The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-12-17

A FIENpIsH MURDER.-The St. Louis Republican
Of the 25th ult. relates the following shocking par
ticulars Immediately back of the Arsenal and a
few steps from the public highway, stand, a log
house. built and occupied by an old man of the
ame of Windham gardner aud an attendant
upon the St. Louis Market. A daughter seventeen
or eighteen years of age was with her father, the
only inmates of the hOuse-her mother being dead.
Early on Sunday morning last, the attention of a
citizen who happened to be passing, attracted
to the house by the appearance of fire issuing from
il. Upon opening the door, he found the room
filled with dense smoke, rendering every thing in
side imperceptible, and perfect silence all round.
He Immediately procured a bucket of water, and
threw it in the quarter where he supposed the fire to
be; but voice i'll the bed directed his efforts TO the
'chest. This he at last found, picked it up, threw
it olft of DOORS and then eXtinguished the fire. He
next proceeded to kindle blaze on The hearth and
having done so scene ofhorror presented ITSELF to
his view. Upon the floor, by his side, lay the dead
body of Miss Windham and on the bed, the manged
and almost lifeess body other father Clotsof blood
were discovered in every part OF the room-the floor
filled with half consumed papers, taken from the
chest and every thing was in confusion. The in
vesgations in the ofthe day brought TO light
no evidence having tire least tendency to crImnatc
any one. 1t was in testimony that two distinct re-
ports of gun were heard about l2 or / o'clock at
night and the old man thinks Ii shortly after
they went to bed, that they attacked, \ noise
being made at the door, the daughter got up with
the intention of opening it. II Is supposed, that the
fire afforded light enough to give the mscreants
distinct view of her person. dthey fired atherthro
the window, breaking the pane ofglass The entire
load of buck shot entered the side Of her neck and
she must have fallen dead. The murderers then
turned the gun upon her father, who still in
bed. The discharge took effect in his face, of
the shot passing through the eye to the brain Life
not being extinct, they attacked him with an axe,
or some sharp weapon and gave him several severe
blows on the head. They proceeded TO rifle the
the house broke open the chest took the money,
if there any, and then to leave no tell-ale Of
their butchery threw coal of fire into the chest,
and closed the lid The plot it SENS, was almost
consumated ; u few minuets more and every thing
would have been burnt up.
Surgical aid procured as soon as possible
for the old man-several operations performed, and
one of the shot extracted from the BRAIN lie was
taken the hospital where he yet fingered last eve
ming The old man does not appear to rccODect
any thing distinctly. He says, however, that a
Dutchman who boarded at a house at or near the
Arsenal, was the only visitor on the previous eve
ming. This man he describes being tall and hay-
ing large black whskers. 1t is said that this ind-
vdual was met on Sunday morning, near the spot,
with gun, and on being requested to assist IN put
ting out the fire. declined doing so, and proceeded to
Jefferson Barracks.