The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-08-01

lad who efaped with an incoherer.t account of the
horrid fcene from which he had iuR Hcd he, with
Mr. Ballard another neighbor, infantry repaired to
the fatal fpot and here after having lighted candle
fcene was Preiented which beggars all delcripton.-
In the outer room, lay proitrase his face and well
tering IN his gore, the perpetrator of the dreadful
deed-his throat cut in the moi knocking manner
aud the bloody razor lying the table by his tide
In an adjoining bedroom, lay Mrs. Purinton in her
bed, her head almoG fevered from her body; and
near her the floor little daughter about ten years
old, who probably hearing the cries of her mother
ran to her relief from the apartment in which fhe
flept, and was murdered by her ide-n another 4.
partment was found the two olden and the youngel
daughters, the fri, aged l9 dreadfuly butchered ;
the fecond desperately wounded, reclining her head
on the body of the dead infant Is months old, and
in Gate of horror and amot total inienibility--n
the with the father lay in bed with their threats
cut, the two youngeit foas the one 8, the other 6
years old--And in another room was found on the
hearth moi dreadully uangled, the eeond fon aged
l2; he had fallen with his trowirrs under one arm
wi'h which he had attempted to efcape-On the
breatwork over the fireplace, was the ditinS i'm
Preilion ell a bloody hand where the unhappy victim
probably fuppor,ed hmielfbe he FELL The whole
houe feen,ed covered with blood and near The body
OF the murderer lay the deadly From the furvi-
wing daughter we have account Of this tranfaSai-
on her dangerous itua,ion prevents any commune
cation, and but faint expectations entertained of
Z,
foi'o~ing.-Ihat he was awakened by the piercing
cries of his mother, and nvcuntarily nn;king HIM
iet, he leapt from his bed and towards the door
OF his apartment he met by his father with an
axe in his hand (the moon fhone brightly who fruck
him but being 10 near each other, the patIed o.
yer his ihouder asd Of it entered his back
making flight wound his father then itruck at him
once twice and milled him at this moment his
younge. brother, who flept in the fame bed with
him, junlpd from it and attempted yet out at the
door to prevent this the father attacked him. which
gave the eldef opportunity efcape During this
dreadful conflict, not word was uttered. From the
appearance oft wounds generally, it feems to have
been the degn of Puriuton diHever the heads from
the bodies, excepting the youngea, Whole Threats
1t is tuppoed were cut with razo-.-The oldeR
daughter and fccond fon had everal wounds the pro-
bable coniequence their relaance. We have 40 e.
violence to lead satisfactorily the motives for this
oaroarous ana unnatural deed. Capr. rurnrou was
46 years of age, and had lately removed from Bow
doinham TO this town-an Independent farmer, with
handiome elfate, of fteady, correct, and induari-
Gus habits and of agood character aud fair reputation
and ttrongly attached tn his family. He had been
heard lately to fay, that he felt much dreed at the
u!lpromng appearance of his faral that he ihould
be deititH'e OF bread for his family and hay for his
cattle, and dreaded the conlequences The SUNDAY
before his death, it is fad, he wrote to his brother
and informed him that the reception of the letter
he 'houd be dead, and requefng him to take charge
OF his family In the letter was deaths head mark
ed out, and it fealed with black--I. was found
on Monday by his wife, and gave her the ereateR a.
larm and uneatineis-This her huibaud perceivng
and learning the cau!e, he attempted to confoe her
by aiiurances that he had intention of committing
iuicde, but that he had a prefentiment of his ap
preaching death Capt. Purntsn warm be-
lever IN the doctrine of universal favation though it
is not faid OF him, that he was bigoted maniac or
religious enthuilat--His whole condua the day pre-
eed'ng and during the Ian and bloody fcene of his life
ieems marked with the utmol coolnefs and del;bera
ton. Towards the clofe of the day he ground the
fatal axe, and when the family retired to bed he was
lett reading the bible. The jury of inquea have
brought him in guilty of wifu murder on his wife &
Tx children, aud that as felon he did kill and muir
der himlef--We do not recollea that the annals of
Maiachuietts can furniih tranfaaon 70 diifrefing
The zosyJ Of P,o1dSnee da,k and suvFerious vet
God tiLG and mar. 4Veak man. NUT frfmbLt and a.
a0ye!
After the Coroner's InqNef had executed its Office
the SeleGtmen took charge of the dead Their re-
mains IN eight collins were conveyed to the Meeting
houie.
Mrs Purinton and her children were placed in the
body OF the honie; Capt. PuTinton in the porch
Their funeral took place yeerday Afternoon attend
ed by an inmen(e concourie of people
The public fervices at the Meeting houfe were TO-
Tenn and pertinent-commenced by Funeral An
tkeni--Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Stone-Sermon by Rev
Mr. Tayior-a Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Merritt
The bodies of Mrs Purinton and her children were
inferred in the common burying ground Capt. Pu-
rinton in the highway adjoining the fame, and the
deadly axe and razor buried with him.
They were attended to their graves by numerous
and respectable procelion which wa, arranged by
John Davis, Reuel Williams, & H. W. Fuller, EGqrs.
appointed and acting Marlhals on the location
The Proceflion moved over the bridge and through
the principal rees, to the place of nterment in the
order following
Senior Marfhal.
The Coroner, and
TnqueR.
Rev. Mr.. Hafkel, Rev. Mr.. Stone.
The Corpfe of Mrs. Purinton,
And her fix children, according to their ages, fup-
ported by bearers attended by pall-holders, fol-
lowed by
The furvving Son.
Other relations.
SefectmeB.
Clergy.
Sheriff Of the County
Judges Of Courts.
Military officers.
Magistrates
Citizens.
Marihals
cart bearing the body Of Capt. Psrinton, cofed
the procefiion.
The Church fervice was performed at the grave o.
A L