The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-02
zoR3ID MURDER IND suzc1Ds.t

It is almost impossible for The lima ination to
concei,ea more horrible and tragicsl event in a
civilized community, than the one which we
have now the dsagreeabic task OF announcing &
in re-couBting of which the pen iecolls with hor-
The particulars of this abominable deed we
have from young man VINO was distant spec
tator of this shocking catastrophe, as given be-
tore the coroner's inquest About O'clock p.
NJ. on Saturday last, young man named d ,vid
Frank, who was in the empty of Mrs Collins,
Of this borough, was seen walking with Miss Ar
ga Collins, thu oldest daughter of his employer
"a charming young girl of IL years Of age) on 4
small island opposite her mother's residence, AMI
on which some negroes were at work-ihe,
had not proceeded many pacss during the W.T.
ness's observation, when he perceived Frank en-
circle Mss Ca. waist with his arm, when SIZE
suddenly rushed from him, uttered n most vio-
lent shrek and instantly fell upon w'iich +
immediately ran to the aljoinag creek & threw
himself into it, apparently with the Intention 81,
drowning himself, in which being bafled by the
shatiowness of the water, lie returned to the
shore WHICH he had no sooner rcgaincd, than he
alsofe!l J! The witness, on perceiyng these
strange unaccountab,e proceedings, procured a
caEpe and crossed the creek without delay, when
on attempting to raise the young lady Qttle drea-
ming OF her melancholy fate) perceived her
throat cut from ear to ear AS soon as he
recovered from the shock which so horrid a
spectacle naturally produced he approach. the
young man whom he found weltering in blood,
and on examination he found his throat cut so eff
fectually that his head was nearly severed from
his body !! He was lifeless, but the detesta.
bic weapon with which he had rendered himself
50 shcst Butchers tn;je) was clinched in his
hand.
Frank was welEc0nducted young man of
about 81 years ofage, and said to he OF res
pecfable f-m;ly in or contiguous TO Richmond
but from the superscription of the folio wing let
Ter handed us this morning, suspect he is from
Washington city. There are various and CON-
Trajectory reports afloat to the motives OF his
committing this diabolical act but the one mos,
prevalent IS, that of being thwarted in his aff4c-
ton for the young innocent who fell q victim
his temerity --Heraid.
u The reader will perceive by the following
letter, which is dated the day before the ira
gical scene, that Fr,nk contemplated on muir
DER. we give the letter without any altera
ton.
Dear Brother,
! write those few lines hopeing that they NAV
md you and all my friends in perfect health & n
the path ofvirtue, for have slroled from them
to my SORROW
o Brother do not let II grieve you that am .
going 10 Depart this Life in few days and TO
leave TINS troublesome world, for find this
lie perpetual Plague o brother donot let it
make any impression on your mind or any of my
Relation as think it most proper to leave this
world 0 Brother do no, let it grieve mother for
! have been an und,i'ifull child-e-O Brothe,
do not think hard oft it is lot SO it must bee
Brother Brother Brother hope that you will
not take on any about it for it is my choice
leave THIS stage OF action Brother southt
mother up and don't let it hurt her feeling for she
IS old and fear il may be Der ruin.
. Brother farewell farewell farewell till the
next, world and hope there we shall
rest more peaceable
Adue Adue Adue
DAVID FRANK.
Mr.. John Frank, Washington City
District of Columbia