Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-04-13
MOST HORRIBLE ASSASSINATION.


murders was committed at Salem on Tues
day night last which the annals of crime
in this country can furnish. The follow
ing account Of the transaction is copied
from the Salem Register of Thursday -
aThe house of JosEPH Wars, Esq, one
Of our most opnlent and aged citizens, was
entered some time in the night of Tuesday,
by some unknown person, who proceeded IN
| darkness through several rooms and entries,
to the bed-chamber Of that gentleman, and
deliberately inflicted upon him, while in bed,
and doubtless unconscious of harm, a wound
ON the head and several stabs in the body,
which must have caused his immediate death.
sThe murder was discovered little be-
fore 6,o'clock, on Wednesday morning, by a
vunne man who resided in the family. On
going down stairs, being the first person up,
| he perceived one of the windows open in
the back part of tine house, and supposing4t
had been entered by thieves, he proceeded
to Mr.. Whites chamber to acquaint him
with the circumstances, when he found him
dead and enveloped IN blood. Only one 9TH
er person, female domestick, slept in the
house that night. and their apartments being
distant from the scene of the murder, and
from the rooms which the assassin entered
and passed through, they heard nothing Of
his movements. 1t is beyond doubt that he
entered the back window alluded TO above,
from the garden, by means of piece of
plank, which was found standing against the
side of the house, under the window, in the
morning. Several footprints of mans
step were discovered in the backyard, and
around the window, near the plank, when
first examined after the murder was ascer-
tanned. After entering this lower back
room, the assassin is supposed to have pro-
ceeded through the large entry, and up the
'front.' stairs, to the old gentleman's bed
chamber, in the front of the middle story,
and returned in the same way. Some marks
Of blood, it is said. were left upon the door
latches, &c. The report of the murder was
soon spread through the town, and an uni
versal sensation Of horror and establishment
pervadea every class Of our citizens. The
house was speedily thronged with people,
anxious to learn the particulars of the hor-
rid transaction.
Sat an early hour Coroner's Jury was
summoned by Thomas Needham, Esq. Coro-
ner for Essex, who proceeded to hold an in.
quest over the body, assisted by two respec-
table physicians of the town. 1t was found
in bed in a natural and undisturbed position !;
his night clothes and the bed clothing drench
ed in blood. Ten stabs were found on his
left side, in the region Of the heart, of three
fourths of an inch in width, and from one to
three inches in depth, accompanied with
strong mark of violence on the temple. The
stabs appeared to have been inflicted by a
small dirk, or some other sharp pointed in
strument. The blow on the temple most
probably was inflicted by Ratchet. ham
mer. or loaded cane either of which inju-
ries it was thought by the physicians were
sufficient to extingush life.
The verdict of the Jury was as follows:
aThat it is the opinion of the Jury that
the said Joseph White, Esq. came to his
death by violent blow on the left temple,
with some heavy instrument, and by ten
stabs in The left side, near the heart, infict-
ed by some sharp pointed instrument, by
some person or persons to Us unknown.
sAs to the motiv which could have in
duced the preparation of this horrid deed.
all is mystery and uncertainty. Shadows,
CiOuuS, diu uhf huCSS ICSI upOh lite ~ oP-
pears certain that plumber was not the OBJ
ject, as there was money and other valuable
property in the bed chamber and other parts
of the building through which the murderer
passed, and nothing was taken. What 9TH
er motive might have actuated the wretch
who could deliberately, and in the most bar
barous manner, take the life of gentleman
in the EIGHTY-sEcoND year of his age, who
had for years been almost secluded from the
world, having long since retired from the
active cares of his commercial pursuits, in
which he was for a long series of years dis
tinguished, remains to be divulged by the
operations of an everything Providence, which
seldom permits such dark and desperate
deeds to be long hidden in mystery.
The Police of the town, and every de-
scription of citizens, have manifested a
promptitude highly praiseworthy on this
melancholy occasion. The Selectmen have
offered reward of 500 dollars for the, de-
lection of the murderer, in addition to $1,000
offered by the heirs Of the deceased. Hand
bills have been circulated in every direction,
and all the Police officers have been direct
ed to make the most dilligent search for the
assassin. A young man was arrested on
suspicion, but we do not learn that any cir
cnmstanccs were disclosed at his examine
ton to induce belief in his guilt"
The GOVERNOR, by proclamation, has
offered further reward Of $1,000.
The Salem Gazette Of Friday adds =
Not the slightest trace or clue 10 the de-
velopement of this horrible and mysterious
murder has yet been obtained. The sole
and single purpose of the perpetrator seems
to have been the taking cflifs. No money,
and nothing of value, was either taken or
sought for, though many valuable articles and
roleau of doubloons were in the chamber.
In one of the Boston papers it is errone-
ously stated that the murderer put a plank
to the chamber window and got in there
it was a looer window the greatest mystic
ry is. how the inside fastenings of that win
dow came Embossed and removed.
The publick here are satisfied there is no
foundation for the suspicious that have been
excited sgainst the person apprehended. i
d. loo~v, fxo.,,