The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-12

Al tie last District Court of Prince Edward
John Blanks, of Halifax county, was convicted of
murder in the first degree, for cruelty Killing his
wife IN the month of February last This afro
cious murder is distinguished by a brutality I'M
paralleled in the history of either civilized or sa
wage man Barbarians have often exhibited an
unrelenting cruelty Of feelings towards their enc
nries, and have derived malignant pleasure from
their sufterings, prOtracted sometimes, perhaps
for whole day. But, Believe, another instance
has not occurred, wherein a husband, who had
not been married longer than 8 or months and
whose wife was in an aaSanced state Of pregnancy,
deliberately formed and executed, the horld pur.
pose of purpose of putting her to death by cruel
ties repeated, and tortures protracted, for six
DAYS.
On Sunday evening the day of February
last, two young men of Blanks's family were ap-
preaching ms house, when they heard the cries
OF his wife shriekng and imploring mercy They
concealed themselves under fence, and saw
Blanks bring her out twice, and whip her unmer-
ctuy. She escaped from him that night, but
returned the next morning. He kept her after
wards up stairs i'll the day time and brought her
down at night On the succeeding Thursday, two
women OF the neighbourhoOd went to Bianks's
house and were by him invited Up stairs to see his
wife, whom they found in bed, unable to sit ND.
shockingiy bruised and beaten, and one hand Sc
yerely bitten. On Friday evening, BLANKS was
heard IN his house swearing and cursing bitterly,
and threatening to send some one to hell. After
which he required one of his sons to take his
gun and dol He was seen about that time with
out SHIRT, washing MS face, breast, and hands.
which were bi ,ody, and one of his ms sad he
had been whipping negro The voice OF Mrs
Dienhs was heard IN the mouse by Young man.
whom she called and requested 10 come 10 her
but Blanks would nol permit mn, to 90 in. Ea.
ly on Saturday morning. I've Of oianIls's sons and
young man vino had hved with him, found him
in his house setting oaa bed, upon which was the
dead body of his wie, whose death he Affected
to lament, declaring he would put an end to his
own life. a large switch, both ends of which
were beaten to a fringe, and an open knife stain
ed with blood, lay by him. Nobody was in the
house but BLANKS and the. corpse of his wife He
wanted his will written, and his saddiebags were
in the room packed fall with his clothes At
this time he was intoxicated /; but had no, been
seen in that condition until then. since he beoan
the treatment OF his wife, which ended in her
death. Several persons of the reighbotrjIl hood
which by this time h adj been alarmed, came with
magistrate to Blankss house. He fred a gun
at two of those who first appeared, and strongly
eVlnced determination to shoot at others but
Mt length, by piece OF dexterous management.
his person was secured, the house was diligently
searched, and no person was found in it except
Blanks, the dead body and those VINO had come
in slnce the death of Mrs Blanks lie did not
nnpute the murder of his wife TO any other per-
som The skull of the deceased was broken in
several places, her head was almost destitute of
its natural covering, and locks OF her hair were
scattered over the whole floor, which was stained
with blood. An effort seemed recently TO have
been made TO cover the dead body with clean Ii
men. a morning gown and two shifts of sirs
Blanks, with SHIRT Of Biankss, were found an.
closet adjoining the room in which the dead body
lay, and the shirt was the same Which he wore
on The preceding Thursday when the females vi
sited his wife. All of these we're in a state
which Showed that they had been saturated with
blood, and that an attempt had been made, by
wettin6 and wringing them, 10 get it out a
wound was found near the car Of the deceased,
which was made with tnJfe. The body exhi-
bted spectacle of horror, which, in the Ian.
guage OF the witnesses, was beyond dcsoript .n
1t was bruised and wounded from the crown OF
the head to the feet, and manged by the teeth,