The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-17

published at Portsmouth. New Hampshire
Is gives melancholy and heart rondmg
account Of human dtpra,,y, such as wc
hone IN mercy Is rare in nnr canntry, Ut in
the world. May its;trr be fully meted TO
this monster in human shape.
CGrELrf UNrARALLELEp-. On Monday
last, Charles Stephens was nnai Sncd before
Joshua Il. Chase and Isaac Lyman, .sqs.
at kittery Point, charged With ihc murder
ofhis son, L. Henry Cop.ly stephens, aged
nine years. ltappeared in evidence before
the magistrates, that Stephens, recently an
intelligent ship-master, was in the frequent
habit of abusing his wilc and children. On
Sunday morning, the aist of July, he WIS
heard by a neighhor at the di'lancc of 60
rods, to whip his wife severely her shrieks
were very loud and his SON Charles WAS
heard to say" shall tie shall die. On
Sunday, August IL, the same person heard
him beat his son severely, who, after be-
seeching his father in vain for mercy, said,
he "wishcd God would take him out OF
the world that moment" On Tuesday
the 9th inst. stephens aud his wife returned
rom Boston at lea table quarrel arose
between them, and he beat her severely.
She disappeared soon after, and had not
been found at the period of the examine
ton. II has since been asccrtaincd that
she effected her escape To this town, dread
fully maneled, and now lies socreted ut the
house of one of her friends,
On "Wednesday the 18th inst. he gavc his
son several severe nhppings with u rope.
In the evening of the morning Of that day
. lad called on Stephens on AN errand his
son went 10 III. door, and appeared To be
much exhausted by the chastisemcnt nc
had received. He has mol since bccn seen,
The day following the dwelling house of
stephens WAS CLOSED, the window AMI
doors fastened, and all attempts 10 gain al
mittancc were Intellectual, though his little
daughters were heard 10 cry, aud beg Tor
the admission other amt who VAS knock
ing a, the door-On Friday four persons
only gained admlttuuce, but they saw no
thing of the missing child. From the cir
cnmstauces of the mysterious absence OF
Mrs. stephens, and Charles not having
been seen since "Wednesday, Il suspicion
arose that the latter had been murdered.
Several persons, accordingly, watched
near the house On Friday evening. BE
tween and . O'Clock, IA DIau Was seen III "A
boat making from a neiFhboring wharf 10
the cove in front of Stephens house ha-
wing gained the shorr, he went up TO the
house, and soon returned, bearing in his
arms burden, which he deposited in the
boat, and scuiilcd round the point ont Ia
SEA, al first moderately, but afterwards ~
~ fast. The boat WAS ON Saturday taken
up, eight miles from land, and TIE painter,
which WAS chain, was gone. On FRIDAY
morning stephens sent his little girl To the
house Of Mrs. Jane Sca,ey, at the distance
of "A mile and hall, to inquire II she knew
where Charles WAS. Mrs. $. observing
that the child looked i'll, asked her what
allied her. The child was unable TO tell,
and Mrs. 5. examined her body. Inn
guage is inadequate TO describe the shock
ing picture which presented itself; the little
victim was 90 diseolorcd from her neck 10
her heels, that the stoutest heart could not
look upon her unappalled. On her back
and arms were severe wounds, and ON the
abdomen a confusion which IT Was then
feared would prove mortal She was SO
much swollen and bruised that Mrs. Ste
phcns was obliged In cut the linen from heI
back. The child is an unusually delicate
girl of seven years. She testified thai her
father whipped her on Wednesday with a
rope, nj the same lime he whipped Charles,
whom he also beat with the tongs, saying
he would fix him" The little girl was
Immediately put under the care of two res
pcctablc physicians, and is likely to rcco-
yer. On Sunday evening Stephens came
to this town, and entered a fictitious name
ON the stage book for Boston, but was APP
pretended next morning. He has been
committed 10 York jail, 10 take his trial at
the term Of the Supreme Court, 10 be hol-
den at Alfred, on Tuesday.