Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-05-12
MTsCNFIANn06s.
.!IIN.TIjEMPERANCE AND MURDER.

on FRIDAY lHSty IN the county "a AOfh,
the details Of which are Of the most shock
ing character. James Murphy, Kenne-
bunk, was indicted for The murder Of Lucy
his wife in November last. Among the
witnesses were two of the murderer's
children son, aged about IL, land a
daughter, about Is. It is said that the
boy manifested throughout the whole trial
! shamefui recklessness of his fathey's sit
uation, and made not solitary effort to
aid him, He came smilingly upon; the
stand, and apparently well pleased with
the part he was about to take. Itappears
by the testimony, that Murphy and his
wife had long been in habits of drunken
ness and quarreling. On the morning Of
the 18th of November, probably when both
were intoxicated, the fatal deed was done.
The following extracts from the tsstimo-
ny are sufficient to shock and disglst ey-
cry reader.-Bost. Courier. a
JAMES DEsHoN testified, that on the
10Th November last, between 10 and l
o'clock, Pm. one Of the prisoners dahgh-
tiers, aged about Syears, came to witnesses
house. for assistance--said her father was
killing her mother--witness did not CO.
did not think much of it, having been so
often disturbed by the quarrels of Murphy
and his wife. About half an hour after,
Thatcher Murphy, prisoners son, came
running for help-witness and wife, and
1--WE others went to prisoners house, found
the deceased stretched upon the floor APP
parently dead, with sticks of pine. alder
and thorn bush, all dry, piled against her
back and on her side-she was lying on
her right side-some Goals were were with
thenl-and the sticks we're on 6re--the
prisoner sitting half bent blowing the fire
with bellows, but made no blaze; wood
and brands enough to boil tea kettle; only
q few small Goals were in the fire place,
all of deceased's clothing, gown, petticoat,
&c. were burnt nearly to the waist; she
lay on the floor, 6 or feet from the fire
place, and four feet from the hearth; the
floor was burnt little witness on going
unto the room asked prisoner what he was
about ?-prisoner replied none of your
business !" witness took the sticks and
Goals off of deceased the largest brand
was on fire, foot and half long, and large
as the calf of ones leg !; witness had
known prisoner Is or 20 years; live next
house; prisoner had followed the sea
often abusive towards his wife when at
home known her to fee from home, once
much bruised, about four or five years
since.
TEACHER MURPHY testified. that he is
the son of the prisoner and of the deceas-
ed-lived last November with Mr.. J.
Cleaves, about IA mile from fathers
On Thanksgiving morning. Nov. 18th, be-
tween ~ aud O'Clock went bone TO
fathers and found mother on the hobr and
father blowing up FIRE around her with
bellows-had sticks and brands piled on
her hips and right side ; her clothes were
all burnt up to waist: fatherdid not speak
to me, nor | to him witness hauled fire
brands.off mother; thought she was dead /;
went up to Mr.. Burrels and told neigh
bours that father was burning mother up
saw neighbours go to father's house Wit
ness has lived from home part of the time
for last two years was frequently at
home known father to mix grog and
force mother to drink it, and threaten to
whip her il she did not drink it; known
mother to refuse it, and father to abuse her
for it known him to whip her two or
three times last summer he kicked her
out Of bed: known him to strike her with
a stick; there was rum in the house at
the time mother was burnt: father said
mother got it witness once united moth
er known mother to drink rum when
father did not threaten her known moth
er drunk often without threats, yoluntari-
"; seen her drunk so as to fall down:
witness shipped and left vessel because
father claimed all the wages did not
think it right for him to have all witness
has had some difficulty with father /; he has
whipped me good many times when 1
didn't deserve it; never knew Of quarrel
between Deshon and father; never see
Deshon strike him nor scufie with him;
never advised mother to swear the peace
against father father is much in the habit
of intoxication mother is too; both have
been so long as can remember /; she was
in the habit7ef drinking when father was
from heme but drunk more when he was
at home.
Doctor L0ngdon testified that he is a
physician and lives at Kennebunk-Por !.
been acquainted with prisoner and wife
for Is years : had been in practice 10
years: been over dozen years the fhmis
ly physician; prisoners habits are inteH-
perate have seen him intoxicated was
called on the 18th Nov. last to 90 10 pris-
oner's house went about 3 o'clock, P.
M. and found deceased on bed, speech-
less and insensible; pulse very feebley
clothes mostly burnt as high IS her hips !:
her left side and seat burnt to crisp or
completely baked; her right thigh not so
bad; inside blistersd, four inches of the
right thigh was burned very deep; the
HeRh swna "a rny,fra rsad sae. {.,-fNn "a inch