Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-06-12
HORRIFYING CASE.
SMoLENsKo, Nov. 6.

The following dreadful event lately
occurred IN this neighborhood. The
owner of lonely cottage being out on
a chase, a btggar, 10 all appearances old
and weak, entered it at noon day, and
asked aims OF the woman WHO was at
home with only her two younger chill
dren. The kind hearted woman invites
him to rest himself, while she goes out
to get him something to eat and drink.
After the beggar had satisfied his hun
ger, he, to the no small establishment Of
the woman, assumed different language
and with threatening voice, demanded
the money, which he knew, Ic said,
her husband had in the house. The
wretch rushing ON her yith large bread
knife, TO force her to acknowledge whcsc
it was deposited, Size declared herself
ready 70 give him all the money she had,
& for this purpose, she mounted ladder
to a trap door leading to the loft above.
As soon as she had mounted, she drew
Up the ladder after her, SO that i. was
imp ossible for him to get at her Hia-
ding that she disfegartied his menaecs,
he seized the two chiidrch, ami swore
he would either kill or MAIN them, ii she
did not Immediately come down and de-
liv or him the money she had promised
Yhe woman remained in the lott and
stroye to force a hole through the thatcEi
and call for help. While she was thus
employed the monster cut of their ears
ana noses and at last killed the poor
MANNED mnocents, SC oFntuliy proclaim
ing to The mother the murder he had
committed. Fortunately however, her
cries were heard by an officer who was
passing by in an open carriage, who
sent his servant while he remained Sit
ting in the carriage to inquire what was
the matter The servant fastened to the
spot, but on entering the cottage was
met by the murderer who plunged the
!1a;.c into his heart SO thai lie fell with
out a groan. Che officer surprised at
his delay, went himself to the cottage,
where pcrceivipg the horrid scene, he
attempted to stop the flight of the muir
derer, and with his sabre cut Oil all the
fingers of his right hand, but was not
able to hinder him from embracing the
opportunity to escape through the door
as it stood open. The woman had,
while all this was passing, made hcrway
through the roof, and ran to the village
which was at pretty considerable dis
tance, to fetch assistance. Meantime
the husband on his way home meets
the blood stained murderer, whom he
recognizes as the beggar who trequen-
ted that part Of the county.
The lyprocrite concealing his fears
under affected lamentation, held up his
mutila.ed hand, saying, "Make haste
there is in your house murdered, who
has killed your children, and likewise q
man attempted to defend them and from
whom have narrowly escaped in the
condition you seep The terrified coun-
tryman, while the atrocious villain has
tens to escape, flies, with his loaded gun
in his hand, to his cottage, perceives
through the open door, the officer and
the bloody corpses of the children, takes
him of course for the murderer, levels
his pierre s.. shoots him dead on the spot.
The wife coming up with the villagers
hears the shot, sees The officer fail, ut
ters piercing cry exclaiming, You
have killed our deliycrer-not he but
the beggar is the murderer of our chill
dren." The husband whose whole frame
is shaken By the horror of the scene, and
still more by his own rash deed, 81 ..nds
a few moments pe'riticd and motionless,
falls back in fit and expires.