Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-13

4 proach,ng his house, wh-n they heard the cries
/ oil his wife shriekiDg and implcring mercy: They
concealed themselves under ience and saw
Blanks bring her out twice, and whip her unner
cisnily.. She escaped from him tina, night, but
returned the ncxs morning. He kept her after
wards up stairs in the day unreiand brought her
| down II night. On the succeeding Thursdly two
women of the neigbborhocd went TO Banks's
house, ana were ny him invited up s,as to see his
vile, whom they found in bed, unable 20 sit NJ,
| shockingy bruised and i;saten, and one hand Sc
vereiy bitten. On Friday evening. Blanks was
hea'S IN his house swearing and cursing bitterly,
and threatening 20 send some ore TO he'll. Af er
which he required one Of his sors 10 take his
gus and do IL. Hewas seen about that sime with.
out shirt, washing his face, breast, and hands.
which were bloody, and one of his sons said J.,
hal been whipping negro The voice of Mrs.
Blanks was heard IN the house by young man,
whom she called and requested TO come 10 her
our Blanks would not perni, him 20 go in Eai-
y on Saturday morning, two OF Banks's sons and
young man who had lived with him, found him
IN his house setting on bed, upon which was TIC
dead body OF his wife, whose death he aft cted
TO lament, declaring he would put AIN end 10 his
own Ike. a large switch, both eads of which
were beaten 10 f,in3e. and an open knife S. ain
cd with blood, lay by him. Nobody was in the
house hut Blanks and the corpse of his wife. He
wanted his will written. and his saddle bags were
10 the soona packed full with his clo;hei. AT
this time he was intoxicated; but had no, been
seen in that condition until them since he bepan
the treatment of his wifs, which ended in her
death Several persons of the neighbofhood.
which by his time had been alarmed, came with
a magistrate TO Bianka's house. He fred Gun
at Two of those who first appeared, and strongly
evinced determination TO shoot at others; bur
1t length by 4 picce of dexteroui management,
his person was secured. the house was diligently
searched, and no person was found in it except
blanks, The dead body and those who haA come
IN since the dea'h of Mrs Blanks He did not
In'puts the murder of his wife 70 any other per
son The skull OF the deceased was broken in
several places, her head was almost destitute of
us natural coveieg and locks Of her hair were
scattered over ;he whole floor. which was stained
with blood An efIost seemed recently to have
been made to cover the dead body with clean IL
men. a morning gown and Two shifts of Mrs
Blanks, wiki SKIRT of Blanks were found in
closet adjoining ,6e roo,a in which the dead body
ay, and the shirt was the same which he wore
on he preceding Thursday when the females vi
sited his wife. All of these were in state
which Showed thai they had been saturated with
blood, and that an attempt had pecn made, by
we'trg ana wrinSmg them, TO ge, il out A
wound was found near The ear of The deceased
which was made with knife The body exhi
bted spectacle Of horror, which, in the lam
guage OF tie witnessess was beyond descriptions
Il wss bruised and wounded from the crown of
the head 10 the feet, .i;i raangled by the teeth,
as well as by the blows OF her murderer
This unfortunate woman who was not far
from the period OF childbirth when she VAS muir
dered, had ever maintained COED reputation.
ana was distinguished by the mildness of her
temper, and he's industrions atteni n 10 domes
tic dukes; ror was = single Circumstance in her
conduct, mentioned by witness, or ever sug
ees'ed by Blanks, which afforded any ground r
complaint on his pant, orIbe slightest pailia,ion of
his crime During the whole trial he preseryde
an inhexibe cornposuTe of f&ce, unmoyed by the
narrative of the Witnesses, or by the exhibition
Of the bloody gsrments, which appalled, every o.
iher spectator.
IN aitcmpt was made 20 shcw 4 dcrange,nent
of his mind Du' there was nothing 10 the evi :
oeuce 70 induce even suspicion OF his insanity,
aithogh he wan defended on that ground The
jury did not hesitate TO render a verdict convict
ing him CT rnu,der in the first deg.ee. and sen.
tence of death was pronounced against him, by
the, presiding judge of the court, on the 9TH day
of the term.
In this statement of the case nothing has been
given but whar was established in open court. by
nnequivocsl testimony But the female witness
es. ont Of court. have aversd, that if they had
not been strained by feelings which always pre-
vail with the reputation of their sex, they would
have developed facts which would have aggra.
vstedthe features of this horrible Gaze infinitely be-
yOnd any thing which appeared on The trial
Some of hem have been Communicated bus
they are TOO orribs to be told.
K=.za