The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-02-22
MOST ATRoC1oUs MURDERS.

Sir children, and the strongest suspicion of
this net rests upon Henry Sovereign, the
father of the family. The following partic
ulars are from the pen of the Rev. Mr.. Ryer-
iion.
A general horror has been excited in the
minds of the inhabitants of the London Dis
trict, by the preparation of one of the most
atrocious and unnatural crimes that ever
stained the history of mnn-it is the murder
of a mother, and six, if rot seven children
The principal evidence, was Il neighbor,
who lived between a quarter and half
mile from the place where the murder was
committed. He stated that on Monday
morning, the 2lst JAN, some time before
day, Henry Sovereign, the father Of the
murdered family, came to his house, slightly
wounded in the breast and left arm, saving
that there were murderers at his (Sover-
eign's) house, and that he was afraid or ex-
pected they would kill his wife and family
The neighbor, in company with Sovereign,
came with all possible haste 10 the place.
The first object that attracted his notice on
his ARRIVAL was little infant about three or
four months old, burning on the fire, one of
its legs was burnt off nearly to the knee,
the back part OF its head was consumed, and
its body was much burnt. Near the hearth
Jay another child in state of insensbility
This believe is not yet dead, although it is
not expected to survive. By the side of the
coor was another, in sitting or squatting
posture. having been struck on the head
with bludgeon or some large instrument
which occasioned instant death. A fourth
was found out of doors at the corner of the
house, llteiess and bleeding on the ground.
About rod from the house in the path
lpH fo Al, Il
IN the same state. Nearly rod farther in
the same path was found young woman,
about II years of age, a lifeless corpse. In
the yard In front of the hovel, lay the moth
er and another little boy, close together,
weltering IN their blood. Close by the
mother was observed the blade of a knife,
al bioody. 1t was found ON examination,
that she had received blow on the back of
her neck, which fractured her skull and dis
located h er neck bone, and had also been
stabbed in the pit of the stomach, so as to
pierce The vltals and divide one of the large
arteries, which bled most profusely. The
knife blade was Immediately challenged as
Sovereign's, and the unfortunate wonan's
brother declared that he had frequently
seen it at his (Sovereign's) house. Search
being made, the handle of the knife was
found about two rods from the place where
the blade lay, and it was said, that Soyer-
eign had been seen few DAYS before put.
ting rivet in the self same handle. Sow
ereign however denied having any knowl
edge of the knife, and said he had his knife
in his pocket. He produced it at the re-
quest OF those present, and behold, it also
was bloody!
The above, together with the facts of Sow
ereign having brutalized himself by intem-
pefance, and rendered his family yerv nm
happy and at different times threatened
their lives and otherwise abused them. has
created very general suspicion that he
perpetrated the inhuman crime. This sus-
piclon is strengthened by the facts. that
none were known to entertain anv hostile
feeling towards Sovereign's family-no per-
sons were discovered or suspected. Soyer-
eign's story that two men attacked his house
little before day and the manner of his
escaping from them appeared TO be quite
Improbable that the bludgeon, (which was
club or mall about two feet long, such as
is used in irving shingles) was found con-
cealed between the straw and feather bed.
and the mangled bodies of the unfortunate
family had the appearance of being dead
some time on the arrival of the neiphbor
who first witnessed the dreadful scene.
Sovereign was apprehended and sent to
Jail on suspicion.
On my way from Long Point, the dav
after this most melancholy affair took place,
l called at the house; hut it would be in
vain for me 10 attempt to describe nv feel
lngs in witnessing scene the most painfully
affecting of any that lever beheld Picture
to yourself stretched on one bed, close by
the side of each other, all stiff and cold in
death, mother and five lovely children
the most of them were very handsome
with the half consumed remains of an inno-
cent babe, three or four months old in her
arms; while their mangled faces and bod
les but too forcibly remind you of the I'M
natural and inhUman cruelty by which they
were brought into that state.
At the foot of the bed stood the aged faith
er of the lifeless mother, whose soul appear
ed to be oppressed with grief too big for ut
terance-a grief that wrung and chilled the
very heart, so as to deny him the melan-
choly consolation of believing the cold re-
mains of his children with the tear of affec-
ton and sorrow. | was deeply affected
with the old getleman's submission and re-
slgnation to this mysterious and most pain
full dispensation of Divine Providence. AZ
ter showing me the several places where the
children were found, and returning to the
house, he took me by the hand, and with
faltering voice, said, "My case is like tina
of Job-all my children are taken from me
in one day but must submit"
BY the side of the old man stood an elder
sister and brother of the murdered mother.
both of them overwhelmed with sorrow
while their tears and sobs were enough to
pierce the most unfeeling heart On being
introduced to the woman, she appeared to
be incapable of restraining the violence of
her feelings, but, weeping aloud, said,-
ooh! Mr.. R., did you ever witness
such sight who would believe any man
could come TO this" &c. Indeed such were
my feelings, that after saying few words
to the afflicted friends l left the place as
soon as possible.
We have too much reason to fear that
this dreadful aggravation of murderous
crime originated in tipping.
Yours, in great haste,
WIN. RYERsoN.
York, Jan. oath, 1882.
MELANCHOLY DEATH. A young man
by the name of Barber, living with Mr.
John Griffin of New Baltimore, was found
-, At - = ~