby city of Amsterdam’s East End.
McLachlan had loaned money to Frank Denatto, owner of a saloon on what was then Williams Alley off Schuyler Street. The victim also had loaned money to vegetable peddler John Cincotta.
The prosecution charged that Denatto masterminded the crime by convincing four men to kill McLachlan for $750. All Denatto supposedly wanted were the documents confirming his loan from the victim. Denatto allegedly told the men they could take whatever cash and goods they wanted from McLachlan.
Cincotta engaged McLachlan in conversation outside the house, giving the others a chance to enter the building. Cincotta then led McLachlan inside and the miscreants stabbed the older man. The victim tried to get to his guns and shouted “No, no, no” as he was dying.
The approach of the women from Glenville made the killers flee. According to one report the men secured Denatto’s loan papers but only took $1.50 in cash.
One of the alleged attackers, Frank Legona, died in a street fight in Amsterdam on August 11. Cincotta, Denatto and two others were charged with killing McLachlan and tried in Supreme Court in Fonda.
Cincotta was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to nineteen years. Giuseppe Gervasio was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to twenty years. Carmello Reppepo was convicted of manslaughter. All served time at Dannemora prison.
Denatto was tried for first degree murder in 1909. Cincotta, Gervasio and a burglar named Carl Damiano were brought to the Fonda jail from Dannemora to testify.
However, tools and rope were smuggled in to the prisoners who cut through the brick wall to the outside of the jail. They were on the second floor and sustained injuries while getting to the ground.
Cincotta was the last to be recaptured. He was caught fleeing Amsterdam in a rented motor vehicle five days later.
Denatto’s case went to the jury. After deliberating fifteen hours, the jury acquitted him. In a written statement the jurors said that as men they believed he was guilty, but as jury men they did not regard the evidence as sufficient for conviction.
Angry at the outcome, the judge declared that the names of the jurors be struck from the jury list as unfit for service. The jurors were booed by a crowd of two hundred when they left the courthouse.
Denatto and his family took the train to Amsterdam. They walked down Main Street in front of supporters and detractors alike to Denatto’s saloon, the Elm House Cafe. That night, drinks were on the house.
Cincotta served almost ten years at Dannemora and returned to Amsterdam. In 1936, two stone masons found a stiletto while working on a dam on Cranes Hollow Road. Authorities said it was one of the McLachlan murder weapons. In 1958 the former McLachlan home was badly damaged by fire.
Some information for this story came from Montgomery County historian Kelly Farquhar and Dennis Webster’s book, “Wicked Mohawk Valley.”
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