Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-19


Witness then sent the It'll. girl TO tell her
grandmother, who lived about half mile
distan,.-He could give no distinct ac'
count OF what he was about. in the ab-
sence of the little girl and before the arri.
val of the mother.-When his mother
came, saw her go up to the prisoner and
speak to him, but did not hear what pas.
sed. The prisoners sister aud her hus-
band, - Rowan, came with the mo-
Their. -~-..- <
This witness, upon being examined,
said that he had found will made by the
prisoner in book but could not recolleel
whether this will was found on the day OF
the murder, or afterwards; : neither could
he state to whom the book belonged in
which the will was found. He said that
the will was not lin his possession he left
It IN the courthouse at the called court.
lie also stated, that some time before the
murder, he heard,hs mother say, that the
prisoner was out of his mead and ought TO
be blooded. lie understood from his mo.
Their, that the prisoner appointed that ne
should meet him at a particular place, on
a Certain day, he went but did not see the
prisoner.
- Rowan testified that on Sunday
evening before the murder, he and his ia
miiy were at the prisoners house until
o'clock. One ofthe prisoners children was
absent at an uncle's, and another had been
sent to hurry il home. II was late before
it arrived. The prisoner seemed uneasy.
and talked of going after them if they
did not come-he talked also of whipping
them. Early on Monday morning the
little girl cau;e down, and said her uncle
Gle Abel's family all murdered. He Sc,
off Immediately, and met Isaac some dis
lance from the house, making great la.
men,ations. They went back together.
The prisoner was standing by the fire in
melancholy posture. The dead bodies
were all covered up IN the bed, and Isaac
threw the clothes off and Showed them 10
him. AT that time he did no, notice in what
situation the dead bodies lay. He went
directly 10 Tell the dead womaD's mother,
who lived about two miles distant. He
told no person what had happened until
on his return. When he went away he
left the prisoner in the house, and his mo!
Their and brother Isaac in the door; no
lher person there. Upon examining the
dead bodies after his return, they were all
laid out a, their length upon heir back, Ss
their eyes closed. They found two axes
bloody, the handle broke of one, and the
axe laying by the murdered woman.
Col. Geo. Jackson testified, that when
he got TO The prisoners house with Nice
ly the morning after the murder, they
were FIRST mex by the prisoners mother
| who exclaimed That the family was mur-
dered and robbed. He enouired what
she believed or expected lie had hung
himself. Witness called aloud for priso.
ner, believing il he heard WITNESSES voice
he would answer. no answer was return
ed. Upon examining the dead bodies
found that the woman had RECEIVED two
blows on the forehead with the pole Of the
axe that all the others had been killed
at one blow on the side or forepart of the
head. with the pole or edge of,he axe /;
and witness believed that all had received
instantaneous death, except two of the
cbildten who had struggled q little. He
examined Isaac Clements about the APP
poin, mcnt mentioned, in his testimony
Isaac informed him of The time and place.
He went with others 10 the place at the
time. No person was there but saw
fresh tracks of horse. He saw the will
mentioned by !saac--believed il 10 be the
prisoners hand wiring. This will devls
ed the property 10 Isaac and the mother
except some legaciss to those to whom
the prisoner was indebted. About nine
days after the mur der, the prisoner sur
rendered himselft 10 the witness, aud his
son ]. G.. Jackson. The prisoner was
close but honest man, and apparently at.
lached to his family. Some time before
the murder, prisoner had sold his crop to
the wilDess---had requested and obtained
a new bargain. He again applied to wit
ness to take it, and pressed him much to
do i!-smongs, other expressions, priso-
ner said, - for Gods sake take il, you
will save me and my family" or "my
wife and family" witness did no. recol.
ect which. Cot. Jackson remembered the
day Of the month this conversation hop.
pened--lhe viii bore date the same day.
Mrs. Dawson testified, that she direct-
ed the laying out Of the dead bodies.
They could not find sufficient linen for
that purpose, although the people were
supposed 10 have a plenty Of such things.