Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-24

Il Murder most foul and horrid A Bro
TIERS hand imJrued in the blood Of Brother!
friend in Pittsylvana furnishes US with the toll.
lowing narrative of murder recently perpetrated
in that county:-Lynchburg Prginian.
We have read in Shakespeare Of second
Daniel; but it was r.,d for the present era
of Murders, to be presented with second Cain,
in the person of ARMlSTEAD CRAFT, Of
the county of PittsyvaDia; who, On the 10Th in
slant, committed most wanton and diaboical
murder ON the person Of his brother, George
Craft, IT, at the house of his father Philip Craft
then Immediately fed. His father, being sus-
pected OF aiding his escape, contrary to the act
Of Assembly, and thereby becoming an aces
sary after the fact, was arrested on the 9Th in.
slant, and on the 18th was brought before s.
Coleman, ID. II. Clark, v Dickerson, w. l..
Pannill aud l.. billiard, Esqrs. justices Of the
peace, who, after patient and impartial exami'
natsn of number of witnesses, pronounced
that the testimony would not bear them out in
pronouncing the prisoner guilty, and he was
therefore discharged. A synopsis Of the testl-
mony may not prove undressing. viz:
MThat, passing by the house, heard consider
able noise-had curiosity to ascertain the cause
turned in direction of the house--saw Arms-
tead Craft running at full speed across the field
reached the house, and understood from the
father that Armistead had killed his brother
George. The father sent for his neighbors,
number Of whom soon assembled-to whom he
stated, that ON that morning, Armistead arose
and fed his horse, rode out, returned to break.
fast, and fed his horse again-the family, COM
posed of the father and two sons, sat down to
breakfast-when George remarked to Armistead
that it was unnecessary to feed his horse so often,
when corn was scarce, for which rebuke he re-
ceived slap on the mouth-Georse, being
mild. orderly, we'll disposed member of the Bap-
fist Church, requested his brother not to repeat
it-which he did, by inactins severe blow
with his clenched hand
A reucounter ensued, which resulted in
Georges throwing Armistead on the bed The
father taking him away, Armstead took adVan.
tage Of this circumstance. seized George and
threw him on the hoor-when the father again IN.
terposed, and separated them ran Armistead
(the eldst of the two) into corner-hearing
something fall behind him, exclaimed, Sir, you
have killed your broiher-raised him up-when
the fatal dirk fell from the bosom OF the explr.
ing boy, having entered between two ribs and
penetrated deeply into the heart-Armlstead ask.
ed his fathers forgiveness, who ordered him from
MS presence. lne neIgnUOTs Bat up WIN VIC
corpse that night Af:er midnight, the father
came down stairs with his over coat on. and
bundle in his hand: went to the desk and took
bag therefrom, containing something weighty-
went out, and remained several hours. Whe.
Their the bundle contained clothes, and the bag
money, and whether the absent time was spent
with the refugee, witness could not tell Mr. Jones,
the coroner, held an inquest over the body, when
the Jury found that the deceased had been feloni-
ousiy, wlfuily and maIciously murdered BY Ar.
instead Craft.
Well may we exclaim. how inscrutable are the
WAYS of Provideace A man, in the bloom and
pride OF manhood. sitting at the social breakfast
table with his father and brother-and, ere their
morsel was consumed, brutality murdered, and
sent into world of spirits. By one from whom
nature and natures God had taught US to expect,
instead of the assassn's steel, the warm, kind
and eodearinv feelings of brotherly love aud
friendship! For the Commonwealth. James
Garland, ESQ.,; for the prisoner, Robert Cook,
Esq.