Amasa owned a bank in Elmira New York. He robbed and murdered by two union soldiers during Civil War, presumably Christmas Eve 1864 at Elmira, having been enticed on a pretense of showing him some cattle for sale. His wife died of shock when she heard the news. One of the murderers was captured 25 years later (1889) by a New York detective who had been taught Sunday School by Amsy. The detective was in a bar and spotted the watch Amzy had been given by the bank staff. The murderer Henry Garner was executed. It was the first execution in the county.
Amsy's body was not found until 19 March. He was buried 27 March. It was found by soldiers rambling in a wood about 2 1.2 miles from city of Elmira. Gardiner of the 12th regiment U.S. infantry, was a native of Ohio, age 24, then. He was examined, indicted, tried, and convicted, then sentenced to hang 1 June 1886. He had beat Anzy with a musket 29 December 1865.
Sources
Leroy and Lois Bennett - Bennett Family Genealogists
